Note 12 - Guarantor Financial Information (Details) - Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Note 12 - Guarantor Financial Information (Details) - Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Net revenues	$ 296,734	$ 143,918
Operating costs:
Operating Expenses, excluding depreciation expense	125,876	50,615
Selling, general and administrative expenses	80,470	42,332
Amortization of program license rights	11,758	4,963
Corporate and other expenses	12,651	6,578
Depreciation and amortization	40,283	16,195
Gain on disposal of property and equipment, net	(228)	(771)
Merger-related and restructuring expenses	5,277	4,752
Operating (loss) income	20,647	19,254
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(31,023)	(9,990)
Debt modification and extinguishment costs	(613)	(98)
Other, net	3,290	(85)
Total other income (expense)	(28,346)	(10,173)
Income before income taxes from operations of consolidated subsidiaries	(7,699)	9,081
Income tax (expense) benefit	3,157	(3,642)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	(4,542)
Net income (loss)	(4,542)	5,439
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	2,891	54
Net income attributable to Media General	(7,433)	5,385
Total comprehensive income	(4,542)	5,439
Other comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest		54
Total comprehensive income attributable to Media General	(7,433)	5,385
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(1)
Total other income (expense)	(1)
Income before income taxes from operations of consolidated subsidiaries	(1)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	(1)
Equity in income (loss) from operations of consolidated subsidiaries	(7,432)
Net income (loss)	(7,433)
Net income attributable to Media General	(7,433)
Total comprehensive income	(7,433)
Total comprehensive income attributable to Media General	(7,433)
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | LIN Television Corporation [Member]
Note 12 - Guarantor Financial Information (Details) - Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Net revenues	88,218
Operating costs:
Operating Expenses, excluding depreciation expense	37,599
Selling, general and administrative expenses	23,524
Amortization of program license rights	4,178
Corporate and other expenses	3,201
Depreciation and amortization	14,136
Gain on disposal of property and equipment, net	(36)
Merger-related and restructuring expenses	1,374
Operating (loss) income	4,242
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(10,650)
ntercompany income and (expenses)	(5,535)
Other, net	82
Total other income (expense)	(16,103)
Income before income taxes from operations of consolidated subsidiaries	(11,861)
Income tax (expense) benefit	4,863
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	(6,998)
Equity in income (loss) from operations of consolidated subsidiaries	(434)
Net income (loss)	(7,432)
Net income attributable to Media General	(7,432)
Total comprehensive income	(7,432)
Total comprehensive income attributable to Media General	(7,432)
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Note 12 - Guarantor Financial Information (Details) - Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Net revenues	199,730	139,636
Operating costs:
Operating Expenses, excluding depreciation expense	83,759	49,149
Selling, general and administrative expenses	53,218	40,364
Amortization of program license rights	7,101	4,656
Corporate and other expenses	9,458	6,711
Depreciation and amortization	24,672	16,006
Gain on disposal of property and equipment, net	(192)	(771)
Merger-related and restructuring expenses	3,903	4,752
Operating (loss) income	17,811	18,769
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(20,087)	(9,682)
Debt modification and extinguishment costs	(613)	(98)
ntercompany income and (expenses)	5,767
Other, net	708	(96)
Total other income (expense)	(14,225)	(9,876)
Income before income taxes from operations of consolidated subsidiaries	3,586	8,893
Income tax (expense) benefit	(2,274)	(3,642)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	1,312
Net income (loss)	1,312	5,251
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(178)
Net income attributable to Media General	1,490	5,251
Total comprehensive income	1,312	5,251
Total comprehensive income attributable to Media General	1,490	5,251
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Note 12 - Guarantor Financial Information (Details) - Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Net revenues	13,742	4,282
Operating costs:
Operating Expenses, excluding depreciation expense	7,542	1,466
Selling, general and administrative expenses	4,137	1,968
Amortization of program license rights	479	307
Corporate and other expenses	(8)	(133)
Depreciation and amortization	1,475	189
Operating (loss) income	117	485
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(285)	(308)
ntercompany income and (expenses)	(232)
Other, net	2,500	11
Total other income (expense)	1,983	(297)
Income before income taxes from operations of consolidated subsidiaries	2,100	188
Income tax (expense) benefit	568
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	2,668
Net income (loss)	2,668	188
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	3,069	54
Net income attributable to Media General	(401)	134
Total comprehensive income	2,668	188
Other comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest		54
Total comprehensive income attributable to Media General	(401)	134
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Note 12 - Guarantor Financial Information (Details) - Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Net revenues	(4,956)
Operating costs:
Operating Expenses, excluding depreciation expense	(3,024)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(409)
Operating (loss) income	(1,523)
Other income (expense):
Income before income taxes from operations of consolidated subsidiaries	(1,523)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	(1,523)
Equity in income (loss) from operations of consolidated subsidiaries	7,866
Net income (loss)	6,343
Net income attributable to Media General	6,343
Total comprehensive income	6,343
Total comprehensive income attributable to Media General	$ 6,343