Current portion of long-term debt

$ 407,123

$ 198,000

6,656

2,000

Long-term debt (less current portion)

400,467

196,000

Fair value of long-term debt

405,800

^[1]

194,000

Unsecured Subordinated Notes Payable

10,623

Variable rate credit facility

Term loan

Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges:

$ 396,500

$ 198,000

[1]	* Fair value of the term loan was estimated based on quoted private market transactions and is classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy

Long-Term Debt - Narrative (Details) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
Long-Term Debt - Narrative (Details) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2015	Apr. 01, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Current portion of long-term debt	$ 6,656,000		$ 2,000,000
Long-term debt (less current portion)	400,467,000		196,000,000
Scheduled principal payments on long-term debt in 2015	2,000,000
Scheduled principal payments on long-term debt in 2016	4,000,000
Scheduled principal payments on long-term debt in 2017	4,000,000
Scheduled principal payments on long-term debt in 2018	4,000,000
Scheduled principal payments on long-term debt in 2019	4,000,000
Scheduled principal payments on long-term debt in 2020	378,500,000
Letters of credit outstanding amount	1,900,000		200,000
Unsecured Subordinated Notes Payable
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Stated interest rate (percent)	7.25%
Annual installment payments	2,700,000
Minimum
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Percentage of commitment fees of total unused commitment under revolving credit facility	0.30%
Maximum
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Percentage of commitment fees of total unused commitment under revolving credit facility	0.50%
Revolving credit facility
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Revolving credit and term loan agreement to finance acquisition		100,000,000
Revolving credit and term loan agreement, increase in borrowing capacity		25,000,000
Financing Agreement
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Revolving credit and term loan agreement to finance acquisition		500,000,000
Restricted payment for dividend and share repurchase, maximum	70,000,000
Ratio of Indebtedness to Net Capital	4.5
Financing Agreement \| Term loan B
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Revolving credit and term loan agreement, increase in borrowing capacity		200,000,000
Long-term debt, term loan		400,000,000
Long-term Debt, Percentage Bearing Variable Interest, Percentage Rate	3.50%		3.25%
LIBOR plus margin range	2.75%
Weighted average interest rate	3.37%			3.25%
Financing Agreement \| Term loan B \| Minimum
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Long-term Debt, Percentage Bearing Variable Interest, Percentage Rate	0.75%
Financing Agreement \| Revolving credit facility
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Revolving credit and term loan agreement to finance acquisition		100,000,000
Revolving credit and term loan agreement, increase in borrowing capacity		$ 25,000,000
Financing Agreement \| Revolving credit facility \| Minimum
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Line of Credit Facility, Amount Outstanding, Trigger Leverage Ratio, Percentage	20.00%
LIBOR plus margin range	2.25%
Financing Agreement \| Revolving credit facility \| Maximum
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
LIBOR plus margin range	2.75%

Financial Instruments - Narrative (Details) (Interest rate swaps, USD $)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Interest rate swaps
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional Amount	$ 75,000,000	$ 75,000,000
Fixed LIBOR interest rate	1.08%
Derivative instrument, amortized into earnings from AOCI	$ 200,000

Financial Instruments - Notional Amounts (Details) (Interest rate swaps, USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified

Jun. 30, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

Interest rate swaps

Derivative, Notional Amount

$ 75,000

Interest Rate Derivative Assets, at Fair Value

Interest Rate Derivative Liabilities, at Fair Value

$ 581

^[1]

$ 471

^[1]

[1]	(1) Balance recorded as other liabilities in Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet

Financial Instruments - Effective Portion of Unrealized Gain and Loss (Details) (Interest rate swaps, USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Interest rate swaps
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges:
Amounts reclassified from accumulated OCL, gain/(loss)	$ 96	$ 96	$ 192	$ 192
Gain/(loss) on derivative	$ 64	$ (111)	$ (110)	$ (62)

Fair Value Measurement - Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified

Jun. 30, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

Recurring Measurements

Assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis

Assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis

$ 5,000

$ 10,000

Level 1 | Recurring Measurements

Assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis

5,000

10,000

Level 2 | Recurring Measurements

Assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis

Level 3 | Recurring Measurements

Assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis

Interest rate swaps

Assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis

(581)

^[1]

(471)

^[1]

Interest rate swaps | Recurring Measurements

Assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis

(581)

(471)

Interest rate swaps | Level 1 | Recurring Measurements

Assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis

Interest rate swaps | Level 2 | Recurring Measurements

Assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis

(581)

