Business Segments (Information by Operating Segment) (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues	$ 878,628	$ 870,504	$ 1,719,189	$ 1,691,096
Income (Loss) from Operations	94,484	96,301	174,013	143,448
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net	91,503	3,868	95,555	7,286
Interest Expense, Net	(7,916)	(8,526)	(16,137)	(16,976)
Other Income (Expense), Net	268,114	(12,858)	401,387	(16,941)
Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	446,185	78,785	654,818	116,817
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	52,017	56,879	105,262	115,838
Amortization of intangible assets	3,360	3,313	6,441	7,030
Amortization and impairment of intangible assets	11,134	3,313	14,215	7,030
Impairment of intangible assets	7,774	0	7,774	0
Net Pension (Credit) Expense	(17,919)	(2,601)	(30,107)	(5,274)
Identifiable Assets	3,859,580		3,859,580		4,062,631
Investment in Marketable Equity Securities	117,536		117,536		487,156
Investments in Affiliates	21,006		21,006		15,754
Prepaid Pension Cost	1,261,294		1,261,294		1,245,505
Assets Held for Sale	30,290		30,290		0
Total Assets	5,289,706		5,289,706		5,811,046
Operating Segments [Member] | Education [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues	547,181	548,230	1,073,355	1,076,045
Income (Loss) from Operations	10,561	23,726	13,083	19,670
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	15,400	20,064	31,844	42,652
Amortization of intangible assets	2,163	2,363	4,451	4,881
Amortization and impairment of intangible assets	9,937	2,363	12,225	4,881
Impairment of intangible assets	7,774	0	7,774	0
Net Pension (Credit) Expense	3,566	4,231	7,709	8,337
Identifiable Assets	1,743,192		1,743,192		1,921,037
Operating Segments [Member] | Education [Member] | Reportable Subsegments [Member] | Higher Education [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues	251,936	273,092	505,715	544,952
Income (Loss) from Operations	20,952	22,534	34,096	27,635
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	7,080	10,741	14,820	24,180
Net Pension (Credit) Expense	2,629	2,807	5,257	5,614
Identifiable Assets	633,040		633,040		859,208
Operating Segments [Member] | Education [Member] | Reportable Subsegments [Member] | Test Preparation [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues	81,098	85,690	148,902	154,633
Income (Loss) from Operations	(3,904)	7,831	(10,532)	3,486
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	3,072	4,866	6,856	9,624
Net Pension (Credit) Expense	722	641	1,444	1,281
Identifiable Assets	178,361		178,361		173,435
Operating Segments [Member] | Education [Member] | Reportable Subsegments [Member] | Kaplan International [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues	213,262	187,968	416,129	372,781
Income (Loss) from Operations	17,960	6,490	28,842	12,887
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	4,944	4,116	9,652	8,112
Net Pension (Credit) Expense	89	87	178	174
Identifiable Assets	888,559		888,559		864,507
Operating Segments [Member] | Education [Member] | Reportable Subsegments [Member] | Kaplan Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues	1,385	1,669	3,399	4,273
Income (Loss) from Operations	(24,539)	(13,223)	(39,459)	(24,563)
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	304	341	516	736
Net Pension (Credit) Expense	126	696	830	1,268
Identifiable Assets	43,232		43,232		23,887
Operating Segments [Member] | Education [Member] | Intersubsegment Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues	(500)	(189)	(790)	(594)
Income (Loss) from Operations	92	94	136	225
Operating Segments [Member] | Cable [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues	200,829	204,550	404,750	404,688
Income (Loss) from Operations	46,780	44,710	87,942	81,323
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	33,788	33,964	67,575	67,697
Amortization and impairment of intangible assets	59	57	94	107
Net Pension (Credit) Expense	888	913	1,752	1,795
Identifiable Assets	1,184,320		1,184,320		1,215,320
Operating Segments [Member] | Television Broadcasting [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues	88,297	80,228	173,948	149,130
Income (Loss) from Operations	44,088	39,235	88,474	68,346
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	2,039	2,214	4,033	4,423
Amortization and impairment of intangible assets	0	0	0	0
Net Pension (Credit) Expense	358	1,250	678	2,594
Identifiable Assets	310,948		310,948		383,251
Operating Segments [Member] | Other Businesses [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues	42,351	37,572	67,264	61,386
Income (Loss) from Operations	(6,995)	(5,968)	(17,742)	(14,510)
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	780	577	1,300	1,006
Amortization and impairment of intangible assets	1,138	893	1,896	2,042
Net Pension (Credit) Expense	202	134	366	250
Identifiable Assets	311,147		311,147		171,539
Operating Segments [Member] | Corporate Office [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues	0	0	0	0
Income (Loss) from Operations	50	(5,402)	2,256	(11,381)
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	10	60	510	60
Amortization and impairment of intangible assets	0	0	0	0
Net Pension (Credit) Expense	(22,933)	(9,129)	(40,612)	(18,250)
Identifiable Assets	309,973		309,973		371,484
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues	$ (30)	$ (76)	$ (128)	$ (153)