TEGNA (TGNA) 10-Q 8 Nov 18 2018 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Document and Entity Information

Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018shares
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	TEGNA INC
Entity Central Index Key	39,899
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2018
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2,018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding	215,302,010
Trading Symbol	TGNA
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false

Condensed Consolidated Balance

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 23,766	$ 98,801
Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $3,806 and $3,266, respectively	407,078	406,852
Other receivables	32,937	32,442
Programming rights	47,322	37,758
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	19,790	61,070
Total current assets	530,893	636,923
Property and equipment
Cost	831,994	782,602
Less accumulated depreciation	(477,352)	(447,262)
Net property and equipment	354,642	335,340
Intangible and other assets
Goodwill	2,596,863	2,579,417
Indefinite-lived and amortizable intangible assets, less accumulated amortization	1,534,124	1,273,269
Investments and other assets	156,217	137,166
Total intangible and other assets	4,287,204	3,989,852
Total assets	5,172,739	4,962,115
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	65,309	52,992
Accrued liabilities
Compensation	40,010	54,088
Interest	53,713	39,217
Contracts payable for programming rights	121,270	105,040
Other	64,835	58,196
Dividends payable	15,147	15,173
Current portion of long-term debt	162	646
Total current liabilities	360,446	325,352
Noncurrent liabilities
Income taxes	12,414	20,203
Deferred income taxes	401,155	382,310
Long-term debt	2,989,435	3,007,047
Pension liabilities	122,489	144,220
Other noncurrent liabilities	81,217	87,942
Total noncurrent liabilities	3,606,710	3,641,722
Total liabilities	3,967,156	3,967,074
Shareholders’ equity
Common stock of $1 par value per share, 800,000,000 shares authorized, 324,418,632 shares issued	324,419	324,419
Additional paid-in capital	306,078	382,127
Retained earnings	6,283,775	6,062,995
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(122,913)	(106,923)
Less treasury stock at cost, 109,116,622 shares and 109,487,979 shares, respectively	(5,585,776)	(5,667,577)
Total equity	1,205,583	995,041
Total liabilities and equity	$ 5,172,739	$ 4,962,115

Condensed Consolidated Balanc_2

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable	$ 3,806	$ 3,266
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 1	$ 1
Common stock, Authorized shares	800,000,000	800,000,000
Common stock, Issued shares	324,418,632	324,418,632
Treasury stock, shares	109,116,622	109,487,979

Consolidated Statements of Inco

Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 538,976	$ 464,264	$ 1,565,146	$ 1,412,703
Operating expenses:
Cost of revenues, exclusive of depreciation	271,156	235,474	793,943	696,565
Business units - Selling, general and administrative expenses, exclusive of depreciation	76,639	70,914	229,193	214,645
Corporate - General and administrative expenses, exclusive of depreciation	17,593	12,881	41,522	42,462
Depreciation	14,262	15,186	41,594	41,721
Amortization of intangible assets	8,047	5,395	22,791	16,172
Asset impairment and other (gains) charges	(3,005)	7,553	(9,331)	11,086
Total	384,692	347,403	1,119,712	1,022,651
Operating income	154,284	116,861	445,434	390,052
Non-operating income (expense):
Equity income (loss) in unconsolidated investments, net	771	866	15,080	(1,549)
Interest expense	(48,226)	(51,855)	(145,055)	(162,113)
Other non-operating items, net	(214)	(3,671)	(13,005)	(26,853)
Total	(47,669)	(54,660)	(142,980)	(190,515)
Income before income taxes	106,615	62,201	302,454	199,537
Provision for income taxes	13,789	11,447	61,929	54,855
Net Income from continuing operations	92,826	50,754	240,525	144,682
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	4,325	(10,803)	4,325	(233,261)
Net income (loss)	97,151	39,951	244,850	(88,579)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests from discontinued operations	0	2,806	0	58,698
Net income (loss) attributable to TEGNA Inc.	$ 97,151	$ 42,757	$ 244,850	$ (29,881)
Earnings from continuing operations per share - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.43	$ 0.24	$ 1.11	$ 0.67
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations per share - basic (in dollars per share)	0.02	(0.04)	0.02	(0.81)
Net income (loss) per share – basic (In dollars per share)	0.45	0.20	1.13	(0.14)
Earnings from continuing operations per share - diluted (in dollars per share)	0.43	0.23	1.11	0.66
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations per share - diluted (in dollars per share)	0.02	(0.04)	0.02	(0.80)
Net income (loss) per share – diluted (In dollars per share)	$ 0.45	$ 0.19	$ 1.13	$ (0.14)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic shares (in shares)	216,015	215,863	216,210	215,558
Diluted shares (in shares)	216,348	218,095	216,617	217,827
Dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.07	$ 0.07	$ 0.21	$ 0.28

Consolidated Statements of Comp

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income (loss)	$ 97,151	$ 39,951	$ 244,850	$ (88,579)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests (earnings not available to shareholders)	0	36	0	(2,797)
Other comprehensive income, before tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(31)	24,764	551	34,126
Recognition of previously deferred post-retirement benefit plan costs	1,276	2,201	3,827	6,603
Pension payment timing related charges	1,198	0	7,498	0
Unrealized gains on available for sale investment during the period	0	0	0	1,776
Other comprehensive income, before tax	2,443	26,965	11,876	42,505
Income tax effect related to components of other comprehensive income	(615)	(752)	(3,021)	(2,445)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	1,828	26,213	8,855	40,060
Comprehensive income (loss)	98,979	66,200	253,705	(51,316)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax	0	1,360	0	55,676
Comprehensive income attributable to TEGNA Inc.	$ 98,979	$ 67,560	$ 253,705	$ 4,360

Condensed Consolidated Statemen

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 244,850	$ (88,579)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flow from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	64,385	117,762
Stock-based compensation	12,292	14,189
Loss on write down of CareerBuilder	0	342,900
Other (gains) losses on sales of assets and impairment charges	(6,991)	19,803
Equity (income) losses in unconsolidated investments, net	(15,080)	1,488
Pension contributions, net of expense	(39,932)	(12,547)
Spectrum channel share agreement proceeds	0	32,588
Change in other assets and liabilities, net	73,136	(75,865)
Net cash flow from operating activities	332,660	351,739
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment	(35,281)	(63,846)
Reimbursement from spectrum repacking	5,057	0
Payments for acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired	(328,433)	0
Payments for investments	(11,309)	(2,778)
Proceeds from sale of CareerBuilder, net of $36,581 cash transferred	0	198,342
Proceeds from investments	1,224	15,989
Proceeds from sale of assets and businesses	16,335	5,659
Net cash flow (used for) provided by investing activities	(352,407)	153,366
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds (payments) of borrowings under revolving credit facilities, net	72,000	(635,000)
Proceeds from Cars.com borrowings	0	675,000
Debt repayments	(95,985)	(99,185)
Payments of debt issuance costs	(5,269)	(6,208)
Dividends paid	(45,219)	(75,109)
Repurchases of common stock	(5,831)	(8,453)
Distributions to noncontrolling membership interests	0	(22,980)
Cash transferred to the Cars.com business	0	(20,133)
Other, net	(4,224)	(5,180)
Net cash flow used for financing activities	(84,528)	(197,248)
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(104,275)	307,857
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash from continuing operations, beginning of period	128,041	44,076
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash from discontinued operations, beginning of period	0	61,041
Balance of cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	128,041	105,117
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash from continuing operations, end of period	23,766	412,974
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash from discontinued operations, end of period	0	0
Balance of cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 23,766	$ 412,974

Condensed Consolidated Statem_2

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Condensed Consolidation Statements of Cash Flows (Parenthetical) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Cash transferred in deconsolidation	$ 36,581

Accounting Policies

Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Accounting Policies	Accounting Policies Basis of presentation: Our accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for interim financial reporting, the instructions for Form 10-Q and Article 10 of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all information and footnotes which are normally included in the Form 10-K and annual report to shareholders. In our opinion, the condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments of a normal recurring nature necessary for a fair presentation of results for the interim periods presented. The condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our (or “TEGNA’s”) audited consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. The preparation of these condensed consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Significant estimates include, but are not limited to, evaluation of goodwill and other intangible assets for impairment, business combinations, fair value measurements, post-retirement benefit plans, income taxes including deferred taxes, and contingencies. The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of subsidiaries we control and variable interest entities (VIEs) if we are the primary beneficiary. We eliminate all intercompany balances, transactions, and profits in consolidation. Investments in entities over which we have significant influence, but do not have control, are accounted for under the equity method. Our share of net earnings and losses from these ventures is included in “Equity income (loss) in unconsolidated investments, net” in the Consolidated Statements of Income. In addition, certain reclassifications have been made to prior year’s consolidated financial statements to conform to the current year’s presentation, specifically as it relates to our presentation of Investments and other assets in Note 3 of the condensed consolidated financial statements. On May 31, 2017, we completed the spin-off of our digital automotive marketplace business, Cars.com. In addition, on July 31, 2017, we completed the sale of our majority ownership stake in CareerBuilder. As a result of these strategic actions, we have disposed of substantially all of our former Digital Segment business and have therefore classified its historical financial results as discontinued operations in our Consolidated Statements of Income. See Note 12, “Discontinued operations,” for further details regarding the spin-off of Cars.com and the sale of CareerBuilder and the impact of each transaction on our condensed consolidated financial statements. As a result, we operate one operating and reportable segment, which primarily consists of our 47 television stations operating in 39 markets, offering high-quality television programming and digital content. Our reportable segment determination is based on our management and internal reporting structure, the nature of products and services we offer, and the financial information that is evaluated regularly by our chief operating decision maker. Accounting guidance adopted in 2018: In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued new guidance related to revenue recognition. Under the new guidance, recognition of revenue occurs when a customer obtains control of promised goods or services in an amount that reflects the consideration which the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. In addition, the guidance requires disclosure of the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. We adopted the guidance beginning January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method. We began recognizing revenue under this new guidance in the first quarter of 2018 and did not restate prior years. We applied the standard to all contracts open as of January 1, 2018. The cumulative prior period effect of applying the guidance was $3.7 million which was recorded as a decrease to retained earnings upon adoption. This adjustment represents a deferral of revenue associated with certain performance obligations that were not fully completed as of the reporting date. In addition, with the adoption of the new guidance, we have determined that certain barter revenue and expense related to syndicated programming will no longer be recognized. The revenue and expense previously recognized for this type of barter transaction would have been approximately $0.5 million in the third quarter of 2018 and $1.5 million in the nine months ended 2018. Other than these two items, there were no other changes to the timing and amount of revenue recognition for our contracts. For contracts with an effective term of less than one year, and for our subscription revenue contracts, we applied certain of the standard’s practical expedients relating to disclosure that permit the exclusion of quantifying and disclosing unsatisfied performance obligations. In addition, the adoption of this standard did not result in significant changes to our accounting policies, business processes, systems or controls. See discussion of our revenue policy below. In August 2016, the FASB issued new guidance which clarifies several specific cash flow classification issues. The objective of the new guidance is to reduce the existing diversity in practice in how these cash flows are presented in the Statement of Cash Flows. The guidance updated the classification in the Statement of Cash Flows in several areas. The most relevant updates for us are the following: 1) payments made for premiums, fees paid to lenders and other related third party costs when debt is repaid early will each be classified as financing cash outflows (we have historically classified these types of cash payments as operating outflows), 2) contingent consideration payments made for acquisitions will be classified as either operating, investing, or financing cash outflows depending on the timing and nature of the payment, 3) cash receipts received due to the settlement of insurance claims will be classified as either operating or investing cash inflows, depending on the nature of the underlying loss, 4) proceeds received from trust owned life insurance policies will be classified as investing cash inflows (we have historically classified these types of cash receipts as operating inflows), and 5) distributions received from equity method investments will be classified as either operating or investing cash inflows, depending on the amount of cash received as compared to the amount of inception to date earnings recognized on the individual investment. We adopted the guidance retrospectively beginning in the first quarter of 2018. As a result of adopting this guidance, we reclassified approximately $0.9 million of life insurance proceeds received in the first nine months of 2017 from operating to investing inflows. In January 2016, the FASB issued new guidance that amended several elements surrounding the recognition and measurement of financial instruments. Most notably for our company, the new guidance requires equity investments (except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting, or those that result in consolidation) to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income. For equity investments that do not have readily determinable prices, those investments may be recorded at cost less impairments, if any, plus or minus changes in observable prices for those investments. This new guidance requires us to adjust the value of our cost method investments to account for any observable price changes in those investments. Cost method investments had previously been recorded at cost, less any impairments. We adopted the new guidance in the first quarter of 2018 and the provision discussed above has been adopted on a prospective basis. There was no impact to our financial statements as a result of adopting this new guidance. In February 2018, the FASB issued guidance on accounting for certain tax effects that resulted from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the Tax Act), that was enacted into law as of December 22, 2017. The guidance addresses the accounting for amounts that had previously been recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income on a net tax basis, using the tax rate that was in effect at the time. Due to the reduction in the tax rates under the Tax Act, certain tax effects were “stranded” in accumulated other comprehensive income. This new guidance allows these stranded tax effects to be reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. Other tax amounts stranded in accumulated other comprehensive income due to reasons other than the Tax Act may not be reclassified. As a result of adopting this guidance, in the first quarter of 2018, we reclassified approximately $24.8 million from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. We believe that reclassifying these amounts more accurately presents the balance of accumulated other comprehensive loss. In November 2016, the FASB issued guidance on the presentation of restricted cash which requires that on the statement of cash flows, amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents should be included within the beginning and ending balances of cash and cash equivalents. We adopted this guidance in the first quarter of 2018 on a retrospective basis. As a result, restricted cash amounts that have historically been included in prepaid expenses and other current assets and investments and other assets on our Consolidated Balance Sheets are now included with cash and cash equivalents on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. We did no t have any restricted cash as of September 30, 2018, however, these restricted cash balances totaled $29.2 million as of December 31, 2017, $29.6 million as of September 30, 2017 and $28.2 million as of December 31, 2016. Our restricted cash was used to pay deferred compensation and TEGNA Supplemental Retirement Plan (SERP) obligations. The adoption of this standard did not change our balance sheet presentation. See Note 10 for additional information about our restricted cash balances. New accounting guidance not yet adopted: In February 2016, the FASB issued new guidance related to leases which will require lessees to recognize assets and liabilities on the balance sheet for leases with lease terms of more than 12 months. Consistent with current GAAP, the recognition, measurement, and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease by a lessee primarily will depend on its classification as a finance or operating lease. However, unlike current GAAP—which requires only capital leases (renamed financing leases under the new guidance) to be recognized on the balance sheet—the new guidance will require both finance and operating leases to be recognized on the balance sheet. The new guidance will be effective for TEGNA beginning in the first quarter of 2019. In July 2018, the FASB issued an amendment giving companies the option to apply the requirements of the standard in the period of adoption (January 1, 2019), with no restatement of prior periods. A cumulative effect of applying the guidance would be recorded to the opening balance of retained earnings. We plan to utilize this adoption method. We have formed a cross-functional team to oversee the implementation of the new guidance. Our ongoing implementation efforts include the review of our lease contracts, review of service contracts for embedded leases, and the deployment of a new lease software solution. In conjunction with adopting the new guidance, we are evaluating any changes needed to our current lease accounting policies and business practices. Based on the work performed to date, we currently estimate that our total assets and liabilities as presented on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2018, will increase by less than 5% as a result of adopting this standard. We do not expect the standard to have a material impact on our Consolidated Statements of Income. Additionally, we do not expect there to be a significant difference in our pattern of lease expense recognition under the new standard. In June 2016, the FASB issued new guidance related to the measurement of credit losses on financial instruments. The new guidance changes the way credit losses on accounts receivable are estimated. Under current GAAP, credit losses on accounts receivable are recognized once it is probable that such losses will occur. Under the new guidance, we will be required to estimate credit losses based on the expected amount of future collections which may result in earlier recognition of doubtful accounts. The new guidance is effective for public companies beginning in the first quarter of 2020 and will be adopted using a modified retrospective approach. We are currently evaluating the effect this new guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. Revenue recognition: Revenue is recognized upon the transfer of control of promised services to our customers in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to receive in exchange for those services. Revenue is recognized net of any taxes collected from customers, which are subsequently remitted to governmental authorities. Amounts received from customers in advance of providing services to our customers are recorded as deferred revenue. Our primary source of revenue is earned through the sale of advertising and marketing services (AMS). This revenue stream includes all sources of our traditional television and radio advertising, as well as digital revenues including Premion, our digital marketing services (DMS) business unit and other digital advertising across our platforms. Contracts within this revenue stream are short-term in nature (most often three months or less). Contracts generally consist of multiple deliverables, such as television commercials, or digital advertising solutions, that we have identified as individual performance obligations. Before performing under the contract we establish the transaction price with our customer based on the agreed upon rates for each performance obligation. There is no material variability in the transaction price during the term of the contract. Revenue is recognized as we deliver our performance obligations to our customers. For our AMS revenue stream, we measure our performance based on the airing of the individual television commercials or display of digital advertisements. This measure is most appropriate as it aligns our revenue recognition with the value we are providing to our customers. The price of each individual commercial and digital advertisement is negotiated with our customer and is determined based on multiple factors, including, but not limited to, the programming and day-part selected, supply of available inventory, our station’s viewership ratings and overall market conditions (e.g., timing of the year and strength of U.S. economy). Customers are billed monthly and payment is generally due 30 days after the date of invoice. Commission costs related to these contracts are expensed as incurred due to the short term nature of the contracts. We also earn subscription revenue from retransmission consent contracts with multichannel video programming distributors (e.g., cable and satellite providers) and over the top providers (companies that deliver video content to consumers over the Internet). Under these multi-year contracts, we have performance obligations to provide our customers with our stations’ signals, as well as our consent to retransmit those signals to their customers. Subscription revenue is recognized in accordance with the guidance for licensing intellectual property utilizing a usage based method. The amount of revenue earned is based on the number of subscribers to which our customers retransmit our signal, and the negotiated fee per subscriber included in our contract agreement. Our customers submit payments monthly, generally within 60 - 90 days after the month that service was provided. Our performance obligations are satisfied, and revenue is recognized, as we provide our consent for our customers to retransmit our signal. This measure toward satisfaction of our performance obligations and recognition of revenue is the most appropriate as it aligns our revenue recognition with the value that we are delivering to our customers through our retransmission consent. We also generate revenue from the sale of political advertising. Contracts within this revenue stream are short term in nature (typically weekly or monthly buys during political campaigns). Customers pre-pay these contracts and we therefore defer the associated revenue until the advertising has been delivered, at which time we have satisfied our performance obligations and recognize revenue. Commission costs related to these contracts are expensed as incurred due to the short term nature of the contracts. Our remaining revenue is comprised of various other services, primarily production services (for news content and commercials) and sublease rental income. Revenue is recognized as these various services are provided to our customers. In instances where we sell services from more than one revenue stream to the same customer at the same time, we recognize one contract and allocate the transaction price to each deliverable element (e.g. performance obligation) based on the relative fair value of each element. Revenue earned by categories in the third quarter and nine months of 2018 and 2017 are shown below (amounts in thousands): Quarter ended Sept. 30, Nine months ended Sept. 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 Advertising & Marketing Services $ 264,852 $ 277,817 $ 829,638 $ 843,175 Subscription 207,463 177,692 622,382 540,344 Political 60,410 3,783 93,725 13,387 Other 6,251 4,972 19,401 15,797 Total revenues $ 538,976 $ 464,264 $ 1,565,146 $ 1,412,703

