Organization, Basis of Presentation and Recent Accounting Pronouncements	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Organization, Basis of Presentation and Recent Accounting Pronouncements	ORGANIZATION, BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS Graham Holdings Company (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 comprise the ownership and operation of cable systems and television broadcasting (through the ownership and operation of five television broadcast stations). 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, 2014 and 2013 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, 2013. 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. Restricted Cash – Restricted cash represents amounts held for students that were received from U.S. Federal and state governments under various aid grant and loan programs, such as Title IV of the U.S. Federal Higher Education Act of 1965 (Higher Education Act), as amended, that the Company is required to maintain pursuant to U.S. Department of Education (ED) and other regulations. Federal regulations stipulate that the Company has a fiduciary responsibility to segregate Federal funds from all other funds to ensure the funds are only used for the benefit of eligible students. The regulations further indicate that funds received under Federal aid programs are held in trust for the intended student beneficiary and the ED, and as trustee of these funds, the Company may not use the funds for any other purpose until the funds are applied to eligible student charges, which occurs within three days of the receipt of the funds. Restricted cash also includes (i) certain funds that the Company may be required to return if a student who receives Title IV program funds withdraws from a program and (ii) funds required to be held by non-U.S. higher education institutions for prepaid tuition. Allowance for Doubtful Accounts – Accounts receivable have been reduced by an allowance for amounts that may be uncollectible in the future. This estimated allowance is based primarily on the aging category, historical collection experience and management’s evaluation of the financial condition of the customer. The Company generally considers an account past due or delinquent when a student or customer misses a scheduled payment. The Company writes off accounts receivable balances deemed uncollectible against the allowance for doubtful accounts following the passage of a certain period of time, or generally when the account is turned over for collection to an outside collection agency. Revenue Recognition. Education revenues. Kaplan Higher Education's (KHE) refund policy may permit students who do not complete a course to be eligible for a refund for the portion of the course they did not attend. The amount of the refund differs by school, program, and state, as some states require different policies. Refunds generally result in a reduction in deferred revenue during the period that a student drops or withdraws from a class because the associated tuition revenue is recognized daily over the period of instruction as the services are delivered. Recently Adopted and Issued Accounting Pronouncements – In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued new guidance that modifies the requirements for reporting discontinued operations. The new guidance requires the reporting of the disposal of an entity or component of an entity as discontinued operations if the disposal represents a strategic shift that has or will have a major effect on the entity’s operations and financial results. The new guidance also expands the disclosures for discontinued operations and requires new disclosures related to individually material disposals that do not meet the definition of a discontinued operation. This guidance is effective for interim and fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2014. Early adoption is permitted for disposals that have not been reported in financial statements previously issued or available for issuance. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of this new guidance on its condensed consolidated financial statements. In May 2014, the FASB issued comprehensive new guidance that supersedes all existing revenue recognition guidance. The new guidance requires revenue to be recognized when the Company transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The new guidance also significantly expands the disclosure requirements for revenue recognition. This guidance is effective for interim and fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is not permitted. The standard permits two implementation approaches, one requiring retrospective application of the new guidance with a restatement of prior years and one requiring prospective application of the new guidance with disclosure of results under the old guidance. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of this new guidance on its condensed consolidated financial statements, and believes such evaluation will extend over several future periods due to the significance of the changes to the Company's policies and business processes. In August 2014, the FASB issued new guidance that requires management to assess the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, and to provide related disclosures in certain circumstances. This guidance is effective for interim and fiscal years ending after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect this guidance to have an impact on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

ORGANIZATION, BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

Graham Holdings Company (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 comprise the ownership and operation of cable systems and television broadcasting (through the ownership and operation of five television broadcast stations).

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, 2014 and 2013 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, 2013.

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.

Restricted Cash – Restricted cash represents amounts held for students that were received from U.S. Federal and state governments under various aid grant and loan programs, such as Title IV of the U.S. Federal Higher Education Act of 1965 (Higher Education Act), as amended, that the Company is required to maintain pursuant to U.S. Department of Education (ED) and other regulations. Federal regulations stipulate that the Company has a fiduciary responsibility to segregate Federal funds from all other funds to ensure the funds are only used for the benefit of eligible students. The regulations further indicate that funds received under Federal aid programs are held in trust for the intended student beneficiary and the ED, and as trustee of these funds, the Company may not use the funds for any other purpose until the funds are applied to eligible student charges, which occurs within three days of the receipt of the funds. Restricted cash also includes (i) certain funds that the Company may be required to return if a student who receives Title IV program funds withdraws from a program and (ii) funds required to be held by non-U.S. higher education institutions for prepaid tuition.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts – Accounts receivable have been reduced by an allowance for amounts that may be uncollectible in the future. This estimated allowance is based primarily on the aging category, historical collection experience and management’s evaluation of the financial condition of the customer. The Company generally considers an account past due or delinquent when a student or customer misses a scheduled payment. The Company writes off accounts receivable balances deemed uncollectible against the allowance for doubtful accounts following the passage of a certain period of time, or generally when the account is turned over for collection to an outside collection agency.

Revenue Recognition.

Education revenues. Kaplan Higher Education's (KHE) refund policy may permit students who do not complete a course to be eligible for a refund for the portion of the course they did not attend. The amount of the refund differs by school, program, and state, as some states require different policies. Refunds generally result in a reduction in deferred revenue during the period that a student drops or withdraws from a class because the associated tuition revenue is recognized daily over the period of instruction as the services are delivered.

Recently Adopted and Issued Accounting Pronouncements – In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued new guidance that modifies the requirements for reporting discontinued operations. The new guidance requires the reporting of the disposal of an entity or component of an entity as discontinued operations if the disposal represents a strategic shift that has or will have a major effect on the entity’s operations and financial results. The new guidance also expands the disclosures for discontinued operations and requires new disclosures related to individually material disposals that do not meet the definition of a discontinued operation. This guidance is effective for interim and fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2014. Early adoption is permitted for disposals that have not been reported in financial statements previously issued or available for issuance. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of this new guidance on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued comprehensive new guidance that supersedes all existing revenue recognition guidance. The new guidance requires revenue to be recognized when the Company transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The new guidance also significantly expands the disclosure requirements for revenue recognition. This guidance is effective for interim and fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is not permitted. The standard permits two implementation approaches, one requiring retrospective application of the new guidance with a restatement of prior years and one requiring prospective application of the new guidance with disclosure of results under the old guidance. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of this new guidance on its condensed consolidated financial statements, and believes such evaluation will extend over several future periods due to the significance of the changes to the Company's policies and business processes.

In August 2014, the FASB issued new guidance that requires management to assess the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, and to provide related disclosures in certain circumstances. This guidance is effective for interim and fiscal years ending after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect this guidance to have an impact on its condensed consolidated financial statements.