RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS: (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2014	Dec. 01, 2012	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 01, 2010	Aug. 01, 2014	Oct. 01, 2012	Jul. 01, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012 item
Related person transactions
Amount obligated to be paid	$ 18,956,000								$ 18,956,000
Less: Current portion	(2,625,000)				(2,367,000)				(2,625,000)	(2,367,000)
Capital leases to affiliates, less current portion	16,309,000				18,925,000				16,309,000	18,925,000
Capital leases payable maturity
2015	116,535,000								116,535,000
2016	82,733,000								82,733,000
2017	80,741,000								80,741,000
2018	582,795,000								582,795,000
2019	16,331,000								16,331,000
2020 and thereafter	3,061,029,000								3,061,029,000
Total minimum payments	3,940,164,000								3,940,164,000
Due to Related Parties, Total	18,956,000								18,956,000
Right to acquire capital stock or assets of individual subsidiaries (as a percent)	100.00%								100.00%
Total revenues	613,818,000	494,956,000	455,136,000	412,648,000	427,715,000	338,644,000	314,154,000	282,618,000	1,976,558,000	1,363,131,000	1,061,679,000
Entities owned by the controlling shareholders | Leased assets or facilities
Related person transactions
Amount paid									5,100,000	5,200,000	4,700,000
Bay TV
Related person transactions
Price of assets sold													40,000,000
Bay TV | LMA
Related person transactions
Amount paid									2,900,000
Difference between the purchase price and the historical cost basis recorded as a reduction in additional paid-in capital											23,600,000
Difference between the purchase price and the historical cost basis recorded as a reduction in additional paid-in capital, tax amount											15,600,000
Cunningham
Related person transactions
Price of assets sold															78,500,000
Capital leases payable maturity
Price for which nonvoting stock was purchased			2,000,000					1,700,000
Percentage of the total capital stock held in the related party, none of which have voting rights	100.00%								100.00%
Annual increase in aggregate purchase price (as a percent)															6.00%
Total revenues									103,500,000	107,600,000	105,500,000
Sale of station												22,000,000
Amount to purchase license assets of KDBC-TV El Paso, Texas														21,200,000
Amount of working capital adjustment required to be paid to purchase license assets of KDBC-TV														200,000
Cunningham | Barrington Broadcasting Company, LLC
Capital leases payable maturity
Amount received									6,000,000	600,000
Total revenues									7,800,000	700,000
Cunningham | LMA
Related person transactions
Amount paid									10,800,000	9,800,000	15,700,000	(4,700,000)
Price of assets sold																14,000,000
Amount obligated to be paid															29,100,000
Capital leases payable maturity
Due to Related Parties, Total															29,100,000
Number of stations to which programming, sales and managerial services were provided by the entity									6
Number of additional renewal terms									3
Agreement renewal period									5 years
Number of quarterly installments															10				1
Amount of quarterly installments															2,750,000
One quarterly installment amount																			1,600,000
Additional payments																	2,750,000	1,200,000
Operating costs reimbursement (as a percent)	100.00%								100.00%
Remaining purchase price	53,600,000								53,600,000
Cunningham | Minimum | LMA
Capital leases payable maturity
Percentage of net broadcast revenue used to determine annual LMA fees required to be paid	3.00%								3.00%
Amount used to determine annual LMA fees required to be paid	5,000,000								5,000,000
Cunningham | Maximum
Capital leases payable maturity
Amount of purchase price reduction from quarterly installments															29,100,000
Atlantic Automotive | Leased assets or facilities
Capital leases payable maturity
Annual rent									1,000,000
Number of real estate ventures	1								1
Atlantic Automotive | Advertising time
Capital leases payable maturity
Amount received									400,000	200,000	100,000
Atlantic Automotive | Vehicles and related vehicle services
Related person transactions
Amount paid									0	1,100,000	1,800,000
President and Chief Executive Officer | Leased assets or facilities | Real estate ventures in Baltimore, MD
Capital leases payable maturity
Amount received									500,000	500,000	300,000
Number of restaurants owned by a related party	3								3
Number of real estate ventures	1								1
President and Chief Executive Officer | Leased assets or facilities | Real estate ventures in Towson, MD
Capital leases payable maturity
Annual rent									300,000	200,000
Number of restaurants owned by a related party	1								1
Number of real estate ventures	1								1
Thomas & Libowitz | Legal services
Related person transactions
Amount paid										1,600,000	1,000,000
Controlling shareholders | Charter Aircraft
Related person transactions
Aircraft expense									1,500,000	900,000	600,000
Affiliates
Related person transactions
Amount obligated to be paid	18,934,000				21,292,000				18,934,000	21,292,000
Capital leases payable maturity
2015	4,402,000								4,402,000
2016	4,138,000								4,138,000
2017	4,102,000								4,102,000
2018	1,880,000								1,880,000
2019	1,960,000								1,960,000
2020 and thereafter	11,084,000								11,084,000
Total minimum payments	27,566,000								27,566,000
Interest and amortization expense									(8,610,000)
Due to Related Parties, Total	18,934,000				21,292,000				18,934,000	21,292,000
Affiliates | Capital lease for building, interest at 8.54%
Related person transactions
Amount obligated to be paid	4,972,000				6,267,000				4,972,000	6,267,000
Interest rate (as a percent)	8.54%								8.54%
Capital leases payable maturity
Due to Related Parties, Total	4,972,000				6,267,000				4,972,000	6,267,000
Affiliates | Capital leases for building, interest at 8.11%
Related person transactions
Amount obligated to be paid	7,843,000				8,141,000				7,843,000	8,141,000
Interest rate (as a percent)	8.11%								8.11%
Capital leases payable maturity
Due to Related Parties, Total	7,843,000				8,141,000				7,843,000	8,141,000
Affiliates | Capital lease for building and tower
Related person transactions
Amount obligated to be paid	932,000				1,106,000				932,000	1,106,000
Interest rate (as a percent)	7.93%								7.93%
Capital leases payable maturity
Due to Related Parties, Total	932,000				1,106,000				932,000	1,106,000
Affiliates | Capital leases for broadcasting tower facilities, interest at 9.0%
Related person transactions
Amount obligated to be paid	390,000				860,000				390,000	860,000
Interest rate (as a percent)	9.00%								9.00%
Capital leases payable maturity
Due to Related Parties, Total	390,000				860,000				390,000	860,000
Affiliates | Capital leases for broadcasting tower facilities, interest at 10.5%
Related person transactions
Amount obligated to be paid	4,797,000				4,918,000				4,797,000	4,918,000
Interest rate (as a percent)	10.50%								10.50%
Capital leases payable maturity
Due to Related Parties, Total	$ 4,797,000				$ 4,918,000				$ 4,797,000	$ 4,918,000