Income Taxes - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended										6 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, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Aug. 21, 2018	Sep. 02, 2015	Oct. 27, 2009	Jul. 29, 2008
Federal Income Tax Note
Income tax expense (benefit)	$ 46,034	$ (22,422)	$ 32,816	$ 56,702	$ (219,767)	$ (20,087)	$ (9,905)	$ (51,614)				$ 113,130	$ (301,373)	$ 347,202
Impact of federal and state rate changes												23,291	262,851	0
Income tax settlements and other adjustments, net												(909)	634	179,558
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Tax Settlement, Other, Amount														11,000
Undistributed foreign earnings	0				100				$ 100		$ 100	0	100	100
Operating loss carryforwards	45,000				50,000							45,000	50,000
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Investments	213,887				209,751							213,887	209,751
Unrecognized tax benefits	21,382				23,322				22,532		22,532	21,382	23,322	22,532	$ 33,632
Favorable adjustment that would have been recognized	18,000				20,000							18,000	20,000
Company's accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions	1,000				1,000							1,000	1,000
Decrease in Unrecognized Tax Benefits is Reasonably Possible	2,000											$ 2,000
Minimum
Federal Income Tax Note
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Expiration Date												Jan. 01, 2020
Maximum
Federal Income Tax Note
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Expiration Date												Jan. 01, 2029
Newsday LLC
Federal Income Tax Note
Income tax settlements and other adjustments, net														191,000
Investment owned, percent																			97.00%
Investment ownership, percentage																	3.00%		3.00%
Income Taxes Paid															$ 136,000
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Investments																	$ 101,000
Net Adjustment to Uncertain Tax Position, Current										$ 102,000
Liability for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, Current										125,000
Increase (Decrease) in Deferred Income Taxes										(23,000)
Adjustment to Deferred Income Tax Liability for Changes in Tax Basis										$ 91,000				$ 3,000
Income Tax Examination, Interest Expense									$ 1,000
Payment for income tax, interest and penalties											$ 122,000
Expected future payment for income tax, interest and penalties	5,000				4,000							$ 5,000	4,000
Newsday LLC | Tax Year 2008
Federal Income Tax Note
Income tax examination, estimate of possible loss before penalties and interest												190,000
Income tax examination, penalties												38,000
CEV LLC
Federal Income Tax Note
Investment owned, percent																		95.00%
Investment ownership, percentage																5.00%		5.00%
Income Taxes Paid												80,000
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Investments	$ 69,000				$ 96,000							69,000	96,000
CEV LLC | Tax Year 2009
Federal Income Tax Note
Income Tax Examination, Estimate of Possible Taxes												182,000
Income Tax Examination, Estimate of Possible Penalties												73,000
Income Tax Examination, Estimate of Possible Interest												81,000
Income tax examination, estimate of possible loss												225,000
Domestic Tax Authority
Federal Income Tax Note
Impact of federal and state rate changes												24,000	256,000
State and Local Jurisdiction
Federal Income Tax Note
Impact of federal and state rate changes												$ 1,000	$ 7,000