Regulatory, Legal and Other Matters	9 Months Ended
Nov. 30, 2012
Regulatory, Legal and Other Matters [Abstract]
Regulatory, Legal and Other Matters	Note 11. Regulatory, Legal and Other Matters Emmis is a party to various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management of the Company, however, there are no legal proceedings pending against the Company that we believe are likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. Emmis and certain of its officers and directors were named as defendants in a lawsuit filed April 16, 2012 by certain holders of Preferred Stock (the “Lock-Up Group”) in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana entitled Corre Opportunities Fund, LP, et al. v. Emmis Communications Corporation, et al. The plaintiffs allege that Emmis and the other defendants violated various provisions of the federal securities laws and breached fiduciary duties in connection with Emmis’ entry into total return swap agreements and voting agreements with certain holders of Emmis Preferred Stock, and in issuing shares of Preferred Stock to Emmis’ 2012 Retention Plan and Trust (the “Trust”) and entering into a voting agreement with the trustee of the Trust. The plaintiffs also allege that Emmis violated certain provisions of Indiana corporate law by directing the voting of the shares of Preferred Stock subject to the total return swap agreements (the “Swap Shares”) and the shares of Preferred Stock held by the Trust (the “Trust Shares”) in favor of certain amendments to Emmis’ Articles of Incorporation. Emmis filed an answer denying the material allegations of the complaint, and has filed a counterclaim seeking a declaratory judgment that Emmis may legally direct the voting of the Swap Shares and the Trust Shares in favor of the proposed amendments. On August 31, 2012, the U.S. District Court denied plaintiff’s request for a preliminary injunction. Plaintiff’s subsequently filed an amended complaint seeking monetary damages and dismissing all claims against the individual officer and director defendants. The matter is currently set for hearing in September 2013. Emmis is defending this lawsuit vigorously. On October 28, 2009, the Hungarian National Radio and Television Board announced that it was awarding to another bidder the national radio license then held by our majority-owned subsidiary, Slager. Slager ceased broadcasting effective November 19, 2009. The Company believes that the awarding of the license to another bidder was unlawful. In October 2011, Emmis filed for arbitration with the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes seeking resolution of its claim. In the nine months ended November 30, 2011 and 2012, the Company incurred approximately $0.5 million and $0.7 million, respectively, of legal costs related to this claim. These costs are reflected in station operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization, in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations. Certain individuals and groups have challenged applications for renewal of the FCC licenses of certain of the Company’s stations. The challenges to the license renewal applications are currently pending before the FCC. Emmis does not expect the challenges to result in the denial of any license renewals.

Regulatory, Legal and Other Matters

9 Months Ended

Nov. 30, 2012

Regulatory, Legal and Other Matters [Abstract]

Note 11. Regulatory, Legal and Other Matters

Emmis is a party to various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management of the Company, however, there are no legal proceedings pending against the Company that we believe are likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

Emmis and certain of its officers and directors were named as defendants in a lawsuit filed April 16, 2012 by certain holders of Preferred Stock (the “Lock-Up Group”) in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana entitled Corre Opportunities Fund, LP, et al. v. Emmis Communications Corporation, et al. The plaintiffs allege that Emmis and the other defendants violated various provisions of the federal securities laws and breached fiduciary duties in connection with Emmis’ entry into total return swap agreements and voting agreements with certain holders of Emmis Preferred Stock, and in issuing shares of Preferred Stock to Emmis’ 2012 Retention Plan and Trust (the “Trust”) and entering into a voting agreement with the trustee of the Trust. The plaintiffs also allege that Emmis violated certain provisions of Indiana corporate law by directing the voting of the shares of Preferred Stock subject to the total return swap agreements (the “Swap Shares”) and the shares of Preferred Stock held by the Trust (the “Trust Shares”) in favor of certain amendments to Emmis’ Articles of Incorporation.

Emmis filed an answer denying the material allegations of the complaint, and has filed a counterclaim seeking a declaratory judgment that Emmis may legally direct the voting of the Swap Shares and the Trust Shares in favor of the proposed amendments.

On August 31, 2012, the U.S. District Court denied plaintiff’s request for a preliminary injunction. Plaintiff’s subsequently filed an amended complaint seeking monetary damages and dismissing all claims against the individual officer and director defendants. The matter is currently set for hearing in September 2013. Emmis is defending this lawsuit vigorously.

On October 28, 2009, the Hungarian National Radio and Television Board announced that it was awarding to another bidder the national radio license then held by our majority-owned subsidiary, Slager. Slager ceased broadcasting effective November 19, 2009. The Company believes that the awarding of the license to another bidder was unlawful. In October 2011, Emmis filed for arbitration with the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes seeking resolution of its claim. In the nine months ended November 30, 2011 and 2012, the Company incurred approximately $0.5 million and $0.7 million, respectively, of legal costs related to this claim. These costs are reflected in station operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization, in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Certain individuals and groups have challenged applications for renewal of the FCC licenses of certain of the Company’s stations. The challenges to the license renewal applications are currently pending before the FCC. Emmis does not expect the challenges to result in the denial of any license renewals.