Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Net revenues	$ 103,200	$ 89,719
Operating expenses:
Direct operating	35,157	29,933
Selling, general and administrative	28,383	25,534
Amortization of program rights	5,219	5,328
Corporate	6,746	6,483
Depreciation	6,759	6,264
Amortization of intangible assets	477	261
(Gain) loss from asset dispositions	(1)	255
Operating income	20,460	15,661
Other expense:
Interest expense, net	10,370	12,932
Share of loss in equity investments	91	613
Gain on derivative instruments		(620)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	2,099	142
Other (income) expense, net	(13)	1
Total other expense, net	12,547	13,068
Income before provision for income taxes	7,913	2,593
Provision for income taxes	2,798	982
Income from continuing operations	5,115	1,611
Discontinued operations:
Loss from discontinued operations, net of a loss from the sale of discontinued operations of $372 for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and a benefit from income taxes of $659 and $10 for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively	(1,231)	(25)
Net income	3,884	1,586
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(382)
Net income attributable to LIN TV Corp. or LIN Television Corporation	$ 4,266	$ 1,586
Basic income per common share attributable to LIN TV Corp.:
Income from continuing operations attributable to LIN TV Corp. (in dollars per share)	$ 0.10	$ 0.03
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax (in dollars per share)	$ (0.02)
Net income attributable to LIN TV Corp. (in dollars per share)	$ 0.08	$ 0.03
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding used in calculating basic income per common share (in shares)	56,184	54,983
Diluted income per common share attributable to LIN TV Corp.:
Income from continuing operations attributable to LIN TV Corp. (in dollars per share)	$ 0.10	$ 0.03
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax (in dollars per share)	$ (0.02)
Net income attributable to LIN TV Corp. (in dollars per share)	$ 0.08	$ 0.03
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding used in calculating diluted income per common share (in shares)	57,512	56,545