Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Statement $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 28, 2014 USD ($)
Operating Activities
Net Income (Loss)	$ 14,246	$ (319,918)	$ 476,663
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Stock-based compensation	37,189	32,493	27,918
Pension credit, net of contributions	(24,110)	(29,417)	(41,164)
Depreciation	72,409	74,289	88,890
Amortization of contract intangible assets and liabilities	(10,566)	(14,980)	(35,774)
Amortization of other intangible assets	196,663	195,230	222,216
Impairments of goodwill and other intangible assets (Note 7)	3,400	385,000	0
Income on equity investments, net	(148,156)	(146,959)	(236,088)
Distributions from equity investments	170,527	169,879	189,789
Non-cash loss on extinguishment of debt	0	33,480	0
Original issue discount payments	0	(6,158)	0
Amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount	11,172	12,258	13,433
Gain on investment transactions, net	0	(12,173)	(373,968)
Impairments of real estate	15,102	6,650	3,983
(Gain) loss on sales of real estate	(213,086)	97	(21,690)
Other non-operating (gain) loss, net	(5,427)	(6,183)	4,729
Change in excess tax benefits from stock-based awards	0	868	(868)
Changes in working capital items, excluding effects from acquisitions:
Accounts receivable, net	(998)	(23,444)	39,149
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	18,171	(36,997)	(1,532)
Accounts payable	6,589	(15,302)	2,855
Employee compensation and benefits, accrued expense and other current liabilities	(7,515)	38,062	(24,349)
Deferred revenue	(2,843)	9,541	23,189
Income taxes	51,296	(272,102)	261,591
Change in broadcast rights, net of liabilities	(15,427)	100,116	(21,098)
Deferred income taxes	95,035	(140,075)	(179,099)
Change in non-current obligations for uncertain tax positions	(11,276)	(931)	(2,814)
Other, net	31,768	(7,380)	(37,506)
Net cash provided by operating activities	284,163	25,944	378,455
Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	(99,659)	(89,084)	(89,438)
Investments	(5,993)	(23,042)	(2,330)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	0	(74,959)	(279,833)
Proceeds from sales of real estate and other assets	507,692	4,930	49,870
Transfers from (to) restricted cash	297	1,112	(1,109)
Decrease in restricted cash related to acquisition of Local TV	0	0	201,922
Distributions from equity investments	0	10,328	180,521
Proceeds from sales of investments	0	44,982	659,395
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	402,337	(125,733)	718,998
Financing Activities
Long-term borrowings	0	1,100,000	0
Long-term borrowings related to Publishing Spin-off (Note 2)	0	0	346,500
Repayments of long-term debt	(27,842)	(1,114,262)	(299,285)
Repayment of Senior Toggle Notes (Note 9)	0	0	(172,237)
Long-term debt issuance costs	(736)	(20,202)	0
Long-term debt issuance costs related to Publishing Spin-off (Note 2)	0	0	(10,179)
Payment of dividends	(90,296)	(719,919)	0
Settlements of contingent consideration, net	(3,636)	1,174	0
Common stock repurchases (Note 15)	(232,065)	(339,942)	(60,211)
Cash and restricted cash distributed to tronc (Note 2)	0	0	(86,530)
Change in excess tax benefits from stock-based awards	0	(868)	868
Tax withholdings related to net share settlements of share-based awards	(4,553)	(4,421)	(3,201)
Proceeds from stock option exercises	0	166	1,308
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	393	5,524	0
Net cash used in financing activities	(358,735)	(1,092,750)	(282,967)
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	327,765	(1,192,539)	814,486
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	262,644	1,455,183	640,697
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	590,409	262,644	1,455,183
Cash and Cash Equivalents are Comprised of:
Cash and cash equivalents	577,658	247,820	1,455,183
Cash and cash equivalents classified as assets held for sale	12,751	14,824	0
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	590,409	262,644	1,455,183
Supplemental Schedule of Cash Flow Information
Interest	160,200	130,311	140,338
Income taxes, net of refunds	$ 265,886	$ 434,720	$ 217,579