Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Operating Revenues:
Total operating revenues	$ 1,208,425	$ 876,972	$ 874,451
Costs and Expenses:
Employee compensation and benefits	394,029	367,735	343,570
Programming	350,753	228,605	172,617
Impairment of programming assets	8,920	0	0
Other expenses	246,487	185,869	173,797
Acquisition and related integration costs	4,124	0	578
Restructuring costs	8,911	4,422	0
Total costs and expenses	1,013,224	786,631	690,562
Depreciation, Amortization, and (Gains) Losses:
Depreciation	34,641	34,049	32,474
Amortization of intangible assets	29,346	22,294	22,730
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets	0	35,732	0
(Gains) losses, net on disposal of property and equipment	1,255	169	480
Net depreciation, amortization, and (gains) losses	65,242	92,244	55,684
Operating income (loss)	129,959	(1,903)	128,205
Interest expense	(36,184)	(26,697)	(18,039)
Defined benefit pension plan expense	(19,752)	(14,112)	(14,332)
Miscellaneous, net	152	10,636	(2,646)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	74,175	(32,076)	93,188
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	18,098	(20,054)	33,266
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	56,077	(12,022)	59,922
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(36,328)	(2,595)	7,313
Net income (loss)	19,749	(14,617)	67,235
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(632)	(1,511)	0
Net income (loss) attributable to the shareholders of The E.W. Scripps Company	$ 20,381	$ (13,106)	$ 67,235
Net income (loss) per basic share of common stock attributable to the shareholders of The E.W. Scripps Company:
Income (loss) from continuing operations, per basic share	$ 0.69	$ (0.13)	$ 0.71
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, per basic share	(0.44)	(0.03)	0.09
Net income (loss) per basic share of common stock (USD per share)	0.25	(0.16)	0.80
Net income (loss) per diluted share of common stock attributable to the shareholders of The E.W. Scripps Company:
Income (loss) from continuing operations, per diluted share	0.68	(0.13)	0.71
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, per diluted share	(0.44)	(0.03)	0.09
Net income (loss) per diluted share of common stock (USD per share)	$ 0.24	$ (0.16)	$ 0.80
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	81,369	82,052	83,339
Diluted (in shares)	81,927	82,052	83,639
Advertising
Operating Revenues:
Total operating revenues	$ 836,049	$ 563,879	$ 608,748
Retransmission and carriage
Operating Revenues:
Total operating revenues	304,402	259,712	220,723
Other
Operating Revenues:
Total operating revenues	$ 67,974	$ 53,381	$ 44,980