Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		0 Months Ended				0 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014 segment	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013 segment	Mar. 31, 2014 LIN Television Corporation segment	Sep. 30, 2014 LIN Television Corporation	Sep. 30, 2013 LIN Television Corporation	Dec. 31, 2013 LIN Television Corporation segment	Aug. 20, 2014 LIN Television Corporation station market household	Aug. 20, 2014 LIN Television Corporation WLUK-TV And WCWF-TV, Green Bay-Appleton, Wisconsin	Aug. 20, 2014 LIN Television Corporation WJCL-TV, Savannah, Georgia	Aug. 20, 2014 LIN Television Corporation WTGS-TV, Hardeeville, South Carolina	Feb. 12, 2013 SVH Transaction agreement LIN Television of Texas	Feb. 12, 2013 SVH Transaction agreement LIN Television Corporation	Feb. 12, 2013 SVH GECC Note	Aug. 20, 2014 UNITED STATES LIN Television Corporation	Sep. 30, 2014 Broadcast station channel market	Sep. 30, 2014 Broadcast LIN Television Corporation station channel market	Sep. 30, 2014 8.375% Senior Notes LIN Television Corporation	Dec. 31, 2013 8.375% Senior Notes LIN Television Corporation	Sep. 30, 2014 6.375% Senior Notes LIN Television Corporation	Dec. 31, 2013 6.375% Senior Notes LIN Television Corporation
Basis of presentation and summary of significant accounting policies
Interest rate (as a percent)																			8.375%	8.375%	6.375%	6.375%
Principles of Consolidation
Number of reportable segments	2			1	2			1
Number of stations																	43	43
Number of digital channels operated																	7	7
Number of markets																	23	23
Expected proceeds from sale of productive assets										$ 70,000,000	$ 4,500,000	$ 17,500,000
Expected number of stations									71
Expected number of markets									48
Number of households									27,600,000
Percentage of households																23.00%
Ownership percentage held by SVH													20.38%
Equity interest held by NBCUniversal (as a percent)													79.62%
Capital contribution to joint venture with NBCUniversal		0	(100,000,000)			0	(100,000,000)							(100,000,000)
Debt financing provided by GECC															$ 815,500,000
Ownership interest (as a percent)						100.00%

LIN TELEVISION CORP 10-Q