ACQUISITIONS - Fair Value of Acquired Assets and Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Nov. 22, 2013
Acquisitions
GOODWILL	$ 1,931,093	$ 1,964,553	$ 1,380,082
Fisher
Acquisitions
Cash			13,531
Accounts receivable			29,485
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			19,133
Program contract costs			11,427
Property and equipment			73,968
Broadcast licenses			29,771
Definite-lived intangible assets			166,034
Other assets			9,284
Assets held for sale			6,339
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities			(20,127)
Program contracts payable			(10,977)
Deferred tax liability			(74,177)
Other long term liabilities			(23,384)
Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired			230,307
GOODWILL			143,942
Less: fair value of non-controlling interest			(1,053)
Total			373,196
MEG Stations
Acquisitions
Accounts receivable		0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		476
Program contract costs		1,954
Property and equipment		23,462
Broadcast licenses		675
Definite-lived intangible assets		125,925
Other assets		0
Assets held for sale		0
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(2,085)
Program contracts payable		(1,914)
Deferred tax liability		0
Other long term liabilities		0
Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired		148,493
GOODWILL		57,398
Total		205,891
KSNV
Acquisitions
Accounts receivable		0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		67
Program contract costs		482
Property and equipment		8,300
Broadcast licenses		0
Definite-lived intangible assets		70,375
Other assets		0
Assets held for sale		0
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(277)
Program contracts payable		(481)
Deferred tax liability		0
Other long term liabilities		(1,200)
Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired		77,266
GOODWILL		41,024
Total		118,290
Allbritton
Acquisitions
Accounts receivable		38,542
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		19,890
Program contract costs		1,204
Property and equipment		46,600
Broadcast licenses		13,700
Definite-lived intangible assets		564,100
Other assets		20,352
Assets held for sale		83,200
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(8,351)
Program contracts payable		(1,140)
Deferred tax liability		(261,291)
Other long term liabilities		(17,263)
Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired		499,543
GOODWILL		535,694
Total		1,035,237
Other Acquisitions in 2014
Acquisitions
Accounts receivable		0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		79
Program contract costs		2,561
Property and equipment		8,352
Broadcast licenses		225
Definite-lived intangible assets		87,915
Other assets		1,500
Assets held for sale		0
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(1,143)
Program contracts payable		(2,554)
Deferred tax liability		0
Other long term liabilities		0
Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired		96,935
GOODWILL		25,501
Total		122,436
2014 Acquisitions
Acquisitions
Accounts receivable		38,542
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		20,512
Program contract costs		6,201
Property and equipment		86,714
Broadcast licenses		14,600
Definite-lived intangible assets		848,315
Other assets		21,852
Assets held for sale		83,200
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(11,856)
Program contracts payable		(6,089)
Deferred tax liability		(261,291)
Other long term liabilities		(18,463)
Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired		822,237
GOODWILL		659,617
Total		$ 1,481,854
Barrington Broadcasting Company, LLC
Acquisitions
Cash			0
Accounts receivable			0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			681
Program contract costs			4,011
Property and equipment			73,621
Broadcast licenses			719
Definite-lived intangible assets			220,253
Other assets			0
Assets held for sale			0
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities			(2,725)
Program contracts payable			(3,813)
Deferred tax liability			0
Other long term liabilities			(65)
Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired			292,682
GOODWILL			75,004
Less: fair value of non-controlling interest			0	$ (7,500)
Total			367,686
Other Acquisitions in 2013
Acquisitions
Cash			0
Accounts receivable			8,226
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			5,217
Program contract costs			6,050
Property and equipment			67,034
Broadcast licenses			4,395
Definite-lived intangible assets			169,438
Other assets			1,394
Assets held for sale			0
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities			(3,926)
Program contracts payable			(6,331)
Deferred tax liability			(2,304)
Other long term liabilities			(10,550)
Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired			238,643
GOODWILL			45,538
Less: fair value of non-controlling interest			0
Total			284,181
2013 Acquisitions
Acquisitions
Cash			13,531
Accounts receivable			37,711
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			25,031
Program contract costs			21,488
Property and equipment			214,623
Broadcast licenses			34,885
Definite-lived intangible assets			555,725
Other assets			10,678
Assets held for sale			6,339
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities			(26,778)
Program contracts payable			(21,121)
Deferred tax liability			(76,481)
Other long term liabilities			(33,999)
Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired			761,632
GOODWILL			264,484
Less: fair value of non-controlling interest			(1,053)
Total			$ 1,025,063