Acquisitions - Pro Forma Results of Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Operating revenues	$ 986,373	$ 998,916
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to the shareholders of The E.W. Scripps Company	$ (12,477)	$ 55,506
Income (loss) per share from operations attributable to the shareholders of The E.W. Scripps Company:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.13)	$ 0.66
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.13)	$ 0.65

The pro forma basic net income per share for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (h)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=79982066&loc=d3e1392-128463

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
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The pro forma diluted net income per share for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

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The pro forma net Income or Loss for the period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
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The pro forma revenue for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (h)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=79982066&loc=d3e1392-128463

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