ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITION OF ASSETS - Narrative (Details) $ in Thousands				1 Months Ended			12 Months Ended			36 Months Ended
	Dec. 19, 2014 USD ($) station market	Nov. 01, 2014 USD ($)	Aug. 01, 2014 USD ($) station market	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) station market	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) station market	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) station	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) station market	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) station market
Acquisitions
Cash paid								$ 15,500		$ 1,872,000
Working capital adjustment										$ 56,300
Amortization period, weighted average useful life							14 years
Number of businesses acquired | station								1
Number of television stations owned | station							173			173
Number of markets | market							81			81
Property and equipment, net							$ 717,576	$ 717,137		$ 717,576
Indefinite-lived intangible assets							156,306	132,465		$ 156,306
Depreciation of property and equipment							98,529	103,433	$ 103,291
Acquisition costs related to legal and other professioanl services							1,400	500	5,700
Tennis Channel
Acquisitions
Cash paid				$ 350,000
Working capital adjustment				9,200
Other Acquisitions In 2016
Acquisitions
Cash paid							72,000
Working capital adjustment							200
Allbritton
Acquisitions
Cash paid			$ 985,000
Working capital adjustment			$ 50,100
Number of television stations owned | station			9
Number of markets | market			7
Interest rate (as a percent)			5.625%
MEG Stations
Acquisitions
Cash paid	$ 207,500
Working capital adjustment	$ 1,600
Number of television stations owned | station	4
Number of markets | market	3
KSNV
Acquisitions
Cash paid		$ 118,500
Working capital adjustment		$ 200
Other Acquisitions in 2014
Acquisitions
Cash paid									123,500
Working capital adjustment					$ 1,100				$ 1,100
Number of television stations owned | station					8				8
Number of markets | market					4				4
WTTA, and KXRMA and KXTU
Acquisitions
Working capital adjustment					$ 600				$ 600
Number of television stations sold | station					2				2
Price of assets sold					$ 93,100				$ 93,100
Gain recognized on sale of broadcast assets					$ 39,000
Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations | Disposals in 2016
Acquisitions
Value of consideration given, non-cash							23,800
Gain on sale of broadcast assets							$ 4,400
MEG Stations | WHTM | Allbritton
Acquisitions
Working capital adjustment						$ 200
Price of assets sold						83,400
Payments for non-license assets						$ 14,000
Minimum
Acquisitions
Amortization period							5 years
Maximum
Acquisitions
Amortization period							25 years
Network affiliations
Acquisitions
Amortization period							15 years
Customer relationships
Acquisitions
Amortization period							14 years
Customer relationships | Tennis Channel
Acquisitions
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired				$ 272,700
Amortization period, weighted average useful life				15 years
Other intangible assets | Minimum
Acquisitions
Amortization period, weighted average useful life							14 years
Other intangible assets | Maximum
Acquisitions
Amortization period, weighted average useful life							15 years
Scenario, Adjustment | 2014 Acquisitions
Acquisitions
Property and equipment, net								(12,500)
Indefinite-lived intangible assets								(3,400)
Definite-lived intangible assets								58,300
Decrease to goodwill								(42,200)
Depreciation of property and equipment								(700)
Amortization								$ (700)