Segment Information - Schedule of Business Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Segment operating revenues:
Total operating revenues	$ 444,401	$ 349,777	$ 337,495	$ 292,163	$ 368,113	$ 302,726	$ 283,395	$ 254,191	$ 1,423,836	$ 1,208,425	$ 876,972
Segment profit (loss):
Segment profit (loss)									65,537	129,959	(1,903)
Acquisition and related integration costs									(26,304)	(4,124)	0
Restructuring costs									(3,370)	(8,911)	(4,422)
Depreciation and amortization of intangibles	(26,716)	(22,241)	(20,237)	(17,792)	(17,587)	(15,598)	(15,382)	(15,420)	(86,986)	(63,987)	(56,343)
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets									0	0	(35,732)
Gains (losses), net on disposal of property and equipment	1,998	11	(144)	(173)	(1,105)	501	66	(717)	1,692	(1,255)	(169)
Interest expense	(27,120)	(26,537)	(18,023)	(8,916)	(9,143)	(9,003)	(9,279)	(8,759)	(80,596)	(36,184)	(26,697)
Defined benefit pension plan expense	(1,746)	(2,071)	(1,564)	(1,572)	(13,446)	(3,529)	(1,389)	(1,388)	(6,953)	(19,752)	(14,112)
Miscellaneous, net	(474)	$ 2,042	$ 369	$ (800)	687	$ (546)	$ (156)	$ 167	1,137	152	10,636
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes, extraordinary items, noncontrolling interest									(20,875)	74,175	(32,076)
Depreciation:
Total depreciation									40,709	34,641	34,049
Amortization of intangibles:
Total amortization of intangible assets									46,277	29,346	22,294
Additions to property and equipment:
Total additions to property and equipment									61,333	53,660	18,105
Assets
Total assets	3,561,353				2,130,061				3,561,353	2,130,061	2,129,548
Continuing Operations
Assets
Total assets	3,561,353				2,130,061				3,561,353	2,130,061	1,993,544
Discontinued Operations
Assets
Total assets	0				0				0	0	136,004
Local Media
Segment operating revenues:
Total operating revenues									1,022,805	917,480	778,376
Segment profit (loss):
Segment profit (loss)									217,885	251,119	156,890
Depreciation:
Total depreciation									34,086	30,467	31,870
Amortization of intangibles:
Total amortization of intangible assets									26,283	14,821	15,084
Additions to property and equipment:
Total additions to property and equipment									46,855	37,773	16,946
Assets
Total assets	2,694,667				1,261,526				2,694,667	1,261,526	1,273,735
National Media
Segment operating revenues:
Total operating revenues									396,111	286,170	93,141
Segment profit (loss):
Segment profit (loss)									23,986	13,920	(9,260)
Depreciation:
Total depreciation									5,013	2,592	88
Amortization of intangibles:
Total amortization of intangible assets									18,641	13,172	5,856
Additions to property and equipment:
Total additions to property and equipment									12,071	15,164	792
Assets
Total assets	782,030				737,987				782,030	737,987	528,479
Other
Segment operating revenues:
Total operating revenues									4,920	4,775	5,455
Segment profit (loss):
Segment profit (loss)									(3,957)	(3,680)	(2,361)
Depreciation:
Total depreciation									148	150	208
Additions to property and equipment:
Total additions to property and equipment									529	0	0
Assets
Total assets	3,503				865				3,503	865	2,128
Shared services and corporate
Segment profit (loss):
Segment profit (loss)									(57,409)	(53,123)	(50,506)
Depreciation:
Total depreciation									1,462	1,432	1,883
Amortization of intangibles:
Total amortization of intangible assets									1,353	1,353	1,354
Additions to property and equipment:
Total additions to property and equipment									1,878	723	367
Assets
Total assets	$ 81,153				$ 129,683				$ 81,153	$ 129,683	$ 189,202