Mergers, Acquisitions and Dispositions - Schedule of initial allocation of fair value (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Fair Value of Acquired Assets and Assumed Liabilities [Line Items]
Definite lived intangible assets	$ 360,000
Goodwill	1,544,624	$ 1,597,486
Media General and LIN
Fair Value of Acquired Assets and Assumed Liabilities [Line Items]
Current assets acquired	217,816	218,516
Property and equipment	284,217	280,124
Other assets acquired	12,812	12,812
FCC broadcast licenses	588,042	614,942
Definite lived intangible assets	786,705	740,065
Goodwill	1,119,957	1,132,538
Deferred income tax liabilities recorded in conjunction with the acquisition	(338,535)	(330,647)
Current liabilities assumed	(112,917)	(111,517)
Other liabilities assumed	(79,267)	(79,185)
Total	2,478,830	$ 2,477,648
Scenario, Adjustment | Media General and LIN
Fair Value of Acquired Assets and Assumed Liabilities [Line Items]
Current assets acquired	(700)
Property and equipment	4,093
Other assets acquired	0
FCC broadcast licenses	(26,900)
Definite lived intangible assets	46,640
Goodwill	(12,581)
Deferred income tax liabilities recorded in conjunction with the acquisition	(7,888)
Current liabilities assumed	(1,400)
Other liabilities assumed	$ (82)