Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies	1. Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Fisher Communications, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (the “Company”) have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for annual financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair statement have been included in the periods presented. Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2012, or for any other period. The unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2011 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for annual financial statements. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and notes should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 (“2011 Form 10-K”). Certain reclassifications have been made to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in the prior year to conform to the current year presentation. The significant accounting policies used in preparation of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are disclosed in the Company’s 2011 Form 10-K. Except as described below, there have been no recent accounting pronouncements or changes in accounting pronouncements during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, as compared to the recent accounting pronouncements described in the Company’s 2011 Form 10-K, that are of significance, or potential significance, to the Company. In the third quarter of 2012, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a special cash dividend of $10.00 per common share, or approximately $88.8 million, payable on October 19, 2012 to holders of record on September 28, 2012. At September 30, 2012, the special cash dividend was reported as dividends payable in the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet. In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2011-05, which amends the disclosure requirements for presentation of comprehensive income. Subsequently, in December 2011, the FASB indefinitely deferred the effective date of the portion of ASU No. 2011-05 requiring the separate presentation of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income. The implementation of the amended accounting guidance did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations. In July 2012, the FASB issued an accounting standard update on testing indefinite-lived intangibles for impairment. The accounting update provides an entity the option to first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that the indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired. If an entity determines that this is the case, it is required to perform the currently prescribed two-step impairment test to identify potential impairment and measure the amount of impairment loss to be recognized for the indefinite-lived intangible asset (if any). This guidance is effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning January 1, 2013, however, the Company can choose to early adopt the revised standard. The implementation of this accounting guidance is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

1. Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Fisher Communications, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (the “Company”) have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for annual financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair statement have been included in the periods presented. Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2012, or for any other period. The unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2011 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for annual financial statements. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and notes should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 (“2011 Form 10-K”).

Certain reclassifications have been made to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in the prior year to conform to the current year presentation.

The significant accounting policies used in preparation of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are disclosed in the Company’s 2011 Form 10-K. Except as described below, there have been no recent accounting pronouncements or changes in accounting pronouncements during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, as compared to the recent accounting pronouncements described in the Company’s 2011 Form 10-K, that are of significance, or potential significance, to the Company.

In the third quarter of 2012, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a special cash dividend of $10.00 per common share, or approximately $88.8 million, payable on October 19, 2012 to holders of record on September 28, 2012. At September 30, 2012, the special cash dividend was reported as dividends payable in the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet.

In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2011-05, which amends the disclosure requirements for presentation of comprehensive income. Subsequently, in December 2011, the FASB indefinitely deferred the effective date of the portion of ASU No. 2011-05 requiring the separate presentation of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income. The implementation of the amended accounting guidance did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In July 2012, the FASB issued an accounting standard update on testing indefinite-lived intangibles for impairment. The accounting update provides an entity the option to first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that the indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired. If an entity determines that this is the case, it is required to perform the currently prescribed two-step impairment test to identify potential impairment and measure the amount of impairment loss to be recognized for the indefinite-lived intangible asset (if any). This guidance is effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning January 1, 2013, however, the Company can choose to early adopt the revised standard. The implementation of this accounting guidance is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.