Investments Cash Distributions from Equity Method Investments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]
Cash distributions from equity investments	$ 115,137	$ 111,509

Proceeds from Equity Method Investment, Cash Distributions

No definition available.

Name:	trco_ProceedsfromEquityMethodInvestmentCashDistributions
Namespace Prefix:	trco_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration