Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2017		Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015
Operating Revenues
Advertising		$ 1,225,900		$ 1,374,571		$ 1,303,220
Retransmission revenue and carriage fees		540,244		455,768		368,484
Other		69,279		79,557		80,838
Television and Entertainment		1,835,423		1,909,896		1,752,542
Other		13,536		38,034		49,425
Total operating revenues	[1]	1,848,959		1,947,930		1,801,967
Operating Expenses
Programming		604,068		515,738		535,799
Direct operating expenses		391,770		390,595		376,383
Selling, general and administrative		550,193		592,220		543,065
Depreciation	[2]	56,314		58,825		64,554
Amortization	[2]	166,679		166,664		166,404
Impairments of goodwill and other intangible assets		0		3,400		385,000
(Gain) loss on sales of real estate		(28,533)		(213,086)		97
Total operating expenses		1,740,491		1,514,356		2,071,302
Total operating profit (loss)	[1]	108,468		433,574		(269,335)
Income on equity investments, net		137,362		148,156		146,959
Interest and dividend income		3,149		1,226		720
Interest expense		(159,387)		(152,719)		(148,587)
Loss on extinguishments and modification of debt		(20,487)	[3]	0		(37,040)
Gain on investment transactions, net		8,131	[3]	0		12,173
Write-downs of investments		(193,494)	[3]	0		0
Other non-operating gain, net		71	[3]	5,427	[3]	7,228
Reorganization items, net		(2,109)	[4]	(1,422)	[4]	(1,537)
(Loss) Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes		(118,296)		434,242		(289,419)
Income tax (benefit) expense		(301,373)		347,202		25,918
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations		183,077		87,040		(315,337)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, net of taxes (Note 2)		14,420		(72,794)		(4,581)
Net Income (Loss)		197,497		14,246		(319,918)
Net income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests		(3,378)		0		0
Net Income (Loss) attributable to Tribune Media Company		$ 194,119		$ 14,246		$ (319,918)
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Continuing Operations		$ 2.06		$ 0.96		$ (3.33)
Discontinued Operations		0.17		(0.80)		(0.05)
Net Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share		2.23		0.16		(3.38)
Continuing Operations		2.04		0.96		(3.33)
Discontinued Operations		0.16		(0.80)		(0.05)
Net Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share		2.20		0.16		(3.38)
Regular Cash Dividend
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Dividends declared (usd per share)		1		$ 1.0		0.75
Special Cash Dividend
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Dividends declared (usd per share)		$ 5.77				$ 6.73

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

[2] (2)Depreciation from discontinued operations totaled $14 million and $10 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015. Amortization from discontinued operations totaled $30 million and $29 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

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

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