Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Principles (Narratives) (Details)

v3.3.1.900
Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Principles (Narratives) (Details)
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Feb. 02, 2015
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Nov. 01, 2013
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station
Jul. 23, 2013
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Jul. 22, 2013
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Jul. 01, 2012
Jan. 01, 2012
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Dec. 31, 2015
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entity
shares
Sep. 30, 2015
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Jun. 30, 2015
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Mar. 31, 2015
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Dec. 31, 2014
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shares
Sep. 30, 2014
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Jun. 30, 2014
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Mar. 31, 2014
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Dec. 31, 2015
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entity
shares
Dec. 31, 2014
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Dec. 31, 2013
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Dec. 31, 2010
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Business                                    
Year founded                             1979      
Principles of Consolidation [Abstract]                                    
Variable Interest Entities, Number of Entities | entity             4               4      
Acquisition                                    
Payments to Acquire Assets and Interest $ 293,200,000                                  
Impairment of intangible assets                             $ 1,306,000      
Goodwill             $ 239,263,000       $ 229,560,000       $ 239,263,000 $ 229,560,000 $ 219,041,000  
Accounting Pronouncements                                    
Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current                     $ 56,100,000         $ 56,100,000    
Common Stock                                    
Authorized amount, repurchase of stock                                   $ 200,000,000.0
Redeemable Preferred Stock                                    
Preferred stock, shares authorized | shares             1,000,000       1,000,000       1,000,000 1,000,000 1,000,000  
Preferred stock, shares outstanding | shares             0       0       0 0 0  
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Receivables                                    
Past due period                             120 days      
Intangible Assets                                    
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life                             14 years 5 months      
Goodwill and Intangible Asset Impairment                             $ 0 $ 0 $ 0  
Investments                                    
Impairment of equity method investment                             12,593,000 0 0  
Asset Retirement Obligation                                    
Additional capitalized costs             $ 2,000,000       $ 4,300,000       2,000,000 4,300,000    
Revenue Recognition                                    
Revenues             241,344,000 $ 258,573,000 $ 247,528,000 $ 231,089,000 228,791,000 $ 240,725,000 $ 224,399,000 $ 216,283,000 978,534,000 910,198,000 811,648,000  
Receivables             208,384,000       $ 212,441,000       208,384,000 212,441,000    
Guarantees                                    
Guarantor liabilities             56,000,000               56,000,000      
Advertising Expense                                    
Advertising expense                             5,700,000 5,700,000 5,200,000  
Interest Expense                                    
Interest costs capitalized                             $ 3,000,000 3,600,000 4,600,000  
Urban High Cost Support Program                                    
Revenue Recognition                                    
Percentage phase down, decrease in support payments         20.00%                          
Percentage phase down, maximum decrease in support payments                             60.00%      
Remote High Cost Support Program                                    
Revenue Recognition                                    
Maximum cost per line, per month           $ 250                        
Total High Cost Support Program                                    
Revenue Recognition                                    
Revenues                             $ 66,200,000 66,700,000 55,600,000  
Receivables             45,500,000               $ 45,500,000      
Series of Individually Immaterial Business Acquisitions [Member]                                    
Acquisition                                    
Number of Businesses Acquired | entity                             3      
Total purchase price                             $ 12,700,000      
ACS                                    
Acquisition                                    
Total purchase price     $ 365,511,000                              
Cash consideration paid     100,000,000 $ 100,000,000                            
Preferential cash distributions       $ 190,000,000                            
Preference period       4 years                            
Preferential adjustment maximum       $ 21,800,000                            
Goodwill     $ 148,948,000                              
Additional revenue                                 50,600,000  
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired       33.30%                            
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired from Noncontrolling Interest       66.60%                            
Denali Media Holdings                                    
Acquisition                                    
Total purchase price   $ 7,600,000                                
Number of broadcast stations acquired | station   3                                
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses | ACS                                    
Acquisition                                    
Transaction costs                                 1,800,000  
Rights to Receive Future Capacity [Member]                                    
Acquisition                                    
Assets, Fair Value Adjustment $ 1,200,000                                  
Rights to Use Capacity                                    
Acquisition                                    
Impairment of intangible assets                             $ 3,800,000      
Minimum | Other Intangible Assets                                    
Intangible Assets                                    
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life                             2 years      
Maximum | Other Intangible Assets                                    
Intangible Assets                                    
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life                             20 years      
Stock Buyback Program [Member]                                    
Common Stock                                    
Authorized amount per quarter, repurchase of stock                                   $ 5,000,000
Stock repurchase program, remaining value authorized to be repurchased             $ 95,300,000.0               $ 95,300,000.0      
Stock Buyback Program [Member] | Class A Common Stock                                    
Common Stock                                    
Stock repurchased during period, value                             $ 47,400,000 $ 4,200,000 $ 15,600,000