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, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net Income	$ 63,650	$ 113,204	$ 84,438	$ 141,183	$ 176,854	$ 225,621
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	7		4		11	10
Net Income attributable to Tribune Media Company	63,657		84,442		176,865	225,631
Less: Dividends distributed to Warrants	8		8		15	15
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to Warrants	14		22		46	63
Net income attributable to Tribune Media Company’s common shareholders for basic EPS	63,635		84,412		176,804	225,553
Add: Undistributed earnings allocated to dilutive securities	0		0		0	1
Net income attributable to Tribune Media Company’s common shareholders for diluted EPS	$ 63,635		$ 84,412		$ 176,804	$ 225,554
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic (shares)	88,342		87,628		88,133	87,556
Impact of dilutive securities (shares)	772		545		969	787
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted (shares)	89,114		88,173		89,102	88,343
Basic	$ 0.72		$ 0.96		$ 2.01	$ 2.58
Diluted	$ 0.71		$ 0.96		$ 1.98	$ 2.55