Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Amount of accumulated impairment loss for an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

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Amount of loss from the write-down of an asset representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

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Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Goodwill by business segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Summary of activity related to goodwill by business segment
Gross balance		$ 1,023,266	$ 813,694	$ 782,701	$ 321,675
Accumulated impairment losses		(267,317)	(237,914)	(237,914)	(215,414)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period		575,780	544,787	106,261
Acquisitions		209,572
Impairment charge	$ (29,000)	(29,403)		(22,500)
Balance, end of period		755,949	575,780	544,787
Local Media
Summary of activity related to goodwill by business segment
Gross balance		708,133	708,133	708,133	292,693
Accumulated impairment losses		(216,914)	(216,914)	(216,914)	(215,414)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period		491,219	491,219	77,279
Acquisitions		0
Impairment charge		0		(1,500)
Balance, end of period		491,219	491,219	491,219
National Media
Summary of activity related to goodwill by business segment
Gross balance		315,133	105,561	74,568	28,982
Accumulated impairment losses		(50,403)	(21,000)	(21,000)	$ 0
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period		84,561	53,568	28,982
Acquisitions		209,572
Impairment charge		(29,403)		(21,000)
Balance, end of period		$ 264,730	84,561	53,568
Journal acquisition
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions				415,440
Journal acquisition \| Local Media
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions				415,440
Journal acquisition \| National Media
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions				0
Midroll acquisition
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions				45,586
Midroll acquisition \| Local Media
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions				0
Midroll acquisition \| National Media
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions				$ 45,586
Cracked acquisition
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions			29,403
Cracked acquisition \| Local Media
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions			0
Cracked acquisition \| National Media
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions			29,403
Stitcher acquisition
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions			1,590
Stitcher acquisition \| Local Media
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions			0
Stitcher acquisition \| National Media
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions			$ 1,590