Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Operating Revenues:
Total operating revenues	$ 1,423,836	$ 1,208,425	$ 876,972
Costs and Expenses:
Employee compensation and benefits	499,022	394,029	367,735
Programming	451,249	350,753	228,605
Impairment of programming assets	0	8,920	0
Other expenses	293,060	246,487	185,869
Acquisition and related integration costs	26,304	4,124	0
Restructuring costs	3,370	8,911	4,422
Total costs and expenses	1,273,005	1,013,224	786,631
Depreciation, Amortization, and (Gains) Losses:
Depreciation	40,709	34,641	34,049
Amortization of intangible assets	46,277	29,346	22,294
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets	0	0	35,732
(Gains) losses, net on disposal of property and equipment	(1,692)	1,255	169
Net depreciation, amortization, and (gains) losses	85,294	65,242	92,244
Operating income (loss)	65,537	129,959	(1,903)
Interest expense	(80,596)	(36,184)	(26,697)
Defined benefit pension plan expense	(6,953)	(19,752)	(14,112)
Miscellaneous, net	1,137	152	10,636
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(20,875)	74,175	(32,076)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(2,497)	18,098	(20,054)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(18,378)	56,077	(12,022)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	(36,328)	(2,595)
Net income (loss)	(18,378)	19,749	(14,617)
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	(632)	(1,511)
Net income (loss) attributable to the shareholders of The E.W. Scripps Company	$ (18,378)	$ 20,381	$ (13,106)
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	$ (0.23)	$ 0.69	$ (0.13)
Loss from discontinued operations, per basic share	0	(0.44)	(0.03)
Net income (loss) per basic share of common stock (USD per share)	(0.23)	0.25	(0.16)
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	(0.23)	0.68	(0.13)
Loss from discontinued operations, per diluted share	0	(0.44)	(0.03)
Net income (loss) per diluted share of common stock (USD per share)	$ (0.23)	$ 0.24	$ (0.16)
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	80,826	81,369	82,052
Diluted (in shares)	80,826	81,927	82,052
Advertising
Operating Revenues:
Total operating revenues	$ 902,892	$ 836,049	$ 563,879
Retransmission and carriage
Operating Revenues:
Total operating revenues	390,043	304,402	259,712
Other
Operating Revenues:
Total operating revenues	$ 130,901	$ 67,974	$ 53,381