Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - LIN Television (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended								1 Months Ended		0 Months Ended		0 Months Ended						1 Months Ended			0 Months Ended		1 Months Ended			1 Months Ended				1 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013 segment	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 LIN Television Corporation segment	Sep. 30, 2012 LIN Television Corporation	Sep. 30, 2013 LIN Television Corporation 8.375% Senior Notes	Dec. 31, 2012 LIN Television Corporation 8.375% Senior Notes	Sep. 30, 2013 LIN Television Corporation 6.375% Senior Notes	Dec. 31, 2012 LIN Television Corporation 6.375% Senior Notes	Feb. 28, 2013 LIN Television Corporation Senior Secured Credit Facility Incremental term loans, net of discount	Sep. 30, 2013 Merger	Jul. 30, 2013 Merger Forecast	Sep. 30, 2013 Merger LIN Television Corporation	Jul. 30, 2013 Merger LIN Television Corporation Forecast	Feb. 12, 2013 SVO	Dec. 31, 2012 SVO	Feb. 12, 2013 SVO LIN Television Corporation	Dec. 31, 2012 SVO LIN Television Corporation	Dec. 31, 2012 SVH	Feb. 28, 2013 SVH LIN Television Corporation	Dec. 31, 2012 SVH LIN Television Corporation	Sep. 30, 2013 SVH Transaction agreement	Feb. 12, 2013 SVH Transaction agreement LIN Television of Texas	Feb. 12, 2013 SVH Transaction agreement LIN Television Corporation	Feb. 28, 2013 SVH Transaction agreement LIN Television Corporation	Sep. 30, 2013 SVH Transaction agreement LIN Television Corporation	Dec. 31, 2012 SVH Transaction agreement LIN Television Corporation	Feb. 28, 2013 SVH Transaction agreement LIN Television Corporation Senior Secured Credit Facility	Feb. 28, 2013 SVH Transaction agreement LIN Television Corporation Senior Secured Credit Facility Incremental term loans, net of discount	Sep. 30, 2013 SVH GECC Note	Sep. 30, 2013 SVH GECC Note LIN Television Corporation	Oct. 31, 2013 Subsequent event Merger	Oct. 31, 2013 Subsequent event Merger LIN Television Corporation
Basis of presentation and summary of significant accounting policies
Interest rate (as a percent)					8.375%	8.375%	6.375%	6.375%
Principles of Consolidation
Number of reportable segments	1		1
Ownership percentage held by SVH														99.75%	99.75%	99.75%	99.75%	20.38%		20.38%		20.38%
Equity interest held by NBCUniversal (as a percent)																						79.62%
Debt financing provided by GECC																													$ 815,500,000	$ 815,500,000.0
Capital contribution in exchange of equity interest sold	100,000,000	0	100,000,000	0															100,000,000				100,000,000
Ownership interest sold (as a percent)																						20.38%
Proceeds from sale of equity interest																						1.00
Accrued liability to secure the release of the guarantee and the related income tax consequences																										100,000,000
Additional borrowings									60,000,000																			60,000,000
Amount of cash on hand and borrowings under the revolving credit facility utilized to fund the payment																								40,000,000			40,000,000
Short-term deferred Federal and State tax liability associated with sale transaction										31,000,000		31,000,000									163,000,000				163,000,000
Tax saving due to setting offsetting of realized capital loss and net operating losses with the capital gain											132,500,000.0
Ownership interest (as a percent)			100.00%
Capital loss resulting from difference between tax basis and fair value of subsidiary stock											344,000,000		344,000,000
Payments to settle tax liabilities																															$ 29,000,000	$ 29,000,000