ACQUISITIONS - Additional Information (Details) $ in Thousands				3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 19, 2014 USD ($) station market	Nov. 01, 2014 USD ($)	Aug. 01, 2014 USD ($) station market	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) station market
Acquisitions
Property and equipment				$ (741,854)		$ (741,854)		$ (752,538)
Depreciation				(25,273)	$ (25,252)	(50,462)	$ (49,630)
Costs incurred in corporate, general and administrative expenses							$ 2,000
2014 Acquisitions
Acquisitions
Number of television stations | station								21
Number of markets | market								15
Cash paid								$ 1,434,500
Working capital adjustment								$ 47,200
Property and equipment				$ 12,500		12,500
Decrease Broadcast licenses						4,100
Increase finite-lived intangible assets						33,000
Decrease Goodwill						16,300
Depreciation						600
Amortization						$ 300
Allbritton
Acquisitions
Number of television stations | station			9
Number of markets | market			7
Cash paid			$ 985,000
Working capital adjustment			$ 50,100
Interest rate (as a percent)			5.625%
MEG Stations
Acquisitions
Number of television stations | station	4
Number of markets | market	3
Cash paid	$ 207,500
Working capital adjustment	$ 1,600
KSNV
Acquisitions
Cash paid		$ 118,500
Working capital adjustment		$ 200
Other
Acquisitions
Number of television stations | station								8
Number of markets | market								4
Cash paid								$ 123,500
Working capital adjustment								$ 1,100
Network affiliations | Barrington Broadcasting Company L L C
Acquisitions
Amortization period								15 years
Decaying advertiser base | Barrington Broadcasting Company L L C | Minimum
Acquisitions
Amortization period								10 years
Decaying advertiser base | Barrington Broadcasting Company L L C | Maximum
Acquisitions
Amortization period								15 years
Other intangible assets | Minimum
Acquisitions
Weighted-average useful life subject to amortization acquired								14 years
Other intangible assets | Maximum
Acquisitions
Weighted-average useful life subject to amortization acquired								16 years