Retirement and Postretirement Plans - Narrative (Details) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) participant	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2027	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Ultimate health care cost trend rate (percentage)								4.80%
Effect of one percentage point increase on accumulated postretirement benefit obligation								$ 8,300
Effect of one percentage point decrease on accumulated postretirement benefit obligation								3,700
Effect of one percentage point increase on net periodic cost								400
Effect of one percentage point decrease on net periodic cost								$ 200
US Large Cap Equity [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Target plan asset allocations range, minimum (percentage)								30.00%
Target plan asset allocations range, maximum (percentage)								50.00%
US Small Mid Cap Equity [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Target plan asset allocations range, minimum (percentage)								5.00%
Target plan asset allocations range, maximum (percentage)								17.00%
International Global Equity [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Target plan asset allocations range, minimum (percentage)								10.00%
Target plan asset allocations range, maximum (percentage)								30.00%
Fixed Income Securities [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Target plan asset allocations range, minimum (percentage)								25.00%
Target plan asset allocations range, maximum (percentage)								45.00%
Cash [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Target plan asset allocations range, minimum (percentage)								0.00%
Target plan asset allocations range, maximum (percentage)								5.00%
Supplemental Executive Retirement And ERISA Excess Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Benefit obligation								$ 59,000
Pension Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Benefit obligation	$ 621,823							563,634	$ 621,823	$ 488,229
Benefit payments								41,911	26,175
Net Actuarial Gain/(Loss)	(64,103)							4,621	(64,103)	10,389
Net periodic benefit benefit anticipated								$ 6,711	$ (3,186)	$ (8)
Assumptions used calculating net periodic benefit cost, discount rate (percentage)								3.80%	4.65%	4.62%
Contributions to retirement plans								$ 5,499	$ 49,879
Other Pension Plan, Postretirement or Supplemental Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Benefit obligation	26,384							21,839	26,384	$ 24,747
Benefit payments								1,938	1,777
Net Actuarial Gain/(Loss)	$ (2,077)							3,584	(2,077)	174
Net periodic benefit benefit anticipated								$ (862)	$ (1,157)	$ (145)
Assumptions used calculating net periodic benefit cost, discount rate (percentage)								3.65%	4.40%	4.35%
Contributions to retirement plans								$ 1,835	$ 1,597
Legacy Media General Retirement Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of participants | participant	1,800
Benefit payments	$ 71,000
Loss related to curtailment									7,700
LIN Supplemental Retirement Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Assumptions used calculating net periodic benefit cost, discount rate (percentage)								1.90%
The Plan 401k [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Employer matching contribution, percent of employees' gross pay (up to)		4.00%
Maximum annual contribution per employee (percentage)								3.00%
Contributions to retirement plans								$ 7,500	$ 3,800	$ 1,800
The Plan 401k [Member] | LIN Television Corporation [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Employer matching contribution, percent of employees' gross pay (up to)								3.00%
The Plan 401k [Member] | Media General [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Employer matching contribution, percent of employees' gross pay (up to)								3.00%
The Plan 401k [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Legacy Media General [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Employer matching contribution, percent of employees' gross pay (up to)										2.00%
The Plan 401k [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Young [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Employer matching contribution, percent of employees' gross pay (up to)										4.00%
The Plan 401k [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Employer matching contribution, percent of employees' gross pay (up to)								6.00%
Employer matching contribution, percent of match								50.00%
Scenario, Forecast [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Ultimate health care cost trend rate (percentage)			4.50%
Net periodic benefit benefit anticipated							$ 8,500
Scenario, Forecast [Member] | Pension Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net Actuarial Gain/(Loss)							(40)
Scenario, Forecast [Member] | Other Pension Plan, Postretirement or Supplemental Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net Actuarial Gain/(Loss)							$ 100
Scenario, Forecast [Member] | LIN Supplemental Retirement Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Assumptions used calculating net periodic benefit cost, discount rate (percentage)				5.00%	4.00%	3.00%	1.90%