Note 5 - Debt and Other Financial Instruments (Details) - Carrying Values and Estimated Fair Values of Financial Instruments (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Investments
Trading securities	$ 484us-gaap_TradingSecurities	$ 449us-gaap_TradingSecurities
Long-term debt:
Long-term Debt, Carrying Amount	2,386,815us-gaap_LongTermDebt	2,422,711us-gaap_LongTermDebt
Other borrowings	1,815us-gaap_OtherLongTermDebt	2,111us-gaap_OtherLongTermDebt
Media General Credit Agreement [Member]
Long-term debt:
Long-term Debt, Carrying Amount	1,656,059	1,690,753
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	1,674,330	1,686,000
2022 Senior Notes [Member]
Long-term debt:
Long-term Debt, Carrying Amount	398,080	398,038
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	409,000	397,000
2021 Senior Notes [Member]
Long-term debt:
Long-term Debt, Carrying Amount	291,401	291,442
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	300,388	289,000
Shield Media Credit Agreement [Member]
Long-term debt:
Long-term Debt, Carrying Amount	29,000	29,600
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	$ 29,000	$ 29,600

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- Definition

Carrying amount of long-term debt, net of unamortized discount or premium, including current and noncurrent amounts. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)

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-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16)

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 20, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

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- Definition

The fair value amount of long-term debt whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Including both current and noncurrent portions, carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of other forms of debt not elsewhere specified in the taxonomy with initial maturities beyond one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

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- Definition

Amount of investments in debt and equity securities and other forms of securities that provide ownership interests classified as trading.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49167202&loc=d3e26610-111562

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.4)

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Trading Securities

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