Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Class A	Common Class B	Special Cash Dividend	Regular Cash Dividend	Retained Earnings (Deficit)	Retained Earnings (Deficit) Special Cash Dividend	Retained Earnings (Deficit) Regular Cash Dividend	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Additional Paid-In Capital	Additional Paid-In Capital Special Cash Dividend	Additional Paid-In Capital Regular Cash Dividend	Treasury Stock	Noncontrolling Interest
Beginning balance at Dec. 28, 2014	$ 5,195,431	$ 96	$ 2			$ 718,218			$ (46,541)	$ 4,591,470			$ (67,814)	$ 0
Beginning balance, shares at Dec. 28, 2014		95,708,000	2,438,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net Income (Loss)	(319,918)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Tribune Media Company	(319,918)					(319,918)
Net income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes	(24,475)								(24,475)
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(344,393)
Special dividends declared to shareholders and warrant holders				$ (648,644)			$ (648,644)
Regular dividends declared to shareholders and warrant holders					$ (71,275)			$ (72,007)				$ 732
Conversions of Class B Common Stock to Class A Common Stock		$ 2	$ (2)
Conversions of Class B Common Stock to Class A Common Stock, shares		2,432,000	(2,432,000)
Warrant exercises		$ 2								(2)
Warrant exercises, shares		1,718,645
Stock-based compensation	32,547									32,547
Net share settlements of stock-based awards	(4,251)									(4,251)
Net share settlements of stock-based awards, shares		156,000
Change in excess tax benefits from stock-based awards	(878)									(878)
Common stock repurchases	(332,339)												(332,339)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	5,524													5,524
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2015	3,831,722	$ 100	$ 0			(322,351)			(71,016)	4,619,618			(400,153)	5,524
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2015		100,015,000	6,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net Income (Loss)	14,246
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Tribune Media Company	14,246					14,246
Net income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes	(10,766)								(10,766)
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	3,480
Special dividends declared to shareholders and warrant holders	(90,296)
Regular dividends declared to shareholders and warrant holders					(90,296)							(90,296)
Warrant exercises, shares		163,077
Stock-based compensation	37,002									37,002
Net share settlements of stock-based awards	(4,553)									(4,564)			11
Net share settlements of stock-based awards, shares		238,000
Common stock repurchases	(232,065)												(232,065)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	393													393
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2016	3,545,683	$ 100	$ 0			(308,105)			(81,782)	4,561,760			(632,207)	5,917
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2016		100,416,516	5,605
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net Income (Loss)	197,497
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Tribune Media Company	194,119					194,119
Net income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	3,378													3,378
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes	33,721								33,721
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	231,218
Special dividends declared to shareholders and warrant holders	(87,229)			$ (499,107)							$ (499,107)
Regular dividends declared to shareholders and warrant holders					$ (87,229)							$ (87,229)
Warrant exercises, shares		97,681
Stock-based compensation	33,159									33,159
Net share settlements of stock-based awards	2,543	$ 1								2,529			13
Net share settlements of stock-based awards, shares		916,000
Common stock repurchases	0
Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle	164					(254)				418
Distributions to noncontrolling interests, net	(9,251)													(9,251)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 3,217,180	$ 101	$ 0			$ (114,240)			$ (48,061)	$ 4,011,530			$ (632,194)	$ 44
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2017		101,429,999	5,557