Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Details 4) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net cash provided by operating activities, continuing operations	$ 149,435	$ 63,062	$ 88,858
Net cash used in operating activities, discontinued operations	(2,736)	(402)	1,373
Net cash provided by operating activities	146,699	62,660	90,231
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Capital expenditures	(28,230)	(20,069)	(17,449)
Change in restricted cash	255,159	(255,159)	2,000
Payments for business combinations, net of cash acquired	(358,495)	(9,033)	(575)
Proceeds from the sale of assets	79	74	200
Payments on derivative instruments		(2,020)	(2,226)
Shortfall loans to joint venture with NBCUniversal	(2,292)	(2,483)	(4,078)
Other investments, net		(375)	(1,980)
Net cash used in investing activities, continuing operations	(133,779)	(289,065)	(24,109)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities, discontinued operations	29,520	(115)	460
Net cash used in investing activities	(104,259)	(289,180)	(23,649)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net proceeds on exercises of employee and director stock-based compensation	1,314	841	790
Proceeds from borrowings on long-term debt	328,333	417,695	213,000
Principal payments on long-term debt	(322,179)	(175,216)	(274,351)
Payment of long-term debt issue costs	(10,272)	(7,662)	(5,033)
Treasury stock purchased	(11,386)	(2,729)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities, continuing operations	(14,190)	232,929	(65,594)
Net cash used in financing activities, discontinued operations			(445)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(14,190)	232,929	(66,039)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	28,250	6,409	543
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period	18,057	11,648	11,105
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period	46,307	18,057	11,648
LIN Television Corporation
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net cash provided by operating activities, continuing operations	142,255	52,012	87,402
Net cash used in operating activities, discontinued operations	(471)	(1,180)	(603)
Net cash provided by operating activities	141,784	50,832	86,799
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Capital expenditures	(20,158)	(12,266)	(13,060)
Change in restricted cash	255,159	(255,159)	2,000
Payments for business combinations, net of cash acquired	(352,162)	(10,046)	(575)
Proceeds from the sale of assets	30	72	200
Payments on derivative instruments		(2,020)	(2,226)
Shortfall loans to joint venture with NBCUniversal	(2,292)	(2,483)	(4,078)
Advances on intercompany borrowings	(2,400)
Payments from intercompany borrowings	20,382
Advances to consolidated subsidiaries		(400)	(6,059)
Payments from consolidated subsidiaries		3,750
Other investments, net		(375)	(1,980)
Net cash used in investing activities, continuing operations	(101,441)	(278,927)	(25,779)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities, discontinued operations	6,314	(106)	(87)
Net cash used in investing activities	(95,127)	(279,033)	(25,866)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net proceeds on exercises of employee and director stock-based compensation	1,314	841	790
Proceeds from borrowings on long-term debt	322,000	417,695	213,000
Principal payments on long-term debt	(320,374)	(174,573)	(269,401)
Payment of long-term debt issue costs	(10,157)	(7,662)	(5,033)
Treasury stock purchased	(11,386)	(2,729)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities, continuing operations		233,572	(60,644)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(18,603)	233,572	(60,644)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	28,054	5,371	289
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period	16,571	11,200	10,911
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period	44,625	16,571	11,200
Guarantor Subsidiaries
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net cash provided by operating activities, continuing operations	4,998	10,799	1,456
Net cash used in operating activities, discontinued operations	(2,242)	926	1,976
Net cash provided by operating activities	2,756	11,725	3,432
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Capital expenditures	(5,709)	(7,763)	(4,389)
Proceeds from the sale of assets	49	2
Net cash used in investing activities, continuing operations	(5,660)	(7,761)	(4,389)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities, discontinued operations	23,206	(9)	547
Net cash used in investing activities	17,546	(7,770)	(3,842)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Principal payments on long-term debt			(4,950)
Proceeds from intercompany borrowings			6,059
Payments on intercompany borrowings	(20,382)	(3,750)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities, continuing operations		(3,750)	1,109
Net cash used in financing activities, discontinued operations			(445)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(20,382)	(3,750)	664
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	(80)	205	254
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period	653	448	194
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period	573	653	448
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net cash provided by operating activities, continuing operations	2,159	103
Net cash provided by operating activities	2,159	103
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Capital expenditures	(2,363)	(40)
Payments for business combinations, net of cash acquired	(6,333)	1,013
Net cash used in investing activities, continuing operations	(8,696)	973
Net cash used in investing activities	(8,696)	973
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from borrowings on long-term debt	6,333
Principal payments on long-term debt	(1,805)	(643)
Payment of long-term debt issue costs	(115)
Proceeds from intercompany borrowings	2,400	400
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities, continuing operations		(243)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	6,813	(243)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	276	833
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period	833
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period	1,109	833
Eliminations
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net cash provided by operating activities, continuing operations	23	148
Net cash used in operating activities, discontinued operations	(23)	(148)
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Advances on intercompany borrowings	2,400
Payments from intercompany borrowings	(20,382)
Advances to consolidated subsidiaries		400	6,059
Payments from consolidated subsidiaries		(3,750)
Net cash used in investing activities, continuing operations	(17,982)	(3,350)	6,059
Net cash used in investing activities	(17,982)	(3,350)	6,059
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from intercompany borrowings	(2,400)	(400)	(6,059)
Payments on intercompany borrowings	20,382	3,750
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities, continuing operations		3,350	(6,059)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	$ 17,982	$ 3,350	$ (6,059)