Note 5 - Debt and Other Financial Instruments (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Debt [Table Text Block]

(In thousands)	2015			2014
Media General Credit Agreement	$	1,666,000		$	1,701,000
2022 Notes		400,000			400,000
2021 Notes		290,000			290,000
Shield Media Credit Agreement		29,000			29,600
Other borrowings		1,815			2,111
Total debt		2,386,815			2,422,711
Less: net unamortized discount		(10,460	)		(10,768	)
Less: scheduled current maturities		(3,555	)		(11,781	)
Long-term debt excluding current maturities	$	2,372,800		$	2,400,162

Schedule of Carrying Values and Estimated Fair Values of Debt Instruments [Table Text Block]

	March 31, 2015				December 31, 2014
	Carrying		Fair		Carrying		Fair
(In thousands)	Amount		Value		Amount		Value
Assets:
Investments
Trading securities	$	484	$	484	$	449	$	449
Liabilities:
Long-term debt:
Media General Credit Agreement		1,656,059		1,674,330		1,690,753		1,686,000
2022 Notes		398,080		409,000		398,038		397,000
2021 Notes		291,401		300,388		291,442		289,000
Shield Media Credit Agreement		29,000		29,000		29,600		29,600
Other borrowings		1,815		1,815		2,111		2,111