Goodwill and Other Intangible A

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Goodwill and other intangible assets	Goodwill and other intangible assets The following table displays goodwill, indefinite-lived intangible assets, and amortizable intangible assets as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 (in thousands): Sept. 30, 2018 Dec. 31, 2017 Gross Accumulated Amortization Gross Accumulated Amortization Goodwill $ 2,596,863 $ — $ 2,579,417 $ — Indefinite-lived intangibles: Television and radio station FCC licenses 1,384,186 — 1,191,950 — Amortizable intangible assets: Retransmission agreements 121,594 (74,972 ) 110,191 (62,355 ) Network affiliation agreements 110,390 (27,712 ) 43,485 (19,371 ) Other 28,865 (8,227 ) 15,763 (6,394 ) Total indefinite-lived and amortizable intangible assets $ 1,645,035 $ (110,911 ) $ 1,361,389 $ (88,120 ) Our retransmission consent contracts and network affiliation agreements are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. Other intangibles primarily include customer relationships and favorable lease agreements which are amortized on a straight-line basis over their useful lives. On February 15, 2018 we acquired a business consisting of assets in San Diego: KFMB-TV (the CBS affiliated station), KFMB-D2 (the CW station), and radio stations KFMB-AM and KFMB-FM (collectively KFMB). The purchase price was $328.4 million , which included a final working capital payment of $2.5 million that we made to the sellers in the third quarter of 2018. The purchase price was paid in cash and funded through the use of available cash and borrowings under our revolving credit facility. In connection with this acquisition, we recorded indefinite lived intangible assets for FCC licenses of $192.2 million and amortizable intangible assets of $91.4 million , primarily related to retransmission consent contracts and network affiliation agreements. The amortizable assets will be amortized over a weighted average period of 10 years . We also recognized goodwill of $17.4 million as a result of the acquisition. We completed purchase accounting for the transaction in the third quarter of 2018, which resulted in an increase to our goodwill balance of $0.3 million in comparison with what we had previously disclosed.

Investments and Other Assets

Investments and Other Assets	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Investments, All Other Investments [Abstract]
Investments and other assets	Investments and other assets Our investments and other assets consisted of the following as of September 30, 2018, and December 31, 2017 (in thousands): Sept. 30, 2018 Dec. 31, 2017 Cash value life insurance $ 51,442 $ 51,188 Equity method investments 32,651 27,098 Cost method investments 24,212 17,374 Deferred debt issuance cost 10,029 6,048 Other long term assets 37,883 35,458 Total $ 156,217 $ 137,166 Cash value life insurance: We are the beneficiary of life insurance policies on the lives of certain employees/retirees, which are recorded at their cash surrender value as determined by the insurance carrier. These policies are utilized as a partial funding source for deferred compensation and other non-qualified employee retirement plans. Gains and losses on these investments are included in Other non-operating expenses within our Consolidated Statement of Income and were not material for all periods presented. Equity method investments : We hold several strategic equity method investments. Our largest equity method investment is our ownership in CareerBuilder, of which we own approximately 17% (or approximately 10% on a fully-diluted basis), representing an investment balance of $21.6 million as of September 30, 2018. On May 14, 2018, CareerBuilder sold its subsidiary, Economic Modeling LLC (also known as EMSI). As a result, we received a dividend of $9.9 million in connection with the sale commensurate with our equity ownership in CareerBuilder. Our share of CareerBuilder’s gain on the sale of EMSI was approximately $16.8 million which is included in Equity income (loss) in unconsolidated investments, net, on our Consolidated Statements of Income. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we recorded $15.7 million in equity income from our CareerBuilder investment.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income taxes	Income taxes The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate was approximately $9.7 million as of September 30, 2018, and $10.7 million as of December 31, 2017. The amount of accrued interest and penalties payable related to unrecognized tax benefits was $1.4 million as of September 30, 2018, and $1.6 million as of December 31, 2017. It is reasonably possible that the amount of unrecognized benefits with respect to certain of our unrecognized tax positions will increase or decrease within the next 12 months. These changes may be the result of settlement of ongoing audits, lapses of statutes of limitations or other regulatory developments. At this time, we estimate the amount of gross unrecognized tax positions may be reduced by up to approximately $3.9 million within the next 12 months primarily due to lapses of statutes of limitations and settlement of ongoing audits in various jurisdictions. As discussed in Note 1, the Tax Act, was enacted into law as of December 22, 2017. Among other provisions, the Tax Act reduced the federal tax rate to 21% effective for us as of January 1, 2018. On the same date, the SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 to address the application of U.S. GAAP in situations when a registrant does not have the necessary information available, prepared, or analyzed (including computations) in reasonable detail to complete the accounting for certain income tax effects of the Tax Act. We recognized the provisional tax impacts related to the revaluation of deferred tax assets and liabilities and included these amounts in our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2017. We completed our 2017 U.S. federal return during the third quarter of 2018 and recorded measurement period adjustments for the revaluation of deferred tax assets and liabilities at the reduced 21% federal tax rate that reduced tax expense by $5.3 million and our third quarter effective income tax rate by five percentage points. We will continue to analyze the effects of the Tax Act on our consolidated financial statements when state corporate income tax returns are filed in late 2018. Any additional impacts from the enactment will be recorded as they are identified during the measurement period as provided for in Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118.

Long-Term Debt

Long-Term Debt	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Long-term debt	Long-term debt Our long-term debt is summarized below (in thousands): Sept. 30, 2018 Dec. 31, 2017 Unsecured floating rate term loan due quarterly through August 2018 $ — $ 20,500 VIE unsecured floating rate term loans due quarterly through December 2018 162 646 Unsecured floating rate term loan due quarterly through June 2020 70,000 100,000 Unsecured floating rate term loan due quarterly through September 2020 180,000 225,000 Borrowings under revolving credit agreement expiring June 2023 72,000 — Unsecured notes bearing fixed rate interest at 5.125% due October 2019 320,000 320,000 Unsecured notes bearing fixed rate interest at 5.125% due July 2020 600,000 600,000 Unsecured notes bearing fixed rate interest at 4.875% due September 2021 350,000 350,000 Unsecured notes bearing fixed rate interest at 6.375% due October 2023 650,000 650,000 Unsecured notes bearing fixed rate interest at 5.50% due September 2024 325,000 325,000 Unsecured notes bearing fixed rate interest at 7.75% due June 2027 200,000 200,000 Unsecured notes bearing fixed rate interest at 7.25% due September 2027 240,000 240,000 Total principal long-term debt 3,007,162 3,031,146 Debt issuance costs (16,766 ) (20,551 ) Other (fair market value adjustments and discounts) (799 ) (2,902 ) Total long-term debt 2,989,597 3,007,693 Less current portion of long-term debt maturities 162 646 Long-term debt, net of current portion $ 2,989,435 $ 3,007,047 On June 21, 2018, we entered into an amendment of our Amended and Restated Competitive Advance and Revolving Credit Agreement. Under the amended terms, the $1.51 billion of revolving credit commitments and letter of credit commitments have been extended until June 21, 2023. The amendment also extended our permitted total leverage ratio to remain at 5.0 x through June 30, 2019, reducing to 4.75 x for the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2019 through the end of the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2020, and then reducing to 4.50 x for the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2020 and thereafter. As of September 30, 2018, we had unused borrowing capacity of $1.42 billion under our revolving credit facility.

