Investments - Narrative (Details)					3 Months Ended								9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Jul. 29, 2011 USD ($)	Oct. 27, 2009 USD ($)	Jul. 29, 2008 USD ($) lease	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Jan. 01, 2018 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2017	Sep. 02, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 28, 2014 USD ($)	Aug. 04, 2014 shares	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Oct. 14, 2009 USD ($)	Aug. 21, 2009
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Aggregate fair value of investments as of Effective Date																						$ 2,224,000,000
Equity Method Investment, Difference Between Carrying Amount and Underlying Equity					$ 686,000,000									$ 686,000,000
Weighted average remaining useful life, years														16 years
Distributions from equity investments, return on investment														$ 3,768,000	$ 0	$ 10,328,000
Equity method investments					1,254,198,000				$ 1,642,117,000					1,254,198,000	1,642,117,000
Income on equity investments, net					38,506,000	$ 21,058,000	$ 40,761,000	$ 37,037,000	33,861,000	$ 31,737,000	$ 44,306,000	$ 38,252,000		137,362,000	148,156,000	146,959,000
Distributions from equity investments														198,124,000	170,527,000	169,879,000
Sale of partial interest of equity method investment														142,552,000	0	0
Amortization of basis difference														53,502,000	54,602,000	54,248,000
Write-downs of investments														(191,000,000)	0	0
Cost-method Investments, Other than Temporary Impairment														(3,000,000)
Cost method investments					27,593,000				26,748,000					27,593,000	26,748,000
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Investments					$ 209,751,000				399,103,000					209,751,000	399,103,000
CareerBuilder, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Distributions from equity investments, return on investment														$ 4,000,000		10,000,000
Ownership in equity method investment, percent					6.00%		32.00%							6.00%				7.00%
Equity method investments					$ 10,000,000				341,000,000					$ 10,000,000	341,000,000
Income on equity investments, net														(2,000,000)	27,000,000	21,000,000
Distributions from equity investments						16,000,000								16,000,000	13,000,000	16,000,000
Sale of partial interest of equity method investment						$ 158,000,000
Pretax gain recognized on sale of equity method investment														3,847,000
Write-downs of investments														$ (181,000,000)
Dose Media, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership in equity method investment, percent					25.00%									25.00%
Equity method investments					$ 0				12,000,000					$ 0	12,000,000
Income on equity investments, net														(2,000,000)	(3,000,000)
Write-downs of investments														$ (10,000,000)
Television Food Network, G.P.
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership in equity method investment, percent					31.00%									31.00%
Equity method investments					$ 1,234,000,000				1,279,000,000					$ 1,234,000,000	1,279,000,000
Income on equity investments, net														141,000,000	122,000,000	126,000,000
Distributions from equity investments														$ 186,000,000	158,000,000	164,000,000
TKG Internet Holdings II LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership in equity method investment, percent					43.00%									43.00%
tronc
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Common stock retained by the Company in the Publishing Spin-off, shares | shares																					381,354
Investment Ownership Percentage																					1.50%
Fair value of available-for-sale securities									5,000,000						5,000,000
Cost basis of available-for-sale securities									0						$ 0
Proceeds from Sale and Maturity of Marketable Securities	$ 5,000,000
Realized Gain (Loss) on Marketable Securities, Cost Method Investments, and Other Investments								$ 5,000,000						$ 4,950,000
Comcast SportsNet Chicago, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investment Ownership Percentage																								25.34%
New Cubs LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investment Ownership Percentage			5.00%
Distribution from cost investment			$ 705,000,000
Cost method investment, accounts receivables and other items retained by Company																							$ 740,000,000
Investment owned, percent			95.00%
Cost Method Investments, Additional Information														5000000	2500000
Cost method investments					$ 22,000,000				18,000,000					$ 22,000,000	$ 18,000,000
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Investments					$ 96,000,000				$ 158,000,000					$ 96,000,000	$ 158,000,000
Newsday Holdings LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investment, Cash Contribution				$ 35,000,000
Cost Method Investments, Notes Receivable				$ 650,000,000
Newsday LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investment Ownership Percentage				3.00%															3.00%
Distribution from cost investment				$ 612,000,000
Investment owned, percent				97.00%
Proceeds from Cost Method Investments, Prepaid Rent				$ 18,000,000
Number of Leases | lease				2
Proceeds from Sale of Cost Method Investment													$ 8,000,000
Realized Gain (Loss) on Marketable Securities, Cost Method Investments, and Other Investments													$ 3,000,000			$ 3,250,000
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Investments																			$ 101,000,000
Revaluation of Assets
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Fair value adjustments to investments																						1,615,000,000
Company's share of increases in carrying value of investees' amortization intangible assets																						1,108,000,000
Company's share of increases attributable to goodwill and other identifiable intangibles not subject to amortization																						$ 507,000,000
Payment Guarantee | New Cubs LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Maximum Identification Amount			$ 699,000,000
Indemnification Agreement | Newsday LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Maximum Identification Amount				$ 650,000,000																$ 425,000,000
Reduction in Maximum Identification Amount after third anniversary		$ 120,000,000
Maximum Indemnification Amount reduction, per year		$ 35,000,000
Secured Debt | Newsday Holdings LLC and Newsday LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Proceeds from Lines of Credit				650,000,000
Face amount of debt				$ 650,000,000
Scenario, Forecast | Indemnification Agreement | Newsday LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Maximum Identification Amount																	$ 0