INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND GOODWILL - Indefinite-lived (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Dec. 27, 2015	Jun. 28, 2015	Dec. 28, 2014	Dec. 27, 2015	Dec. 28, 2014	Dec. 29, 2013
Indefinite lived intangible assets and goodwill
Goodwill, Gross	$ 3,571,111		$ 3,571,111	$ 3,571,111	$ 3,571,111
Original Gross Amount	4,254,111		4,254,111	4,254,111	4,254,111
Accumulated Impairment, Goodwill	(2,865,937)		(2,574,996)	(2,865,937)	(2,574,996)
Accumulated Impairment, Amount	(3,369,805)		(3,064,957)	(3,369,805)	(3,064,957)
Carrying Amount, Mastheads	179,132		193,039	179,132	193,039	$ 198,242
Goodwill	705,174		996,115	705,174	996,115	1,013,002
Carrying Amount, Total	884,306		1,189,154	884,306	1,189,154
Impairment Charges			(5,200)	(13,907)	(5,203)	$ 0
Newspaper mastheads
Indefinite lived intangible assets and goodwill
Original Gross Amount, Mastheads	683,000		683,000	683,000	683,000
Accumulated Impairment, Mastheads	(503,868)		(489,961)	(503,868)	(489,961)
Carrying Amount, Mastheads	179,132		$ 193,039	$ 179,132	$ 193,039
Impairment Charges	$ (4,400)	$ (9,500)