Retirement Plans

Retirement Plans	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]
Retirement plans	Retirement plans Our principal defined benefit pension plan is the TEGNA Retirement Plan (TRP). The disclosure table below includes the pension expenses of the TRP and the Supplemental Retirement Plan (SERP). In connection with our acquisition of KFMB, we assumed its preexisting pension plan which, as of the acquisition date, had a total net pension obligation of $7.3 million . All plan participants’ benefits were frozen prior to the acquisition date. During the second quarter of 2018, the KFMB pension plan was merged into the TRP. The total net pension obligations, including both current and non-current liabilities, as of September 30, 2018, were $130.9 million ( $8.4 million is recorded as a current obligation within accrued liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet). Our pension costs, which primarily include costs for the qualified TRP and the non-qualified SERP, are presented in the following table (in thousands): Quarter ended Sept. 30, Nine months ended Sept. 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 Service cost-benefits earned during the period $ 3 $ 218 $ 9 $ 654 Interest cost on benefit obligation 5,721 5,990 15,945 17,971 Expected return on plan assets (8,218 ) (6,580 ) (23,148 ) (19,741 ) Amortization of prior service cost 42 159 126 476 Amortization of actuarial loss 1,271 2,081 3,814 6,242 Pension payment timing related charges 1,198 — 7,498 — Expense for company-sponsored retirement plans $ 17 $ 1,868 $ 4,244 $ 5,602 The service cost component of our pension expense is recorded within the operating expense line items Cost of revenue, Business units - Selling, general and administrative, and Corporate - General and administrative within the Consolidated Statements of Income. All other components of our pension expense are included within the Other non-operating items line item of the Consolidated Statements of Income. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018 we made $11.1 million in cash contributions to the TRP. No additional contributions are expected for the remainder of 2018. We made $10.9 million in cash contributions to the TRP during the nine months ended September 30, 2017. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, we made benefit payments to participants of the SERP of $32.9 million and $7.2 million , respectively. In the first and third quarters of 2018, we accelerated the recognition of previously deferred pension costs as a result of lump sum SERP payments made to certain former executives. The first and third quarter charges were $6.3 million and $1.2 million , respectively, and were reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into net periodic benefit cost.

Supplemental Equity Information

Supplemental Equity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Equity [Abstract]
Supplemental equity information	Supplemental equity information The following table summarizes equity account activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands): TEGNA Inc. Shareholders’ Equity Noncontrolling Interests Total Equity Balance at Dec. 31, 2017 $ 995,041 $ — $ 995,041 Comprehensive income: Net income 244,850 — 244,850 Other comprehensive income 8,855 — 8,855 Total comprehensive income 253,705 — 253,705 Dividends declared (45,193 ) — (45,193 ) Stock-based compensation 12,292 — 12,292 Treasury shares acquired (5,831 ) — (5,831 ) Impact from adoption of new revenue standard (3,724 ) — (3,724 ) Other activity, including shares withheld for employee taxes (707 ) — (707 ) Balance at Sept. 30, 2018 $ 1,205,583 $ — $ 1,205,583 Balance at Dec. 31, 2016 $ 2,271,418 $ 281,587 $ 2,553,005 Comprehensive income: Net loss (29,881 ) (58,698 ) (88,579 ) Redeemable noncontrolling interests (income not available to shareholders) — (2,797 ) (2,797 ) Other comprehensive income 34,241 5,819 40,060 Total comprehensive income (loss) 4,360 (55,676 ) (51,316 ) Dividends declared (60,121 ) — (60,121 ) Stock-based compensation 14,189 — 14,189 Treasury shares acquired (8,453 ) — (8,453 ) Spin-off of Cars.com (1,510,851 ) — (1,510,851 ) Deconsolidation of CareerBuilder — (225,911 ) (225,911 ) Other activity, including shares withheld for employee taxes (4,667 ) — (4,667 ) Balance at Sept. 30, 2017 $ 705,875 $ — $ 705,875 The following table summarizes the components of, and the changes in, Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (AOCL), net of tax and noncontrolling interests (in thousands): Retirement Plans Foreign Currency Translation Other Total Quarters Ended: Balance at June 30, 2018 $ (125,288 ) $ 547 $ — $ (124,741 ) Other comprehensive income before reclassifications — (23 ) — (23 ) Amounts reclassified from AOCL 1,851 — — 1,851 Total other comprehensive income 1,851 (23 ) — 1,828 Balance at Sept. 30, 2018 $ (123,437 ) $ 524 $ — $ (122,913 ) Balance at June 30, 2017 $ (124,632 ) $ (23,608 ) $ 2,364 $ (145,876 ) Other comprehensive income before reclassifications — 1,428 — 1,428 Amounts reclassified from AOCL 1,351 22,024 — 23,375 Other comprehensive income 1,351 23,452 — 24,803 Balance at Sept. 30, 2017 $ (123,281 ) $ (156 ) $ 2,364 $ (121,073 ) Retirement Plans Foreign Currency Translation Other Total Nine Months Ended: Balance at Dec. 31, 2017 $ (107,037 ) $ 114 $ — $ (106,923 ) Other comprehensive income before reclassifications — 410 — 410 Amounts reclassified from AOCL 8,445 — — 8,445 Total other comprehensive income 8,445 410 — 8,855 Reclassification of stranded tax effects to retained earnings (24,845 ) — — (24,845 ) Balance at Sept. 30, 2018 $ (123,437 ) $ 524 $ — $ (122,913 ) Balance at Dec. 31, 2016 $ (127,341 ) $ (28,560 ) $ (5,672 ) $ (161,573 ) Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications — 6,380 (1,707 ) 4,673 Amounts reclassified from AOCL 4,060 22,024 9,743 35,827 Other comprehensive income 4,060 28,404 8,036 40,500 Balance at Sept. 30, 2017 $ (123,281 ) $ (156 ) $ 2,364 $ (121,073 ) Reclassifications from AOCL to the Statement of Income are comprised of pension and other post-retirement components. Pension and other post retirement reclassifications are related to the amortization of prior service costs, amortization of actuarial losses, and pension payment timing related charges related to our SERP plan. Amounts reclassified out of AOCL are summarized below (in thousands): Quarter ended Sept. 30, Nine months ended Sept. 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 Amortization of prior service (credit) cost $ (101 ) $ 16 $ (302 ) $ 48 Amortization of actuarial loss 1,376 2,185 4,129 6,555 Reclassification of CareerBuilder foreign currency translation — 22,024 — 22,024 Reclassification of available for sale investment — — — 9,743 Pension payment timing related charges 1,198 — 7,498 — Total reclassifications, before tax 2,473 24,225 11,325 38,370 Income tax effect (622 ) (850 ) (2,880 ) (2,543 ) Total reclassifications, net of tax $ 1,851 $ 23,375 $ 8,445 $ 35,827 Performance Share Award Program During the first quarter of 2018, the Leadership Development and Compensation Committee (LDCC) of the Board of Directors established new performance metrics for long-term incentive awards for our executives under the Company’s 2001 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (Amended and Restated as of May 4, 2010), as amended, designed to better reflect TEGNA as a pure-play broadcaster. On March 1, 2018, we granted certain employees performance share awards (PSAs) reflecting these new metrics with aggregate target awards of approximately 0.6 million shares of our common stock. The number of shares earned under the March 1 PSAs will be determined based on the achievement of certain financial performance criteria (adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow as defined by the PSA) over a two -year cumulative financial performance period. If the financial performance criteria are met and certified by the LDCC, the shares earned under the PSA will be subject to an additional one year service period before the common stock is released to the employees. The PSAs do not pay dividends or allow voting rights during the performance period. Therefore, the fair value of the PSA is the quoted market value of our stock on the grant date less the present value of the expected dividends not received during the relevant performance period. The PSA provides the LDCC with limited discretion to make adjustments to the financial targets to ensure consistent year-to-year comparison for the performance criteria. For expense recognition, in the period it becomes probable that the minimum performance criteria specified in the PSA will be achieved, we will recognize expense for the proportionate share of the total fair value of the shares subject to the PSA related to the vesting period that has already lapsed. Each reporting period we will adjust the fair value of the PSAs to the quoted market value of our stock price. In the event we determine it is no longer probable that we will achieve the minimum performance criteria specified in the PSA, we will reverse all of the previously recognized compensation expense in the period such a determination is made.

