Acquisitions - Acquisition Information (Details) $ in Thousands					3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Sep. 19, 2019 USD ($) television_station	Jun. 10, 2019 USD ($)	May 01, 2019 USD ($) television_station	Jan. 01, 2019 USD ($) television_station	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Programming					$ 0	$ 0	$ 52,699
Programming (less current portion)					133,077	133,077	96,256
Goodwill					1,226,222	1,226,222	1,224,679
Indefinite-lived intangible assets - FCC licenses					385,915	385,915	385,915
Current programming liability					92,940	92,940	96,682
Programming liability					(34,493)	(34,493)	$ (57,291)
Nexstar Media Group, Inc.
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of businesses acquired | television_station	8
Business acquisition, purchase price	$ 582,000
Programming	11,997
Other current assets	3,541
Property and equipment	61,569
Right-of-use assets	82,447
Programming (less current portion)	9,830
Goodwill	167,888
Accrued expenses	(4,580)
Current programming liability	16,211
Other current liabilities	(3,185)
Operating lease liabilities	(79,766)
Programming liability	(15,305)
Net purchase price	582,325
Nexstar Media Group, Inc. | Television network affiliation relationships
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Other intangible assets	181,000
Nexstar Media Group, Inc. | Advertiser relationships
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Other intangible assets	7,100
Nexstar Media Group, Inc. | Indefinite-lived intangible assets - FCC licenses
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Indefinite-lived intangible assets - FCC licenses	$ 176,000
Cordillera Communications, LLC
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of businesses acquired | television_station			15
Business acquisition, purchase price			$ 521,000
Reduction of purchase price					2,500
Net working capital adjustment used in combination			23,900
Accounts receivable			26,770
Other current assets			986
Property and equipment			53,734
Right-of-use assets			4,667
Goodwill			251,681
Accounts payable			(15)
Accrued expenses			(5,750)
Other current liabilities			(280)
Operating lease liabilities			(4,387)
Net purchase price			542,406
Cordillera Communications, LLC | Television network affiliation relationships
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Other intangible assets			169,400
Cordillera Communications, LLC | Advertiser relationships
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Other intangible assets			5,900
Cordillera Communications, LLC | Shared Service Agreements
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Other intangible assets			$ 13,000
Intangible asset, estimated amortization period			20 years
Cordillera Communications, LLC | Indefinite-lived intangible assets - FCC licenses
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Indefinite-lived intangible assets - FCC licenses			$ 26,700
Raycom Media, Inc.
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of businesses acquired | television_station				3
Business acquisition, purchase price				$ 55,000
Property and equipment				11,721
Right-of-use assets				296
Goodwill				18,349
Operating lease liabilities				(296)
Net purchase price				54,970
Raycom Media, Inc. | Television network affiliation relationships
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Other intangible assets				17,400
Raycom Media, Inc. | Advertiser relationships
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Other intangible assets				700
Raycom Media, Inc. | Indefinite-lived intangible assets - FCC licenses
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Indefinite-lived intangible assets - FCC licenses				$ 6,800
Raycom Media, Inc., Cordillera Communications, LLC And Nexstar Media Group, Inc.
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Accounts receivable					26,770	26,770
Programming					11,997	11,997
Other current assets					4,527	4,527
Property and equipment					127,024	127,024
Right-of-use assets					87,410	87,410
Programming (less current portion)					9,830	9,830
Goodwill					437,918	437,918
Accounts payable					(15)	(15)
Accrued expenses					(10,330)	(10,330)
Current programming liability					16,211	16,211
Other current liabilities					(3,465)	(3,465)
Operating lease liabilities					(84,449)	(84,449)
Programming liability					(15,305)	(15,305)
Net purchase price					1,179,701	1,179,701
Raycom Media, Inc., Cordillera Communications, LLC And Nexstar Media Group, Inc. | Television network affiliation relationships
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Other intangible assets					367,800	$ 367,800
Intangible asset, estimated amortization period						20 years
Raycom Media, Inc., Cordillera Communications, LLC And Nexstar Media Group, Inc. | Advertiser relationships
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Other intangible assets					13,700	$ 13,700
Raycom Media, Inc., Cordillera Communications, LLC And Nexstar Media Group, Inc. | Shared Service Agreements
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Other intangible assets					13,000	13,000
Raycom Media, Inc., Cordillera Communications, LLC And Nexstar Media Group, Inc. | Indefinite-lived intangible assets - FCC licenses
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Indefinite-lived intangible assets - FCC licenses					$ 209,500	$ 209,500
Raycom Media, Inc., Cordillera Communications, LLC And Nexstar Media Group, Inc. | Minimum | Advertiser relationships
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible asset, estimated amortization period						5 years
Raycom Media, Inc., Cordillera Communications, LLC And Nexstar Media Group, Inc. | Maximum | Advertiser relationships
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible asset, estimated amortization period						10 years
Omny Studio
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business acquisition, purchase price		$ 8,300
Goodwill		5,300
Omny Studio | Developed Technology Rights
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Other intangible assets		$ 3,800
Intangible asset, estimated amortization period		10 years