Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations	$ 132,833	$ 54,076	$ 84,438	$ 141,183	$ 332,799	$ (18,687)	$ (29,823)	$ (101,212)	$ 412,530	$ 183,077	$ 87,040
Net loss (income) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	8	23	4	6	(3,378)	0	0	0	41	(3,378)	0
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent									412,571	179,699	87,040
Less: Dividends distributed to Warrants									31	69	161
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to Warrants									113	81	0
Income from continuing operations attributable to Tribune Media Company’s common shareholders for basic EPS									412,427	179,549	86,879
Add: Undistributed earnings allocated to dilutive securities									1	1	0
Income from continuing operations attributable to Tribune Media Company’s common shareholders for diluted EPS									412,428	179,550	86,879
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, net of taxes	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ (619)	$ 0	$ (579)	$ 15,618	0	14,420	(72,794)
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to Warrants									0	7	0
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to common shareholders for basic and diluted EPS									0	14,413	(72,794)
Net income attributable to Tribune Media Company’s common shareholders for basic EPS									412,427	193,962	14,085
Net income attributable to Tribune Media Company’s common shareholders for diluted EPS									$ 412,428	$ 193,963	$ 14,085
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic									87,604	87,066	90,244
Impact of dilutive securities									797	935	392
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted									88,401	88,001	90,636
Continuing Operations	$ 1.51	$ 0.62	$ 0.96	$ 1.61	$ 3.77	$ (0.21)	$ (0.34)	$ (1.17)	$ 4.71	$ 2.06	$ 0.96
Discontinued Operations	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	(0.01)	0.00	(0.01)	0.18	0.00	0.17	(0.80)
Net Earnings Per Common Share	1.51	0.62	0.96	1.61	3.76	(0.21)	(0.35)	(0.99)	4.71	2.23	0.16
Continuing Operations	1.50	0.61	0.96	1.60	3.73	(0.21)	(0.34)	(1.17)	4.67	2.04	0.96
Discontinued Operations	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	(0.01)	0.00	(0.01)	0.18	0.00	0.16	(0.80)
Net Earnings Per Common Share	$ 1.50	$ 0.61	$ 0.96	$ 1.60	$ 3.72	$ (0.21)	$ (0.35)	$ (0.99)	$ 4.67	$ 2.20	$ 0.16