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings per share	Earnings per share Our earnings per share (basic and diluted) are presented below (in thousands of dollars, except per share amounts): Quarter ended Sept. 30, Nine months ended Sept. 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 Net income from continuing operations $ 92,826 $ 50,754 $ 240,525 $ 144,682 Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax 4,325 (10,803 ) 4,325 (233,261 ) Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests from discontinued operations — 2,806 — 58,698 Net income (loss) attributable to TEGNA Inc. $ 97,151 $ 42,757 $ 244,850 $ (29,881 ) Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic 216,015 215,863 216,210 215,558 Effect of dilutive securities: Restricted stock units 167 828 116 880 Performance share units — 721 72 674 Stock options 166 683 219 715 Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - diluted 216,348 218,095 216,617 217,827 Earnings from continuing operations per share - basic $ 0.43 $ 0.24 $ 1.11 $ 0.67 Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations per share - basic 0.02 (0.04 ) 0.02 (0.81 ) Net income (loss) per share - basic $ 0.45 $ 0.20 $ 1.13 $ (0.14 ) Earnings from continuing operations per share - diluted $ 0.43 $ 0.23 $ 1.11 $ 0.66 Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations per share - diluted 0.02 (0.04 ) 0.02 (0.80 ) Net income (loss) per share - diluted $ 0.45 $ 0.19 $ 1.13 $ (0.14 ) Our calculation of diluted earnings per share includes the impact of the assumed vesting of outstanding restricted stock units, performance share units, and the exercise of outstanding stock options based on the treasury stock method when dilutive. The diluted earnings per share amounts exclude the effects of approximately 189,000 and 235,000 stock awards for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively; and 96,000 and 142,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, as their inclusion would be accretive to earnings per share.

Fair Value Measurement

Fair Value Measurement	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair value measurement	Fair value measurement We measure and record in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements certain assets and liabilities at fair value. U.S. GAAP establishes a hierarchy for those instruments measured at fair value that distinguishes between market data (observable inputs) and our own assumptions (unobservable inputs). The hierarchy consists of three levels: Level 1 - Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities; Level 2 - Inputs other than Level 1 inputs that are either directly or indirectly observable; and Level 3 - Unobservable inputs developed using our own estimates and assumptions, which reflect those that a market participant would use. Our deferred compensation investments were valued using Level 1 inputs with a fair value of $14.6 million as of December 31, 2017. Our deferred compensation assets were invested in a fixed income mutual fund. During the first quarter of 2018, we liquidated the deferred compensation investment to cover payments made to SERP participants (see Note 6). Cost method investments in private companies are recorded at cost, less impairments, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment. The carrying value of these investments was $24.2 million as of September 30, 2018 and $17.4 million as of December 31, 2017. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018 there were no events or changes in circumstance that suggested an impairment or an observable price change to any of these investments. The cost method investments are classified in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. We additionally hold other financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, receivables, accounts payable and debt. The carrying amounts for cash and cash equivalents, receivables and accounts payable approximated their fair values. The fair value of our total debt, based on the bid and ask quotes for the related debt (Level 2), totaled $3.06 billion at September 30, 2018, and $3.16 billion at December 31, 2017.

Supplemental Cash Flow Informat

Supplemental Cash Flow Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract]
Supplemental cash flow information	Supplemental cash flow information The following table provides a reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents, as reported on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, to cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, as reported on our Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (in thousands): Sept. 30, 2018 Dec. 31, 2017 Sept. 30, 2017 Dec. 31, 2016 Cash and cash equivalents included in: Continuing operations $ 23,766 $ 98,801 $ 383,354 $ 15,879 Discontinued operations — — — 61,041 Restricted cash equivalents included in: Prepaid expenses and other current assets — 29,240 — — Investments and other assets — — 29,620 28,197 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash $ 23,766 $ 128,041 $ 412,974 $ 105,117 Our restricted cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments that were held within a rabbi trust and were used to pay our deferred compensation and SERP obligations. The following table provides additional information about cash flows related to interest and taxes (in thousands): Nine months ended Sept. 30, 2018 2017 Supplemental cash flow information: Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds $ 51,325 $ 104,422 Cash paid for interest $ 121,616 $ 133,752

