Earnings Per Share Calculation of Basic and Diluted EPS (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Income from Discontinued Operations, net of taxes	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 15,039
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations	54,076	(18,687)	279,697	(149,722)
Net loss from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	23	0	33	0
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Tribune Media Company	54,099	(18,687)	279,730	(149,722)
Less: Dividends distributed to Warrants	8	14	23	60
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to Warrants	11	0	75	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Tribune Media Company’s common shareholders for basic EPS	54,080	(18,701)	279,632	(149,782)
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	54,080	(18,701)	279,633	(149,782)
Net income (loss) attributable to Tribune Media Company’s common shareholders for basic EPS	54,080	(18,701)	279,632	(134,743)
Net income (loss) attributable to Tribune Media Company’s common shareholders for diluted EPS	$ 54,080	$ (18,701)	$ 279,633	$ (134,743)
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic (shares)	87,640	87,257	87,584	86,984
Impact of dilutive securities (shares)	568	0	741	0
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted (shares)	88,208	87,257	88,325	86,984
Continuing Operations	$ 0.62	$ (0.21)	$ 3.19	$ (1.72)
Discontinued Operations	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.17
Net Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share	0.62	(0.21)	3.19	(1.55)
Continuing Operations	0.61	(0.21)	3.17	(1.72)
Discontinued Operations	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.17
Net Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share	$ 0.61	$ (0.21)	$ 3.17	$ (1.55)