Represents the annual percentage increase in aggregate purchase price of the television stations.

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Represents the amount of remaining purchase price, difference of aggregate purchase price and total payments made in pursuant to the business acquisition.

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Represents the renewal period of agreements by related parties.

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Represents the amount used to determine annual LMA fees required to be paid to related party.

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Percentage of capital stock or assets to be acquired in business combination.

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Amount, after accumulated amortization, of debt issuance costs. Includes, but is not limited to, legal, accounting, underwriting, printing, and registration costs.

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RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS - Cunningham Broadcasting Corporation (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) renewal	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Related person transactions
Revenue			$ 893,325	$ 766,261	$ 730,143	$ 665,352	$ 712,512	$ 644,532	$ 652,235	$ 626,936	$ 3,055,081	$ 2,636,215	$ 2,622,510
LMA \| Cunningham
Related person transactions
Payments to related party											10,000	9,100	8,900
Barrington Broadcasting Company, LLC \| Cunningham
Related person transactions
Revenue											$ 171,000	124,800	114,900
Cunningham \| Cunningham License Related Assets
Related person transactions
Agreement renewal period											8 years
Cunningham \| Affiliated Entity
Related person transactions
Percentage of the total capital stock held in the related party, none of which have voting rights			100.00%								100.00%
Remaining purchase price			$ 53,600								$ 53,600
Purchase options broadcast stations			$ 200								$ 200
Equipment purchase agreement, consideration amount		$ 700
Equipment purchase agreement, annual service consideration		$ 200
Share service agreement, annual service consideration	$ 1,000
Cunningham \| LMA \| Affiliated Entity
Related person transactions
Number of additional renewal terms \| renewal											2
Agreement renewal period											5 years
Cunningham \| Minimum \| LMA \| Affiliated Entity
Related person transactions
Percentage of net broadcast revenue used to determine annual LMA fees required to be paid			3.00%								3.00%
Amount used to determine annual LMA fees required to be paid			$ 5,000								$ 5,000
Annual increase in aggregate purchase price (as a percent)			6.00%								6.00%
Guarantee Obligations
Related person transactions
Unconditional and irrevocably guaranteed debt			$ 76,500				74,000				$ 76,500	74,000
Guarantee Obligations \| Cunningham \| Affiliated Entity
Related person transactions
Unconditional and irrevocably guaranteed debt			50,300								50,300
Deferred financing costs			700								700
Consolidated VIEs \| Cunningham \| Affiliated Entity
Related person transactions
Long-term debt			10,000								10,000
Eliminations
Related person transactions
Revenue											(93,620)	(80,882)	$ (108,190)
Eliminations \| Cunningham \| Consolidated VIEs
Related person transactions
Liabilities treated as prepayment of purchase price			$ 47,400				$ 44,000				$ 47,400	$ 44,000