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Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($)	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of retail rate charged to affiliates	60.00%	60.00%
Provision for doubtful accounts receivable		$ 4,897,000	$ 4,391,000	$ 2,452,000
Impairments on non-marketable investments		0	0	0
Depreciation expense		18,266,000	12,820,000	10,770,000
Capitalized software costs		19,800,000	11,500,000	6,900,000
Goodwill		505,885,000	884,449,000	788,107,000
Impairment of long-lived assets hold for continued use		0	0	0
Impairment of long-lived assets hold for sale		0	0	0
Reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive (loss) into Interest expense, net		2,000,000.0
Advertising expense		$ 115,800,000	109,200,000	104,600,000
Defined contribution plan maximum annual compensation		100.00%
Defined contribution plan, contributions		$ 4,300,000	4,400,000	4,100,000
Swap | Designated as Hedging Instrument | Cash Flow Hedging
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Fixed rate of interest		2.96%
Notional amount		$ 300,000,000
Unrealized loss of fair value		10,200,000
TEGNA Inc
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Goodwill		505,900,000
Investments and Other Assets
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Non-marketable investments		9,400,000	9,400,000
Other Accrued Liabilities | Swap | Designated as Hedging Instrument | Cash Flow Hedging
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Unrealized loss of fair value		4,200,000
Other Noncurrent Liabilities | Swap | Designated as Hedging Instrument | Cash Flow Hedging
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Unrealized loss of fair value		6,000,000.0
Marketing and Sales
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Provision for doubtful accounts receivable		$ 4,900,000	$ 4,400,000	$ 2,500,000
Minimum
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Base subscription contract term		3 months
Maximum
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Base subscription contract term		6 months
Percentage of employee contribution of the salary		4.00%

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