Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017		Sep. 30, 2017		Jun. 30, 2017		Mar. 31, 2017		Dec. 31, 2016		Sep. 30, 2016		Jun. 30, 2016		Mar. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2017		Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	$ 488,999		$ 450,533		$ 469,517		$ 439,910		$ 529,624		$ 470,038		$ 479,796		$ 468,472		$ 1,848,959	[1]	$ 1,947,930	[1]	$ 1,801,967	[1]
Total operating (loss) profit	129,123		(23,749)		18,326		(15,232)		113,206		234,170		56,206		29,992		108,468	[1]	433,574	[1]	(269,335)	[1]
Income on equity investments, net	38,506		21,058		40,761		37,037		33,861		31,737		44,306		38,252		137,362		148,156		146,959
Interest and dividend income	1,269		827		548		505		390		476		228		132		3,149		1,226		720
Interest expense	(40,055)		(40,389)		(40,185)		(38,758)		(38,211)		(38,296)		(38,071)		(38,141)		(159,387)		(152,719)		(148,587)
Loss on extinguishments and modification of debt	0	[2]	(1,435)	[2]	0	[2]	(19,052)	[2]									(20,487)	[2]	0		(37,040)
Gain (loss) on investment transactions, net	(2,486)	[2]	5,667	[2]	0	[2]	4,950	[2]									8,131	[2]	0		12,173
Write-downs of investments	(12,694)	[2]	0	[2]	(58,800)	[2]	(122,000)	[2]									(193,494)	[2]	0		0
Other non-operating (loss) gain, net	26	[2]	0	[2]	71	[2]	(26)	[2]	4,949	[2]	57	[2]	(75)	[2]	496	[2]	71	[2]	5,427	[2]	7,228
Reorganization items, net	(657)	[3]	(753)	[3]	(449)	[3]	(250)	[3]	(188)	[3]	(434)	[3]	(366)	[3]	(434)	[3]	(2,109)	[3]	(1,422)	[3]	(1,537)
(Loss) Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	113,032		(38,774)		(39,728)		(152,826)		114,007		227,710		62,228		30,297		(118,296)		434,242		(289,419)
Income tax benefit	(219,767)		(20,087)		(9,905)		(51,614)		43,280		73,871		214,856		15,195		(301,373)		347,202		25,918
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations	332,799		(18,687)		(29,823)		(101,212)		70,727		153,839		(152,628)		15,102		183,077		87,040		(315,337)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, net of taxes	(619)		0		(579)		15,618		(51,776)		(8,074)		(8,935)		(4,009)		14,420		(72,794)		(4,581)
Net (Loss) Income	332,180		(18,687)		(30,402)		(85,594)										197,497		14,246		(319,918)
Net income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	(3,378)		0		0		0										(3,378)		0		0
Net (Loss) Income Attributable to Tribune Media Company	$ 328,802		$ (18,687)		$ (30,402)		$ (85,594)		$ 18,951		$ 145,765		$ (161,563)		$ 11,093		$ 194,119		$ 14,246		$ (319,918)
Continuing Operations	$ 3.77		$ (0.21)		$ (0.34)		$ (1.17)		$ 0.81		$ 1.71		$ (1.66)		$ 0.16		$ 2.06		$ 0.96		$ (3.33)
Discontinued Operations	(0.01)		0.00		(0.01)		0.18		(0.59)		(0.09)		(0.10)		(0.04)		0.17		(0.80)		(0.05)
Net (Loss) Earnings Per Common Share	3.76		(0.21)		(0.35)		(0.99)		0.22		1.62		(1.76)		0.12		2.23		0.16		(3.38)
Continuing Operations	3.73		(0.21)		(0.34)		(1.17)		0.81		1.70		(1.66)		0.16		2.04		0.96		(3.33)
Discontinued Operations	(0.01)		0.00		(0.01)		0.18		(0.59)		(0.09)		(0.10)		(0.04)		0.16		(0.80)		(0.05)
Net (Loss) Earnings Per Common Share	$ 3.72		$ (0.21)		$ (0.35)		$ (0.99)		$ 0.22		$ 1.61		$ (1.76)		$ 0.12		$ 2.20		$ 0.16		$ (3.38)
Operating Segments | Television and Entertainment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	$ 486,022		$ 447,307		$ 466,061		$ 436,033		$ 525,723		$ 460,164		$ 468,134		$ 455,875		$ 1,835,423	[1]	$ 1,909,896	[1]	$ 1,752,542	[1]
Total operating (loss) profit	127,225		(1,357)		50,219		20,013		136,862		46,024		83,346		58,605		196,100	[1]	324,837	[1]	(175,140)	[1]
Corporate, Non-Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	2,977		3,226		3,456		3,877		3,901		9,874		11,662		12,597		13,536	[1]	38,034	[1]	49,425	[1]
Total operating (loss) profit	$ 1,898		$ (22,392)		$ (31,893)		$ (35,245)		$ (23,656)		$ 188,146		$ (27,140)		$ (28,613)		$ (87,632)	[1]	$ 108,737	[1]	$ (94,195)	[1]

[1] (1)See Note 2 for the disclosures of operating revenues and operating (loss) profit included in discontinued operations for the historical periods.

[2] See Note 5 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements for information pertaining to non-operating items recorded in 2017 and 2016.

[3] See Note 3 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements for information pertaining to reorganization items recorded in 2017 and 2016.