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Note 2 - Acquisitions and Dispositions (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Jun. 27, 2016 | Jun. 01, 2016 | May 13, 2016 | Feb. 16, 2016 | Feb. 01, 2016 | Sep. 01, 2015 | Jul. 02, 2015 | Nov. 01, 2014 | Sep. 15, 2014 | Jun. 13, 2014 | May 01, 2014 | Apr. 01, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 473,074 |  |
Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 11,200 | $ 0 |
Long-term Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,800,000 | 1,200,000 |
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 19,566 | 17,845 |
Goodwill, Acquired During Period |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 72,296 | 48,916 |
Business Combination, Pro Forma Information, Revenue of Acquiree since Acquisition Date, Actual |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 130,400 |  |
Business Acquisition, Operating Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before Changes in Accounting and Extraordinary Items, Net of Tax |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 55,800 |  |
Business Combination, Acquisition Related Costs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7,400 |  |
2016 Term Loan [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term Debt |  |  |  | $ 425,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
KAKE-TV [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses |  |  |  |  | $ 11,200 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 11,200 |  |
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business |  |  |  |  | $ 2,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Helena Montana Disposition [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets |  |  |  |  |  | $ (100) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
NBC Affiliate and Television Station KTVH-TV [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 900 |
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Consideration |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,000 |
Schurz Acquisition [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred |  |  |  | 443,100 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses |  |  |  | $ 16,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
KYES-TV Acquisition [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross | $ 500 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Clarksburg Acquisition [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred |  |  | $ 26,500 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross |  | $ 16,500 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
WBXX Acquisition [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 30,000 |  |
Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounts Receivable Contractual Amounts in Excess of Fair Value |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 200 |  |
Schurz Acquisition and Related Transaction [Member] | Retransmission Agreements [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 14,900 |  |
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4 years 328 days |  |
Schurz Acquisition and Related Transaction [Member] | Advertising Relationships [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,600 |  |
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 years 182 days |  |
Schurz Acquisition and Related Transaction [Member] | Off-Market Favorable Lease [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 2,600 |  |
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 9 years 182 days |  |
Schurz Acquisition and Related Transaction [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 years |  |
Schurz Acquisition and Related Transaction [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 40 years |  |
Cedar Rapids [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred |  |  |  |  |  | $ 100,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Odessa [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 33,600 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Twin Falls [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred |  |  |  |  |  |  | 17,500 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Wausau [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred |  |  |  |  |  |  | 14,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Presque Isle [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10,300 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Laredo [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 9,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
The 2015 Acquisitions [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Combination, Pro Forma Information, Revenue of Acquiree since Acquisition Date, Actual |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 23,200 |
Business Acquisition, Goodwill, Expected Tax Deductible Amount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 48,300 |
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Net of Tax |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8,600 |
The 2015 Acquisitions [Member] | General and Administrative Expense [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Combination, Acquisition Related Costs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6,500 |
The 2015 Acquisitions [Member] | Retransmission Agreements [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 9,700 |
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 years 109 days |
The 2015 Acquisitions [Member] | Advertising Relationships [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,000 |
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 9 years 219 days |
The 2015 Acquisitions [Member] | Income Leases [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 5,400 |
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 years 328 days |
The 2015 Acquisitions [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 years |
The 2015 Acquisitions [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 40 years |
Hoak Acquisition [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 299,900 |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 100.00% |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses and Interests in Affiliates |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 33,500 |  |  |  |  |
SJL Acquisition [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 131,500 |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 100.00% |  |  |  |  |  |
KEVN Acquisition [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 8,800 |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 100.00% |  |  |  |
KNDX Acquisition [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 7,500 |  |  |  |
Parker Acquisition [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 6,700
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 100.00%
Parker Acquisition [Member] | Allocated to the Parker Broadcasting of Louisiana [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,700
Parker Acquisition [Member] | Allocated to the Parker Broadcasting of Dakota [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5,000
WQCW Acquisition [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 5,500 |  |  |
Helena Acquisition [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,900 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
The 2014 Acquisitions [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounts Receivable Contractual Amounts in Excess of Fair Value |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 300
Business Combination, Acquisition Related Costs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6,200
Business Acquisition, Goodwill, Expected Tax Deductible Amount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 88,600
The 2014 Acquisitions [Member] | Retransmission Agreements [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 34,200
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4 years 146 days
The 2014 Acquisitions [Member] | Advertising Relationships [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 13,100
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 years 182 days
The 2014 Acquisitions [Member] | Income Leases [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 4,100
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8 years 109 days
The 2014 Acquisitions [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 years
The 2014 Acquisitions [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 40 years
Hoak and SJL [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Combination, Pro Forma Information, Revenue of Acquiree since Acquisition Date, Actual |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 64,700
Business Combination, Acquisition Related Costs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5,100
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Net of Tax |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 25,800

X
- Definition Represents amounts by which contractual amounts of accounts receivable exceed their recorded fair value. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The pro forma operating income (loss) from continuing operations before changes in accounting and extraordinary items, net of tax effect, for the period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Weighted average amortization period of finite-lived intangible assets acquired either individually or as part of a group of assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16265-109275 + Details
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- Definition Percentage of voting equity interests acquired at the acquisition date in the business combination. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65885119&loc=d3e1392-128463 + Details
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- Definition The amount of goodwill arising from a business combination that is expected to be deductible for tax purposes. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35744584&loc=d3e6927-128479 + Details
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- Definition Amount after tax of pro forma income from continuing operations as if the business combination had been completed at the beginning of a period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (h)(2)-(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65885119&loc=d3e1392-128463 + Details
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- Definition This element represents acquisition-related costs incurred to effect a business combination which costs have been expensed during the period. Such costs include finder's fees; advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, and other professional or consulting fees; general administrative costs, including the costs of maintaining an internal acquisitions department; and may include costs of registering and issuing debt and equity securities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 23 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73531572&loc=d3e1043-128460 + Details
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- Definition Amount of consideration transferred, consisting of acquisition-date fair value of assets transferred by the acquirer, liabilities incurred by the acquirer, and equity interest issued by the acquirer. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 30 -Section 30 -Paragraph 7 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911251&loc=d3e6578-128477 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35744584&loc=d3e6927-128479 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 30 -Section 30 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911251&loc=d3e6613-128477 + Details
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- Definition This element represents the amount of revenue of the acquiree since the acquisition date included in the consolidated income statement for the reporting period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (h)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65885119&loc=d3e1392-128463 + Details
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- Definition Amount of increase in assets, excluding financial assets, lacking physical substance with a definite life, from an acquisition. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount of gain (loss) on sale or disposal of assets, including but not limited to property plant and equipment, intangible assets and equity in securities of subsidiaries or equity method investee. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68055307&loc=d3e2443-110228 + Details
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- Definition Gain (loss) from sale or disposal of an organization or integrated set of activities (for example, but not limited to, a partnership or corporation) engaged in providing a product or service in a commercial, industrial, or professional environment. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount of increase in asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized resulting from a business combination. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267 + Details
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