Acquisitions - Pro Forma Information (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Operating revenues	$ 1,200,529	$ 1,146,019
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to the shareholders of The E.W. Scripps Company	$ (43,981)	$ (4,517)
Income (loss) per share from operations attributable to the shareholders of The E.W. Scripps Company, basic	$ (0.54)	$ (0.06)
Income (loss) per share from operations attributable to the shareholders of The E.W. Scripps Company, diluted	$ (0.54)	$ (0.06)

The pro forma basic net income per share for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (h)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=79982066&loc=d3e1392-128463

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (h)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=79982066&loc=d3e1392-128463

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The pro forma diluted net income per share for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

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Amount after tax of pro forma income from continuing operations as if the business combination had been completed at the beginning of a period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (h)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=79982066&loc=d3e1392-128463

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (h)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=79982066&loc=d3e1392-128463

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The pro forma revenue for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of the period.

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