Other Matters

Other Matters	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Other matters	Other matters Commitments, contingencies and other matters In the third quarter of 2018, certain national media outlets reported the existence of a confidential investigation by the United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division (DOJ) into the local television advertising sales practices of station owners. We have received a Civil Investigative Demand (CID) in connection with the DOJ’s investigation. The investigation is ongoing. Since the national media reports, numerous putative class action lawsuits have been filed against owners of television stations (the advertising cases) in different jurisdictions. The advertising cases assert antitrust and other claims and seek monetary damages, attorneys’ fees, costs and interest, as well as injunctions against the allegedly wrongful conduct. We have been named as a defendant in sixteen of the advertising cases. The advertising cases are in the very early stages, and have been consolidated into a single proceeding in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. We deny any violation of law, believe that the claims asserted in the advertising cases are without merit, and intend to defend ourselves vigorously against them. We, along with a number of our subsidiaries, also are defendants in other judicial and administrative proceedings involving matters incidental to our business. We do not believe that any material liability will be imposed as a result of any of the foregoing matters. FCC Broadcast Spectrum Program In April 2017, the FCC announced the completion of a voluntary incentive auction to reallocate certain spectrum currently occupied by television broadcast stations to mobile wireless broadband services, along with a related “repacking” of the television spectrum for remaining television stations. None of our stations will relinquish any spectrum rights as a result of the auction, and accordingly we will not receive any incentive auction proceeds. The FCC has, however, notified us that 13 of our stations will be repacked to new channels. In general, television stations moving channels may have smaller service areas and/or experience additional interference; however, based on our transition planning to date, we do not expect the repacking to have any material effect on the geographic areas or populations served by our repacked full-power stations’ over-the-air signals. The legislation authorizing the incentive auction and repacking established a $1.75 billion fund for reimbursement of costs incurred by stations required to change channels in the repacking. Subsequent legislation enacted on March 23, 2018, appropriated an additional $1 billion for the repacking fund, of which up to $750 million may be made available to repacked full power and Class A television stations and multichannel video programming distributors. Other funds are earmarked to assist affected low power television stations, television translator stations, and FM radio stations, as well for consumer education efforts. Some of our television translator stations have been or will be displaced as a result of the repacking, and thus are eligible under the new repacking funds appropriation to seek reimbursement for costs incurred as a result of such displacement (subject to the translator locating an available alternative channel, which is not guaranteed). The repacking process is scheduled to occur over a 39 -month period, divided into ten phases. Our full power stations have been assigned to phases two through nine, and a majority of our capital expenditures in connection with the repack will occur in 2018 and 2019. To date, we have incurred approximately $7.9 million in capital expenditures for the spectrum repack project (of which $6.6 million was paid during the first nine months of 2018). We have received FCC reimbursements of approximately $5.1 million through September 30, 2018. The reimbursements were recorded as a contra operating expense within our asset impairment and other (gains) charges line item on our Consolidated Statement of Income and reported as an investing inflow on the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. Each repacked full power commercial television station, including each of our 13 repacked stations, has been allocated a reimbursement amount equal to approximately 92.5% of the station’s estimated repacking costs, as verified by the FCC’s fund administrator. Although we expect the FCC to make additional allocations from the fund, it is not guaranteed that the FCC will approve all reimbursement requests necessary to completely reimburse each repacked station for all amounts incurred in connection with the repack. Reduction in Force Programs During the third quarter of 2018, we initiated reduction in force programs at our corporate headquarters and our DMS business unit, which resulted in a total severance charge of $7.3 million . The corporate headquarters reductions were part of our ongoing consolidations of our corporate structure following our strategic transformation into a pure play broadcast company. The reduction in force at our DMS unit is a result of a rebranding of our service offerings and unification of our sales strategy to better serve our customers. A majority of the employees impacted by these reductions will receive lump sum severance payments. The severance payments from these programs will be paid by the end of the third quarter of 2019.

Discontinued Operations

Discontinued Operations	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]
Discontinued Operations	Discontinued operations Cars.com spin-off On May 31, 2017, we completed the previously announced spin-off of Cars.com. The spin-off was effected through a pro rata distribution of all outstanding common shares of Cars.com to TEGNA stockholders of record at the close of business on May 18, 2017 (the Record Date). Stockholders retained their TEGNA shares and received one share of Cars.com for every three shares of TEGNA stock they owned on the Record Date. Cars.com began “regular way” trading on the New York Stock Exchange on June 1, 2017 under the symbol “CARS”. CareerBuilder Sale On July 31, 2017, we sold our majority ownership interest in CareerBuilder to an investor group led by investment funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, LLC, a leading global alternative investment manager, and the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board. Our share of the pre-tax net cash proceeds from the sale was $198.3 million . As part of the agreement, we remain an ongoing partner in CareerBuilder, retaining an approximately 17% interest (or approximately 10% on a fully-diluted basis) and two seats on CareerBuilder’s 10 person board. Following the sale, CareerBuilder is no longer consolidated within our reported operating results. Our remaining ownership interest is being accounted for as an equity method investment. In the first nine months of 2018, we recorded $15.7 million of equity earnings from our remaining interest in CareerBuilder. Financial Statement Presentation of Digital Segment As a result of the Cars.com and CareerBuilder transactions described above, the operating results of our former Digital Segment have been included in discontinued operations in the Consolidated Statements of Income for the prior year period. In the third quarter of 2018, we recorded a tax benefit from discontinued operations of $4.3 million . The tax benefit primarily relates to updating the 2017 income tax provision estimates for CareerBuilder and Cars.com to the 2017 federal tax return completed during the third quarter of 2018. The following table presents the 2017 financial results of discontinued operations (in thousands): Quarter ended Sept. 30, 2017 (1) Nine months ended Sept. 30, 2017 (1) Revenues $ 54,874 $ 647,021 Operating expenses 58,429 925,056 Loss from discontinued operations, before income taxes (2,908 ) (279,113 ) (Provision) benefit for income taxes (7,895 ) 45,852 Income from discontinued operations, net of tax (10,803 ) (233,261 ) Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests from discontinued operations $ 2,806 $ 58,698 (1) The quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2017 include CareerBuilder’s operations through the date of sale on July 31, 2017. Cars.com operations are included in the nine months ended September 30, 2017 through the date of spin-off on May 31, 2017. The financial results reflected above may not represent our former Digital stand alone operating results, as the results reported within income from discontinued operations, net, include only certain costs that are directly attributable to those businesses and exclude certain corporate overhead costs that were previously allocated. For earnings per share information on discontinued operations, see Note 8. In our Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, the cash flows from discontinued operations are not separately classified, but supplemental cash flow information for these business units is presented below. The depreciation, amortization, and significant cash investing items of the discontinued operations were as follows (in thousands): Nine Months ended Sept. 30, 2017 (1) Depreciation $ 19,569 Amortization of intangible assets 40,300 Capital expenditures $ 37,441 (1) The nine months ended September 30, 2017 includes Cars.com through the spin-off date of May 31, 2017 and CareerBuilder’s operations through the date of sale on July 31, 2017.

Accounting Policies (Policies)

