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Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Goodwill by business segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017
Summary of activity related to goodwill by business segment |  |  |  |
Gross balance | $ 1,441,126 | $ 1,462,593 | $ 1,054,154 | $ 976,090
Accumulated impairment losses | (237,914) | (237,914) | (267,317) | (267,317)
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Balance, beginning of period | 1,224,679 | 786,837 | 708,773 |
Balance, end of period | 1,203,212 | 1,224,679 | 786,837 |
Cracked |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Sales of business unit |  | (29,403) |  |
Goodwill impairment reversal for sale |  | 29,403 |  |
WPIX |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Sales of business unit | (24,997) |  |  |
Weathersphere |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Sales of business unit | (633) |  |  |
Local Media |  |  |  |
Summary of activity related to goodwill by business segment |  |  |  |
Gross balance | 1,122,408 | 1,143,859 | 708,133 | 708,133
Accumulated impairment losses | (216,914) | (216,914) | (216,914) | (216,914)
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Balance, beginning of period | 926,945 | 491,219 | 491,219 |
Balance, end of period | 905,494 | 926,945 | 491,219 |
Local Media | Cracked |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Sales of business unit |  | 0 |  |
Goodwill impairment reversal for sale |  | 0 |  |
Local Media | WPIX |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Sales of business unit | (24,997) |  |  |
Local Media | Weathersphere |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Sales of business unit | (633) |  |  |
National Media |  |  |  |
Summary of activity related to goodwill by business segment |  |  |  |
Gross balance | 318,718 | 318,734 | 346,021 | 267,957
Accumulated impairment losses | (21,000) | (21,000) | (50,403) | $ (50,403)
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Balance, beginning of period | 297,734 | 295,618 | 217,554 |
Balance, end of period | 297,718 | 297,734 | 295,618 |
National Media | Cracked |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Sales of business unit |  | (29,403) |  |
Goodwill impairment reversal for sale |  | 29,403 |  |
National Media | WPIX |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Sales of business unit | 0 |  |  |
National Media | Weathersphere |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Sales of business unit | 0 |  |  |
Katz Broadcasting Group |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Acquisition adjustment |  |  | (5,812) |
Katz Broadcasting Group | Local Media |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Acquisition adjustment |  |  | 0 |
Katz Broadcasting Group | National Media |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Acquisition adjustment |  |  | (5,812) |
Triton Digital Canada, Inc. |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Acquisition adjustment | (3,200) | (3,220) |  |
Acquisitions |  |  | 83,876 |
Triton Digital Canada, Inc. | Local Media |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Acquisition adjustment |  | 0 |  |
Acquisitions |  |  | 0 |
Triton Digital Canada, Inc. | National Media |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Acquisition adjustment |  | (3,220) |  |
Acquisitions |  |  | $ 83,876 |
Television Stations |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Acquisition adjustment | 2,500 |  |  |
Acquisitions |  | 435,726 |  |
Television Stations | Local Media |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Acquisition adjustment | 2,500 |  |  |
Acquisitions |  | 435,726 |  |
Television Stations | National Media |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Acquisition adjustment | 0 |  |  |
Acquisitions |  | 0 |  |
Omny Studio |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Acquisition adjustment | (16) |  |  |
Acquisitions |  | 5,336 |  |
Omny Studio | Local Media |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Acquisition adjustment | 0 |  |  |
Acquisitions |  | 0 |  |
Omny Studio | National Media |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Acquisition adjustment | (16) |  |  |
Acquisitions |  | $ 5,336 |  |
KDCO |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Acquisitions | 1,679 |  |  |
KDCO | Local Media |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Acquisitions | 1,679 |  |  |
KDCO | National Media |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Acquisitions | $ 0 |  |  |

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