Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Class A	Common Class B	Special Cash Dividend	Regular Cash Dividend	Retained Earnings (Deficit)	Retained Earnings (Deficit) Regular Cash Dividend	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)		Additional Paid-In Capital	Additional Paid-In Capital Special Cash Dividend	Additional Paid-In Capital Regular Cash Dividend	Treasury Stock	Noncontrolling Interest
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 3,831,722	$ 100	$ 0			$ (322,351)		$ (71,016)		$ 4,619,618			$ (400,153)	$ 5,524
Beginning balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2015		100,015,000	6,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net Income	14,246
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Tribune Media Company	14,246					14,246
Net income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes	(10,766)							(10,766)
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	3,480
Regular dividends declared to shareholders and warrant holders					$ (90,296)							$ (90,296)
Warrant exercises, shares		163,077
Stock-based compensation	37,002									37,002
Net share settlements of stock-based awards	(4,553)									(4,564)			11
Net share settlements of stock-based awards, shares		238,000
Common stock repurchases	(232,065)												(232,065)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	393													393
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2016	3,545,683	$ 100	$ 0			(308,105)		(81,782)		4,561,760			(632,207)	5,917
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2016		100,416,000	6,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net Income	197,497
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Tribune Media Company	194,119					194,119
Net income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	3,378													3,378
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes	33,721							33,721
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	231,218
Special dividends declared to shareholders and warrant holders	(87,229)			$ (499,107)							$ (499,107)
Regular dividends declared to shareholders and warrant holders					(87,229)							(87,229)
Warrant exercises, shares		97,681
Stock-based compensation	33,159									33,159
Net share settlements of stock-based awards	2,543	$ 1								2,529			13
Net share settlements of stock-based awards, shares		916,000
Common stock repurchases	0
Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle	164					(254)				418
Distributions to noncontrolling interests, net	(9,251)													(9,251)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2017	3,217,180	$ 101	$ 0			(114,240)		(48,061)		4,011,530			(632,194)	44
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2017		101,429,999	5,557
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net Income	412,530
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Tribune Media Company	412,571					412,571
Net income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	(41)													(41)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes	(42,575)							(42,575)
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	369,955
Special dividends declared to shareholders and warrant holders	(87,709)
Regular dividends declared to shareholders and warrant holders					$ (87,709)		$ (88,928)					$ 1,219
Stock-based compensation	23,033									23,033
Net share settlements of stock-based awards	(4,548)	$ 1								(4,549)			0
Net share settlements of stock-based awards, shares		361,000
Common stock repurchases	0
Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle	0					14,331		(14,331)	[1]
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	5,186													5,186
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 3,523,097	$ 102	$ 0			$ 223,734		$ (104,967)		$ 4,031,233			$ (632,194)	$ 5,189
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2018		101,790,837	5,557

[1] (2)See Note 1 for additional information on the adoption of ASU 2018-02.