Earnings Per Share - Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net loss attributable to Media General	$ (68,707)	$ (48,493)	$ (76,399)	$ (54,291)
Undistributed earnings attributable to participating securities	0	0	0	0
Basic EPS
Loss attributable to common stockholders	$ (68,707)	$ (48,493)	$ (76,399)	$ (54,291)
Loss attributable to common stockholders (in shares)	129,116	127,903	128,918	128,844
Loss attributable to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ (0.53)	$ (0.38)	$ (0.59)	$ (0.42)
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options and warrants (in shares)	0	0	0	0
Diluted EPS
Loss attributable to common stockholders	$ (68,707)	$ (48,493)	$ (76,399)	$ (54,291)
Loss attributable to common stockholders (in shares)	129,116	127,903	128,918	128,844
Loss attributable to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ (0.53)	$ (0.38)	$ (0.59)	$ (0.42)