Investments - Narrative (Details)									1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended									9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
		Jan. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Apr. 02, 2015 USD ($)	Oct. 01, 2014 USD ($)	Apr. 01, 2014 USD ($)	Jul. 29, 2011 USD ($)	Oct. 27, 2009 USD ($)	Jul. 29, 2008 USD ($) lease	Jan. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 29, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 28, 2014 USD ($)	Jan. 01, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 02, 2015 USD ($)	Aug. 04, 2014 shares	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Oct. 14, 2009 USD ($)	Aug. 21, 2009
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Aggregate fair value of investments as of Effective Date																										$ 2,224,000,000
Equity Method Investment, Difference Between Carrying Amount and Underlying Equity											$ 797,000,000									$ 797,000,000
Weighted average remaining useful life, years																				15 years
Distributions from equity investments, return on investment																				$ 0	$ 10,328,000	$ 180,521,000
Equity method investments											1,642,117,000				$ 1,668,316,000					1,642,117,000	1,668,316,000
Income on equity investments, net											33,861,000	$ 31,737,000	$ 44,306,000	$ 38,252,000	27,125,000	$ 36,987,000	$ 45,913,000	$ 36,934,000		148,156,000	146,959,000	236,713,000
Distributions from equity investments																				170,527,000	169,879,000	189,789,000
Amortization of basis difference	[1]																			54,602,000	54,248,000	142,335,000
Write-downs of investments																				0	0	0
Cost method investments											26,748,000				20,868,000					26,748,000	20,868,000
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Investments											$ 399,103,000				418,908,000					$ 399,103,000	418,908,000
CareerBuilder, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership in equity method investment, percent											32.10%									32.10%
Equity method investments											$ 341,000,000				331,000,000					$ 341,000,000	331,000,000
Income on equity investments, net																				27,000,000	21,000,000	39,000,000
Distributions from equity investments																				$ 13,000,000	16,000,000	14,000,000
Operating revenues																						24,000,000
Dose Media, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership in equity method investment, percent											25.00%									25.00%
Equity method investments											$ 12,000,000				15,000,000					$ 12,000,000	15,000,000
Income on equity investments, net																				$ (3,000,000)
Television Food Network, G.P.
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership in equity method investment, percent											31.30%									31.30%
Equity method investments											$ 1,279,000,000				1,314,000,000					$ 1,279,000,000	1,314,000,000
Income on equity investments, net																				122,000,000	126,000,000	122,000,000
Distributions from equity investments									$ 12,000,000											$ 158,000,000	164,000,000	189,000,000
TKG Internet Holdings II LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership in equity method investment, percent											43.00%									43.00%
Apartments.com
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Distributions from equity investments, return on investment																						160,000,000
Amortization of basis difference																						85,000,000
CareerBuilder, LLC and Classified Ventures, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Distributions from equity investments, return on investment																					10,000,000	181,000,000
Classified Ventures LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership in equity method investment, percent				27.80%
Income on equity investments, net					$ 72,000,000																	77,000,000
Distributions from equity investments				$ 6,000,000																		166,000,000
Operating revenues																						44,000,000
Equity Method Investment, Value At Time Of Transaction				2,500,000,000
Gross proceeds from sale of equity method investment paid to selling partners				1,800,000,000
Company's portion of proceeds from sale of equity method investment, before tax			$ 8,000,000	686,000,000
Company's portion of proceeds from sale of equity method investments, net of tax				426,000,000
Company's portion of proceeds from sale of equity method investment held in escrow				$ 28,000,000
Pretax gain recognized on sale of equity method investment																						372,000,000
Cash proceeds from sale of business					585,000,000
Cash proceeds from sale of equity method investment					$ 160,000,000
tronc
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Common stock retained by the Company in the Publishing Spin-off, shares | shares																									381,354
Common stock owned by the Company, percent																									1.50%
Fair value of available-for-sale securities											$ 5,000,000				4,000,000					$ 5,000,000	4,000,000
Cost basis of available-for-sale securities											0				0					0	$ 0
Gross unrealized holding gain of available-for-sale securities											5,000,000									$ 5,000,000
Comcast SportsNet Chicago, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Common stock owned by the Company, percent																												25.34%
New Cubs LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Common stock owned by the Company, percent							5.00%
Special cash distribution received							$ 705,000,000
Cost method investment, accounts receivables and other items retained by Company																											$ 740,000,000
Investment owned, percent							95.00%
Cost Method Investments, Additional Information																				2500000	7500000
Cost method investments											18,000,000				15,000,000					$ 18,000,000	$ 15,000,000
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Investments											$ 158,000,000				$ 164,000,000					$ 158,000,000	164,000,000
Newsday Holdings LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investment, Cash Contribution								$ 35,000,000
Cost Method Investments, Notes Receivable								$ 650,000,000
Newsday LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Common stock owned by the Company, percent								3.00%																3.00%
Special cash distribution received								$ 612,000,000
Investment owned, percent								97.00%
Proceeds from Cost Method Investments, Prepaid Rent								$ 18,000,000
Number of Leases | lease								2
Proceeds from Sale of Cost Method Investment																			$ 8,000,000
Realized Gain (Loss) on Marketable Securities, Cost Method Investments, and Other Investments																			$ 3,000,000		$ 3,000,000
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Investments																								$ 101,000,000
Revaluation of Assets
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Fair value adjustments to investments																										1,615,000,000
Company's share of increases in carrying value of investees' amortization intangible assets																										1,108,000,000
Company's share of increases attributable to goodwill and other identifiable intangibles not subject to amortization																										$ 507,000,000
Payment Guarantee | New Cubs LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Maximum Identification Amount							$ 699,000,000
Indemnification Agreement | Newsday LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Maximum Identification Amount								$ 650,000,000														$ 425,000,000
Reduction in Maximum Identification Amount after third anniversary						$ 120,000,000
Maximum Indemnification Amount reduction, per year						$ 35,000,000
Dreamcatcher Credit Facility | Newsday Holdings LLC and Newsday LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Proceeds from Lines of Credit								650,000,000
Face amount of debt								$ 650,000,000
Subsequent Event | tronc
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Proceeds from Sale and Maturity of Marketable Securities		$ 5,000,000
Realized Gain (Loss) on Marketable Securities, Cost Method Investments, and Other Investments										$ 5,000,000
Scenario, Forecast | Indemnification Agreement | Newsday LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Maximum Identification Amount																							$ 0

[1] (1) Amortization of basis difference for the year ended December 28, 2014 includes $85 million related to the sale by CV of its Apartments.com business.