(471)

Interest rate swaps | Level 3 | Recurring Measurements

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Roll Forward]

$ 0

[1]	(1) Balance recorded as other liabilities in Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet

Other Liabilities - Additional Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Other liabilities
Employee compensation and benefits	$ 17,846	$ 15,914
Liability for pension benefits	229,397	136,429
Liabilities for uncertain tax positions	6,845	6,741
Other	22,130	10,087
Other liabilities (less current portion)	$ 276,218	$ 169,171

Supplemental Cash Flow Information - Change in Certain Working Capital Accounts (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Other changes in certain working capital accounts, net
Accounts and notes receivable	$ (24,368)	$ 2,519
Transition services receivable, net	(17,889)	0
Income taxes receivable/payable, net	(14,193)	(235)
Accounts payable	(14,124)	424
Accrued employee compensation and benefits	260	1,243
Other accrued liabilities	(7,684)	2,779
Other, net	(3,875)	(1,319)
Total	$ (81,873)	$ 5,411

Employee Benefit Plans - Components of Expense (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost [Abstract]
Net periodic benefit cost	$ 6,518	$ 8,638	$ 12,690	$ 13,295
Allocated to discontinued operations	0	(1,332)	(1,096)	(2,541)
Net periodic benefit cost — continuing operations	6,518	7,306	11,594	10,754
Defined contribution plans
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost [Abstract]
Net periodic benefit cost	2,360	3,056	5,711	6,216
Withdrawal from GCIU multi-employer plan
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost [Abstract]
Net periodic benefit cost	0	4,100	0	4,100
Multi-employer plans
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost [Abstract]
Net periodic benefit cost	38	105	97	224
Defined benefit plans
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost [Abstract]
Service cost	0	22	0	43
Interest cost	8,179	6,277	14,628	12,555
Expected return on plan assets, net of expenses	(6,624)	(5,859)	(11,709)	(11,718)
Amortization of actuarial loss	1,204	641	2,336	1,283
Curtailment	1,080	0	1,080	0
Total for defined benefit plans	3,839	1,081	6,335	2,163
SERP
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost [Abstract]
Net periodic benefit cost	$ 281	$ 296	$ 547	$ 592

Employee Benefit Plans - Narrative (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
Employee Benefit Plans - Narrative (Details) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Withdrawal from multi-employer pension plan, undiscounted liability	$ 6,500,000		$ 6,500,000
Withdrawal from multi-employer pension plan, recorded liability	4,100,000		4,100,000
Withdrawal from multi-employer pension plan, liability repayment, term	20 years
SERP
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Contributions to benefit plan			200,000
Estimated future contributions			600,000
Defined benefit plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Contributions to benefit plan			0
Curtailment charge	$ 1,080,000	$ 0	$ 1,080,000	$ 0

Segment Information - Narrative (Details)	Jun. 30, 2015 customer
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of major customers customers	0
Percentage of revenue by major customer	10.00%
Television and Radio
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of markets in which the company operates	5
Television
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Percentage of market capture	18.00%
Television \| ABC affiliates
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of affiliates	15
Television \| NBC affiliates
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of affiliates	5
Television \| FOX affiliates
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of affiliates	2
Television \| CBS affiliates
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of affiliates	2
Television \| Non big four affiliates
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of affiliates	4
Television \| Azteca America affiliates
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of affiliates	5
Radio
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of radio stations	34
Number of markets in which the company operates	8
Radio \| Radio - FM
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of radio stations	28
Radio \| Radio - AM
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of radio stations	6

