Earnings Per Share Calculation of Basic and Diluted EPS (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	$ 0	$ (579)	$ 0	$ 15,039
Net Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations	84,438	(29,823)	225,621	(131,035)
Net loss from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	4	0	10	0
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Tribune Media Company	84,442	(29,823)	225,631	(131,035)
Less: Dividends distributed to Warrants	8	21	15	46
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to Warrants	22	0	63	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Tribune Media Company’s common shareholders for basic EPS	84,412	(29,844)	225,553	(131,081)
Add: Undistributed earnings allocated to dilutive securities	0	0	1	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Tribune Media Company’s common shareholders for diluted EPS	84,412	(29,844)	225,554	(131,081)
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic and Diluted, Discontinued Operations			0	15,039
Net income (loss) attributable to Tribune Media Company’s common shareholders for basic EPS	84,412	(30,423)	225,553	(116,042)
Net income (loss) attributable to Tribune Media Company’s common shareholders for diluted EPS	$ 84,412	$ (30,423)	$ 225,554	$ (116,042)
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic (shares)	87,628	87,058	87,556	86,846
Impact of dilutive securities (shares)	545	0	787	0
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted (shares)	88,173	87,058	88,343	86,846
Continuing Operations	$ 0.96	$ (0.34)	$ 2.58	$ (1.51)
Discontinued Operations	0.00	(0.01)	0.00	0.17
Net Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share	0.96	(0.35)	2.58	(1.34)
Continuing Operations	0.96	(0.34)	2.55	(1.51)
Discontinued Operations	0.00	(0.01)	0.00	0.17
Net Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share	$ 0.96	$ (0.35)	$ 2.55	$ (1.34)