Organization, Basis of Presentation and Recent Accounting Pronouncements	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Organization, Basis Of Presentation And Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract]
Organization, Basis of Presentation and Recent Accounting Pronouncements	1. ORGANIZATION, BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS The Washington Post Company, Inc. (the Company) is a diversified education and media company. The Company's Kaplan subsidiary provides a wide variety of educational services, both domestically and outside the United States. The Company's media operations consist of the ownership and operation of cable television systems and television broadcasting (through the ownership and operation of six television broadcast stations). The Company announced on August 5, 2013 that it had entered into an agreement to sell The Washington Post, and some other newspaper publishing entities. On October 1, 2013, the Company completed such sale. The operating results of The Washington Post and publishing businesses sold have been presented in (loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax, for all periods presented. Financial Periods – The Company and its subsidiaries report on a calendar-quarter basis. Basis of Presentation – The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with: (i) generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (GAAP) for interim financial information; (ii) the instructions to Form 10-Q; and (iii) the guidance of Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for financial statements required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). They include the assets, liabilities, results of operations and cash flows of the Company, including its domestic and foreign subsidiaries that are more than 50% owned or otherwise controlled by the Company. As permitted under such rules, certain notes and other financial information normally required by GAAP have been condensed or omitted. Management believes the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all normal and recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the Company's financial position, results of operations, and cash flows as of and for the periods presented herein. The Company's results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 may not be indicative of the Company's future results. These condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and should be read in conjunction with the Company's audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012. The year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP. Certain amounts in previously issued financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation, which includes the reclassification of the results of operations of certain businesses as discontinued operations for all periods presented. Use of Estimates in the Preparation of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the amounts reported herein. Management bases its estimates and assumptions on historical experience and on various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making estimates, actual results reported in future periods may be affected by changes in those estimates. Assets Held for Sale – An asset or business is classified as held for sale when (i) management commits to a plan to sell the asset or business; (ii) the asset or business is available for immediate sale in its present condition; (iii) the asset or business is actively marketed for sale at a reasonable price; (iv) the sale is expected to be completed within one year; and (v) it is unlikely significant changes to the plan will be made or that the plan will be withdrawn. The assets and related liabilities are aggregated and reported separately in the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheet. Recently Adopted and Issued Accounting Pronouncements – In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued final guidance on the presentation of reclassifications out of other comprehensive income to net income. The amendment requires an entity to provide information about the amounts reclassified out of other comprehensive income by component. In addition, an entity is required to present, either on the face of the income statement or in a footnote, significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by the respective line items of net income, only if the amount reclassified is required by GAAP to be reclassified to net income in its entirety in the same reporting period. For other amounts that are not required under GAAP to be reclassified in their entirety to net income, an entity is required to cross-reference to other disclosures required under GAAP that provide detail about those amounts. This amendment is effective for interim and fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2012. The adoption of the amendment in the first quarter of 2013 is reflected in the Company's Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Organization, Basis of Presentation and Recent Accounting Pronouncements

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

Organization, Basis Of Presentation And Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract]

Organization, Basis of Presentation and Recent Accounting Pronouncements

1. ORGANIZATION, BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

The Washington Post Company, Inc. (the Company) is a diversified education and media company. The Company's Kaplan subsidiary provides a wide variety of educational services, both domestically and outside the United States. The Company's media operations consist of the ownership and operation of cable television systems and television broadcasting (through the ownership and operation of six television broadcast stations).

The Company announced on August 5, 2013 that it had entered into an agreement to sell The Washington Post, and some other newspaper publishing entities. On October 1, 2013, the Company completed such sale. The operating results of The Washington Post and publishing businesses sold have been presented in (loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax, for all periods presented.

Financial Periods – The Company and its subsidiaries report on a calendar-quarter basis.

Basis of Presentation – The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with: (i) generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (GAAP) for interim financial information; (ii) the instructions to Form 10-Q; and (iii) the guidance of Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for financial statements required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). They include the assets, liabilities, results of operations and cash flows of the Company, including its domestic and foreign subsidiaries that are more than 50% owned or otherwise controlled by the Company. As permitted under such rules, certain notes and other financial information normally required by GAAP have been condensed or omitted. Management believes the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all normal and recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the Company's financial position, results of operations, and cash flows as of and for the periods presented herein. The Company's results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 may not be indicative of the Company's future results. These condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and should be read in conjunction with the Company's audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012.

The year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP.

Certain amounts in previously issued financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation, which includes the reclassification of the results of operations of certain businesses as discontinued operations for all periods presented.

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the amounts reported herein. Management bases its estimates and assumptions on historical experience and on various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making estimates, actual results reported in future periods may be affected by changes in those estimates.

Assets Held for Sale – An asset or business is classified as held for sale when (i) management commits to a plan to sell the asset or business; (ii) the asset or business is available for immediate sale in its present condition; (iii) the asset or business is actively marketed for sale at a reasonable price; (iv) the sale is expected to be completed within one year; and (v) it is unlikely significant changes to the plan will be made or that the plan will be withdrawn. The assets and related liabilities are aggregated and reported separately in the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheet.

Recently Adopted and Issued Accounting Pronouncements – In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued final guidance on the presentation of reclassifications out of other comprehensive income to net income. The amendment requires an entity to provide information about the amounts reclassified out of other comprehensive income by component. In addition, an entity is required to present, either on the face of the income statement or in a footnote, significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by the respective line items of net income, only if the amount reclassified is required by GAAP to be reclassified to net income in its entirety in the same reporting period. For other amounts that are not required under GAAP to be reclassified in their entirety to net income, an entity is required to cross-reference to other disclosures required under GAAP that provide detail about those amounts. This amendment is effective for interim and fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2012. The adoption of the amendment in the first quarter of 2013 is reflected in the Company's Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.