Consolidated Statements of Stockholder's Deficit and Comprehensive Income - LIN Television (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total USD ($)	Total Stockholder's Deficit USD ($)	Additional Paid-In Capital USD ($)	Accumulated Deficit USD ($)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss USD ($)	LIN Television Corporation USD ($)	LIN Television Corporation Total Stockholder's Deficit USD ($)	LIN Television Corporation Common Stock	LIN Television Corporation Investment in Parent Company's Common Stock, at cost USD ($)	LIN Television Corporation Additional Paid-In Capital USD ($)	LIN Television Corporation Accumulated Deficit USD ($)	LIN Television Corporation Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss USD ($)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2009		$ (173,561)	$ 1,104,161	$ (1,242,465)	$ (27,917)	$ (173,561)	$ (173,561)		$ (7,869)	$ 1,104,690	$ (1,242,465)	$ (27,917)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2009								1,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Pension net losses, net of tax of $2,132, $6,912 and $1,720 for the year ended 2012, 2011 and 2010 respectively	(2,538)	(2,538)			(2,538)	(2,538)	(2,538)					(2,538)
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedge, net of tax of $1,603 for the period ended December 31, 2010	2,516	2,516			2,516	2,516	2,516					2,516
Stock-based compensation		5,653	5,653				5,653			5,653
Net income (loss)	36,498	36,498		36,498		36,498	36,498				36,498
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010		(131,432)	1,109,814	(1,205,967)	(27,939)	(131,432)	(131,432)			1,110,343	(1,205,967)	(27,939)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010								1,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net income (loss)	1,586					1,586
Balance at Mar. 31, 2011
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010		(131,432)	1,109,814	(1,205,967)	(27,939)	(131,432)	(131,432)		(7,869)	1,110,343	(1,205,967)	(27,939)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010								1,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Pension net losses, net of tax of $2,132, $6,912 and $1,720 for the year ended 2012, 2011 and 2010 respectively	(10,838)	(10,838)			(10,838)	(10,838)	(10,838)					(10,838)
Stock-based compensation		7,017	7,014				7,017			7,017
Issuance of LIN TV Corp. class A common stock		4,773	4,761				4,773			4,773
Purchase of LIN TV Corp. class A common stock	(2,729)	(2,729)					(2,729)		(2,729)
Net income (loss)	48,577	48,577		48,577		48,577	48,577				48,577
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011		(84,632)	1,121,589	(1,157,390)	(38,777)	(84,401)	(84,632)		(10,598)	1,122,133	(1,157,390)	(38,777)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011								1,000
Balance at Sep. 30, 2011
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net income (loss)	42,962					42,962
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011						(84,401)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011								1,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net income (loss)	4,266					4,266
Balance at Mar. 31, 2012
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011			1,121,589	(1,157,390)	(38,777)	(84,401)	(84,632)		(10,598)	1,122,133	(1,157,390)	(38,777)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011								1,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Pension net losses, net of tax of $2,132, $6,912 and $1,720 for the year ended 2012, 2011 and 2010 respectively	3,393				3,393	3,393	3,393					3,393
Stock-based compensation	8,106		8,102				8,106			8,106
Purchase of LIN TV Corp. class A common stock	(11,386)						(11,386)		(11,386)
Net income (loss)	(7,045)			(7,045)		(7,045)	(7,045)				(7,045)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	(91,564)		1,129,691	(1,164,435)	(35,384)	(91,564)	(91,564)		(21,984)	1,130,239	(1,164,435)	(35,384)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012								1,000
Balance at Sep. 30, 2012
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net income (loss)	(58,088)					(58,088)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ (91,564)					$ (91,564)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012								1,000