Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Goodwill by business segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Summary of activity related to goodwill by business segment
Gross balance		$ 823,701	$ 321,675	$ 243,380	$ 243,380
Accumulated impairment losses		(237,914)	(215,414)	(215,414)	(215,414)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period		106,261	27,966
2015 Impairment charge		22,500
Reassignment of goodwill for change in segments		0
Balance, end of period		585,787	106,261
Television
Summary of activity related to goodwill by business segment
Gross balance		681,535	288,095	243,380	243,380
Accumulated impairment losses		(215,414)	(215,414)	(215,414)	(215,414)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period		72,681	27,966
Reassignment of goodwill for change in segments		(2,000)
Balance, end of period		466,121	72,681
Radio
Summary of activity related to goodwill by business segment
Gross balance		41,000	0	0	0
Accumulated impairment losses		0	0	0	0
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period		0	0
Reassignment of goodwill for change in segments		0
Balance, end of period		41,000	0
Digital
Summary of activity related to goodwill by business segment
Gross balance		101,166	33,580	0	0
Accumulated impairment losses		22,500	0	$ 0	$ 0
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period		33,580	0
2015 Impairment charge		22,500
Reassignment of goodwill for change in segments		2,000
Balance, end of period		78,666	33,580
2014 Newsy acquisition
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions			28,983
2015 Impairment charge	$ 21,000
2014 Newsy acquisition | Digital
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions			28,983
2014 Granite stations acquisition
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions			44,715
2014 Granite stations acquisition | Television
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions			44,715
2014 WeatherSphere acquisition
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions			4,597
2014 WeatherSphere acquisition | Digital
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions			$ 4,597
2015 Journal acquisition
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions		456,440
2015 Journal acquisition | Television
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions		395,000
2015 Journal acquisition | Radio
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions		41,000
2015 Journal acquisition | Digital
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions		20,000
2015 Midroll acquisition
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions		45,586
2015 Midroll acquisition | Digital
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions		$ 45,586