ACQUISITIONS - Additional Information (Details) $ in Thousands				3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 19, 2014 USD ($) station market	Nov. 01, 2014 USD ($)	Aug. 01, 2014 USD ($) station market	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) station	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) station	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) station market
Acquisitions
Depreciation				$ (25,476)	$ (25,342)	$ (75,938)	$ (74,972)
Costs incurred in corporate, general and administrative expenses							$ 4,400
2015 Acquisitions
Acquisitions
Number of television stations | station				1		1
Cash paid						$ 15,500
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
Decrease Broadcast licenses						3,500
Increase finite-lived intangible assets						33,700
Decrease Goodwill						17,600
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