Segment Information - Schedule of Business Segments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Information regarding business segments
Total operating revenues	$ 198,134	$ 119,696	$ 321,157	$ 225,000
Defined benefit pension plan expense	(4,120)	(1,319)	(6,806)	(2,640)
Acquisition and related integration costs	(29,973)	(3,939)	(32,747)	(4,201)
Depreciation and amortization of intangibles	(13,366)	(7,438)	(21,661)	(14,925)
(Losses) gains, net on disposal of property, plant and equipment	(215)	(13)	(379)	(48)
Interest expense	(4,225)	(2,041)	(6,277)	(4,295)
Miscellaneous, net	387	(237)	(1,049)	(380)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	(19,494)	(4,427)	(32,632)	(11,079)
Depreciation:
Total depreciation	8,604	5,634	14,791	11,318
Amortization of intangibles:
Total amortization of intangibles	4,762	1,804	6,870	3,607
Additions to property, plant and equipment:
Total additions to property, plant and equipment	6,466	4,931	8,771	7,296
Television
Information regarding business segments
Total operating revenues	167,394	111,349	281,612	209,086
Segment profit (loss)	44,596	28,650	66,650	49,836
Depreciation:
Total depreciation	7,238	5,028	12,624	10,139
Amortization of intangibles:
Total amortization of intangibles	4,262	1,600	6,150	3,199
Additions to property, plant and equipment:
Total additions to property, plant and equipment	5,802	4,708	7,743	6,440
Radio
Information regarding business segments
Total operating revenues	19,413	0	19,413	0
Segment profit (loss)	4,908	0	4,908	0
Depreciation:
Total depreciation	549	0	549	0
Amortization of intangibles:
Total amortization of intangibles	280	0	280	0
Additions to property, plant and equipment:
Total additions to property, plant and equipment	16	0	16	0
Digital
Information regarding business segments
Total operating revenues	8,602	5,445	14,837	10,681
Segment profit (loss)	(4,917)	(6,473)	(9,571)	(11,271)
Depreciation:
Total depreciation	132	92	262	179
Amortization of intangibles:
Total amortization of intangibles	220	204	440	408
Additions to property, plant and equipment:
Total additions to property, plant and equipment	0	60	0	62
Syndication and other
Information regarding business segments
Total operating revenues	2,725	2,902	5,295	5,233
Segment profit (loss)	(1,062)	(881)	(657)	(556)
Depreciation:
Total depreciation	66	20	129	40
Additions to property, plant and equipment:
Total additions to property, plant and equipment	15	42	69	68
Shared services and corporate
Information regarding business segments
Segment profit (loss)	(11,507)	(10,736)	(25,043)	(22,599)
Depreciation:
Total depreciation	619	494	1,227	960
Additions to property, plant and equipment:
Total additions to property, plant and equipment	$ 633	$ 121	$ 943	$ 726

Capital Stock - Narrative (Details) (USD $)	6 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
Capital Stock - Narrative (Details) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2015 common_share director	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015 Common stock, Class A	May 31, 2014 Common stock, Class A	Jun. 30, 2015 Common stock, Class A Minimum	Jun. 30, 2015 Common stock, Class A Maximum
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Classes of common shares	2
Minimum number of directors up for election to entitle shareholders to vote	3
Stock repurchase program, authorized amount				$ 100,000,000
Stock repurchased during period, value	2,683,000	21,237,000	2,700,000
Stock repurchased during period (in dollars per share)					$ 21.60	$ 24.94
Stock repurchase program, remaining authorized amount			$ 97,300,000

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2015

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2015

Jun. 30, 2014

Other comprehensive income before reclassifications

$ (125,626)

$ (80,420)

$ (126,443)

$ (80,923)

2,326

(138,159)

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Roll Forward]

(125,873)

(79,917)

(125,873)

(79,917)

Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, Interest rate swap

^[1]

119

^[1]

118

^[1]

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, Actuarial loss

(2,632)

^[2]

444

^[2]

(1,875)

^[2]

888

^[2]

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Roll Forward]

(2,573)

503

(1,756)

1,006

Gains and Losses on Derivatives

Other comprehensive income before reclassifications

(419)

(659)

(479)

(718)

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Roll Forward]

(360)

(600)

(360)

(600)

Gains and Losses on Derivatives | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, Actuarial loss

^[2]

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Roll Forward]

119

118

Gains and Losses on Derivatives | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Interest rate swaps

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, Interest rate swap

^[1]

119

^[1]

118

^[1]

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, Interest rate swap, tax

Defined Benefit Pension Items

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Roll Forward]

Other comprehensive income before reclassifications

(125,120)

(79,933)

(125,877)

(80,377)

Spin-off on Newspapers, tax

2,312

1,517

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Roll Forward]

(125,524)

(79,489)

(125,524)

(79,489)

Defined Benefit Pension Items | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, Interest rate swap

^[1]

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, Actuarial loss

(2,716)

^[2]

444

^[2]

(1,959)

^[2]

888

^[2]

Amounts reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive loss, Actuarial loss, tax

1,669

280

1,211

560

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Roll Forward]

(2,716)

444

(1,959)

888

Other

Other comprehensive income before reclassifications

(87)

172

(87)

172

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Roll Forward]

172

Other | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, Interest rate swap

^[1]

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, Actuarial loss

^[2]

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Roll Forward]

AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member]