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Amount before 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.

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Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Goodwill by business segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Summary of activity related to goodwill by business segment
Gross balance	$ 3,151,298	$ 1,441,126	$ 1,462,593	$ 1,054,154
Accumulated impairment losses	(237,914)	(237,914)	(237,914)	(267,317)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	1,203,212	1,224,679	786,837
Balance, end of period	2,913,384	1,203,212	1,224,679
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)
Triton Digital Canada, Inc.
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Sales of business unit	(85,976)
Local Media
Summary of activity related to goodwill by business segment
Gross balance	1,122,408	1,122,408	1,143,859	708,133
Accumulated impairment losses	(216,914)	(216,914)	(216,914)	(216,914)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	905,494	926,945	491,219
Balance, end of period	905,494	905,494	926,945
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)
Local Media \| Triton Digital Canada, Inc.
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Sales of business unit	0
Scripps Networks
Summary of activity related to goodwill by business segment
Gross balance	2,028,890	232,742	232,742	232,742
Accumulated impairment losses	(21,000)	(21,000)	(21,000)	(21,000)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	211,742	211,742	211,742
Balance, end of period	2,007,890	211,742	211,742
Scripps Networks \| Cracked
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Sales of business unit			0
Goodwill impairment reversal for sale			0
Scripps Networks \| WPIX
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Sales of business unit		0
Scripps Networks \| Weathersphere
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Sales of business unit		0
Scripps Networks \| Triton Digital Canada, Inc.
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Sales of business unit	0
Other
Summary of activity related to goodwill by business segment
Gross balance	0	85,976	85,992	113,279
Accumulated impairment losses	0	0	0	$ (29,403)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	85,976	85,992	83,876
Balance, end of period	0	85,976	85,992
Other \| Cracked
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Sales of business unit			(29,403)
Goodwill impairment reversal for sale			29,403
Other \| WPIX
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Sales of business unit		0
Other \| Weathersphere
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Sales of business unit		0
Other \| Triton Digital Canada, Inc.
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Sales of business unit	(85,976)
Triton Digital Canada, Inc.
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition adjustment			(3,220)
Triton Digital Canada, Inc. \| Local Media
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition adjustment			0
Triton Digital Canada, Inc. \| Scripps Networks
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition adjustment			0
Triton Digital Canada, Inc. \| Other
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition adjustment			(3,220)
Television Stations
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions			435,726
Acquisition adjustment		2,500
Television Stations \| Local Media
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions			435,726
Acquisition adjustment		2,500
Television Stations \| Scripps Networks
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions			0
Acquisition adjustment		0
Television Stations \| Other
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions			0
Acquisition adjustment		0
Omny Studio
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions			5,336
Acquisition adjustment		(16)
Omny Studio \| Local Media
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions			0
Acquisition adjustment		0
Omny Studio \| Scripps Networks
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions			0
Acquisition adjustment		0
Omny Studio \| Other
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions			$ 5,336
Acquisition adjustment		(16)
KDCO
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions		1,679
KDCO \| Local Media
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions		1,679
KDCO \| Scripps Networks
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions		0
KDCO \| Other
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions		$ 0
ION Media
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions	1,796,148
ION Media \| Local Media
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions	0
ION Media \| Scripps Networks
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions	1,796,148
ION Media \| Other
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions	$ 0