Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Goodwill (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		9 Months Ended
	Apr. 01, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross		$ 854,694	$ 823,701
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss		(237,914)	(237,914)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance		585,787
Goodwill, ending balance		616,780
Cracked
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill acquisition		29,403
Stitcher
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill acquisition		1,590
Journal Communications, Inc.
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, ending balance	$ 456,440
Television
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross		681,535	681,535
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss		(215,414)	(215,414)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance		466,121
Goodwill, ending balance		466,121
Television | Cracked
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill acquisition		0
Television | Stitcher
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill acquisition		0
Television | Journal Communications, Inc.
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill acquisition	395,000
Radio
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross		41,000	41,000
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss		0	0
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance		41,000
Goodwill, ending balance		41,000
Radio | Cracked
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill acquisition		0
Radio | Stitcher
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill acquisition		0
Radio | Journal Communications, Inc.
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill acquisition	41,000
Digital
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross		132,159	101,166
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss		(22,500)	$ (22,500)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance		78,666
Goodwill, ending balance		109,659
Digital | Cracked
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill acquisition		29,403
Digital | Stitcher
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill acquisition		$ 1,590
Digital | Journal Communications, Inc.
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill acquisition	$ 20,000