Note 11. Guarantor Financial Information (Detail) - Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Sep. 23, 2012	Jun. 24, 2012	Sep. 25, 2011	Sep. 23, 2012	Sep. 25, 2011
Station revenue (less agency commissions)		$ 93,752		$ 66,076	$ 251,064	$ 202,730
Operating costs:
Station production expenses		31,458		27,726	92,359	86,103
Station selling, general, and administrative expenses		21,505		19,497	63,473	60,854
Corporate and other expenses		12,093		7,082	31,604	24,070
Depreciation and software amortization		5,533		5,811	17,124	17,399
Amortization of intangible assets		442		1,314	2,196	3,940
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets, net		218		(137)	(32)	236
Total operating costs		71,249		61,293	206,724	192,602
Operating income (loss)		22,503		4,783	44,340	10,128
Other income (expense):
Interest expense		(20,220)		(16,034)	(57,028)	(49,787)
Debt modification and extinguishment costs	(10,400)	(17,318)	(17,300)		(35,415)
Other, net		40		219	452	688
Total other income (expense)		(37,498)		(15,815)	(91,991)	(49,099)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes		(14,995)		(11,032)	(47,651)	(38,971)
Income tax expense (benefit)		3,406		847	10,223	6,001
Income (loss) from continuing operations		(18,401)		(11,879)	(57,874)	(44,972)
Discontinued operations (net of tax):
Income (loss) from discontinued operations		(1,038)		(17,953)	(10,588)	(26,046)
Loss related to divestiture of discontinued operations		(10,894)			(142,591)
Net income (loss)		(30,333)		(29,832)	(211,053)	(71,018)
Comprehensive income (loss)		(30,333)		(30,662)	(211,053)	(68,790)
Media General Corporate [Member]
Station revenue (less agency commissions)		7,622		5,879	23,443	23,098
Operating costs:
Corporate and other expenses		11,662		6,802	29,847	22,904
Depreciation and software amortization		564		711	2,062	1,990
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets, net		(120)		(115)	(613)	(289)
Total operating costs		12,106		7,398	31,296	24,605
Operating income (loss)		(4,484)		(1,519)	(7,853)	(1,507)
Other income (expense):
Interest expense		(20,203)		(16,022)	(56,980)	(49,755)
Debt modification and extinguishment costs		(17,318)			(35,415)
Intercompany interest income (expense)		21,699		17,405	57,270	51,769
Investment income (loss) - consolidated affiliates		(10,057)		(32,691)	(168,572)	(76,944)
Other, net		30		287	497	756
Total other income (expense)		(25,849)		(31,021)	(203,200)	(74,174)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes		(30,333)		(32,540)	(211,053)	(75,681)
Income tax expense (benefit)				(2,708)		(4,663)
Income (loss) from continuing operations		(30,333)		(29,832)	(211,053)	(71,018)
Discontinued operations (net of tax):
Net income (loss)		(30,333)		(29,832)	(211,053)	(71,018)
Comprehensive income (loss)		(30,333)		(30,662)	(211,053)	(68,790)
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Station revenue (less agency commissions)		93,789		66,324	251,559	203,314
Operating costs:
Station production expenses		31,459		27,879	92,832	86,578
Station selling, general, and administrative expenses		29,126		25,435	86,959	84,101
Corporate and other expenses		285		536	1,646	1,601
Depreciation and software amortization		4,969		5,100	15,062	15,409
Amortization of intangible assets		442		1,314	2,196	3,940
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets, net		338		(22)	581	525
Total operating costs		66,619		60,242	199,276	192,154
Operating income (loss)		27,170		6,082	52,283	11,160
Other income (expense):
Interest expense		(17)		(12)	(48)	(32)
Intercompany interest income (expense)		(21,699)		(17,405)	(57,270)	(51,769)
Other, net		10		(68)	(45)	(68)
Total other income (expense)		(21,706)		(17,485)	(57,363)	(51,869)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes		5,464		(11,403)	(5,080)	(40,709)
Income tax expense (benefit)		3,406		3,555	10,223	10,664
Income (loss) from continuing operations		2,058		(14,958)	(15,303)	(51,373)
Discontinued operations (net of tax):
Income (loss) from discontinued operations		(1,075)		(17,989)	(10,567)	(26,006)
Loss related to divestiture of discontinued operations		(10,894)			(142,591)
Net income (loss)		(9,911)		(32,947)	(168,461)	(77,379)
Comprehensive income (loss)		(9,911)		(32,947)	(168,461)	(77,379)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Operating costs:
Corporate and other expenses		146		(256)	111	(435)
Total operating costs		146		(256)	111	(435)
Operating income (loss)		(146)		256	(111)	435
Other income (expense):
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes		(146)		256	(111)	435
Income (loss) from continuing operations		(146)		256	(111)	435
Discontinued operations (net of tax):
Net income (loss)		(146)		256	(111)	435
Comprehensive income (loss)		(146)		256	(111)	435
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Station revenue (less agency commissions)		(7,659)		(6,127)	(23,938)	(23,682)
Operating costs:
Station production expenses		(1)		(153)	(473)	(475)
Station selling, general, and administrative expenses		(7,621)		(5,938)	(23,486)	(23,247)
Total operating costs		(7,622)		(6,091)	(23,959)	(23,722)
Operating income (loss)		(37)		(36)	21	40
Other income (expense):
Investment income (loss) - consolidated affiliates		10,057		32,691	168,572	76,944
Total other income (expense)		10,057		32,691	168,572	76,944
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes		10,020		32,655	168,593	76,984
Income (loss) from continuing operations		10,020		32,655	168,593	76,984
Discontinued operations (net of tax):
Income (loss) from discontinued operations		37		36	(21)	(40)
Net income (loss)		10,057		32,691	168,572	76,944
Comprehensive income (loss)		$ 10,057		$ 32,691	$ 168,572	$ 76,944