Accounting Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of presentation	Basis of presentation: Our accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for interim financial reporting, the instructions for Form 10-Q and Article 10 of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all information and footnotes which are normally included in the Form 10-K and annual report to shareholders. In our opinion, the condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments of a normal recurring nature necessary for a fair presentation of results for the interim periods presented. The condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our (or “TEGNA’s”) audited consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.
Use of estimates	The preparation of these condensed consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Significant estimates include, but are not limited to, evaluation of goodwill and other intangible assets for impairment, business combinations, fair value measurements, post-retirement benefit plans, income taxes including deferred taxes, and contingencies.
Consolidation	The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of subsidiaries we control and variable interest entities (VIEs) if we are the primary beneficiary. We eliminate all intercompany balances, transactions, and profits in consolidation. Investments in entities over which we have significant influence, but do not have control, are accounted for under the equity method. Our share of net earnings and losses from these ventures is included in “Equity income (loss) in unconsolidated investments, net” in the Consolidated Statements of Income. In addition, certain reclassifications have been made to prior year’s consolidated financial statements to conform to the current year’s presentation, specifically as it relates to our presentation of Investments and other assets in Note 3 of the condensed consolidated financial statements.
Recent accounting standards	Accounting guidance adopted in 2018: In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued new guidance related to revenue recognition. Under the new guidance, recognition of revenue occurs when a customer obtains control of promised goods or services in an amount that reflects the consideration which the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. In addition, the guidance requires disclosure of the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. We adopted the guidance beginning January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method. We began recognizing revenue under this new guidance in the first quarter of 2018 and did not restate prior years. We applied the standard to all contracts open as of January 1, 2018. The cumulative prior period effect of applying the guidance was $3.7 million which was recorded as a decrease to retained earnings upon adoption. This adjustment represents a deferral of revenue associated with certain performance obligations that were not fully completed as of the reporting date. In addition, with the adoption of the new guidance, we have determined that certain barter revenue and expense related to syndicated programming will no longer be recognized. The revenue and expense previously recognized for this type of barter transaction would have been approximately $0.5 million in the third quarter of 2018 and $1.5 million in the nine months ended 2018. Other than these two items, there were no other changes to the timing and amount of revenue recognition for our contracts. For contracts with an effective term of less than one year, and for our subscription revenue contracts, we applied certain of the standard’s practical expedients relating to disclosure that permit the exclusion of quantifying and disclosing unsatisfied performance obligations. In addition, the adoption of this standard did not result in significant changes to our accounting policies, business processes, systems or controls. See discussion of our revenue policy below. In August 2016, the FASB issued new guidance which clarifies several specific cash flow classification issues. The objective of the new guidance is to reduce the existing diversity in practice in how these cash flows are presented in the Statement of Cash Flows. The guidance updated the classification in the Statement of Cash Flows in several areas. The most relevant updates for us are the following: 1) payments made for premiums, fees paid to lenders and other related third party costs when debt is repaid early will each be classified as financing cash outflows (we have historically classified these types of cash payments as operating outflows), 2) contingent consideration payments made for acquisitions will be classified as either operating, investing, or financing cash outflows depending on the timing and nature of the payment, 3) cash receipts received due to the settlement of insurance claims will be classified as either operating or investing cash inflows, depending on the nature of the underlying loss, 4) proceeds received from trust owned life insurance policies will be classified as investing cash inflows (we have historically classified these types of cash receipts as operating inflows), and 5) distributions received from equity method investments will be classified as either operating or investing cash inflows, depending on the amount of cash received as compared to the amount of inception to date earnings recognized on the individual investment. We adopted the guidance retrospectively beginning in the first quarter of 2018. As a result of adopting this guidance, we reclassified approximately $0.9 million of life insurance proceeds received in the first nine months of 2017 from operating to investing inflows. In January 2016, the FASB issued new guidance that amended several elements surrounding the recognition and measurement of financial instruments. Most notably for our company, the new guidance requires equity investments (except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting, or those that result in consolidation) to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income. For equity investments that do not have readily determinable prices, those investments may be recorded at cost less impairments, if any, plus or minus changes in observable prices for those investments. This new guidance requires us to adjust the value of our cost method investments to account for any observable price changes in those investments. Cost method investments had previously been recorded at cost, less any impairments. We adopted the new guidance in the first quarter of 2018 and the provision discussed above has been adopted on a prospective basis. There was no impact to our financial statements as a result of adopting this new guidance. In February 2018, the FASB issued guidance on accounting for certain tax effects that resulted from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the Tax Act), that was enacted into law as of December 22, 2017. The guidance addresses the accounting for amounts that had previously been recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income on a net tax basis, using the tax rate that was in effect at the time. Due to the reduction in the tax rates under the Tax Act, certain tax effects were “stranded” in accumulated other comprehensive income. This new guidance allows these stranded tax effects to be reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. Other tax amounts stranded in accumulated other comprehensive income due to reasons other than the Tax Act may not be reclassified. As a result of adopting this guidance, in the first quarter of 2018, we reclassified approximately $24.8 million from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. We believe that reclassifying these amounts more accurately presents the balance of accumulated other comprehensive loss. In November 2016, the FASB issued guidance on the presentation of restricted cash which requires that on the statement of cash flows, amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents should be included within the beginning and ending balances of cash and cash equivalents. We adopted this guidance in the first quarter of 2018 on a retrospective basis. As a result, restricted cash amounts that have historically been included in prepaid expenses and other current assets and investments and other assets on our Consolidated Balance Sheets are now included with cash and cash equivalents on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. We did no t have any restricted cash as of September 30, 2018, however, these restricted cash balances totaled $29.2 million as of December 31, 2017, $29.6 million as of September 30, 2017 and $28.2 million as of December 31, 2016. Our restricted cash was used to pay deferred compensation and TEGNA Supplemental Retirement Plan (SERP) obligations. The adoption of this standard did not change our balance sheet presentation. See Note 10 for additional information about our restricted cash balances. New accounting guidance not yet adopted: In February 2016, the FASB issued new guidance related to leases which will require lessees to recognize assets and liabilities on the balance sheet for leases with lease terms of more than 12 months. Consistent with current GAAP, the recognition, measurement, and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease by a lessee primarily will depend on its classification as a finance or operating lease. However, unlike current GAAP—which requires only capital leases (renamed financing leases under the new guidance) to be recognized on the balance sheet—the new guidance will require both finance and operating leases to be recognized on the balance sheet. The new guidance will be effective for TEGNA beginning in the first quarter of 2019. In July 2018, the FASB issued an amendment giving companies the option to apply the requirements of the standard in the period of adoption (January 1, 2019), with no restatement of prior periods. A cumulative effect of applying the guidance would be recorded to the opening balance of retained earnings. We plan to utilize this adoption method. We have formed a cross-functional team to oversee the implementation of the new guidance. Our ongoing implementation efforts include the review of our lease contracts, review of service contracts for embedded leases, and the deployment of a new lease software solution. In conjunction with adopting the new guidance, we are evaluating any changes needed to our current lease accounting policies and business practices. Based on the work performed to date, we currently estimate that our total assets and liabilities as presented on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2018, will increase by less than 5% as a result of adopting this standard. We do not expect the standard to have a material impact on our Consolidated Statements of Income. Additionally, we do not expect there to be a significant difference in our pattern of lease expense recognition under the new standard. In June 2016, the FASB issued new guidance related to the measurement of credit losses on financial instruments. The new guidance changes the way credit losses on accounts receivable are estimated. Under current GAAP, credit losses on accounts receivable are recognized once it is probable that such losses will occur. Under the new guidance, we will be required to estimate credit losses based on the expected amount of future collections which may result in earlier recognition of doubtful accounts. The new guidance is effective for public companies beginning in the first quarter of 2020 and will be adopted using a modified retrospective approach. We are currently evaluating the effect this new guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. Revenue recognition: Revenue is recognized upon the transfer of control of promised services to our customers in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to receive in exchange for those services. Revenue is recognized net of any taxes collected from customers, which are subsequently remitted to governmental authorities. Amounts received from customers in advance of providing services to our customers are recorded as deferred revenue. Our primary source of revenue is earned through the sale of advertising and marketing services (AMS). This revenue stream includes all sources of our traditional television and radio advertising, as well as digital revenues including Premion, our digital marketing services (DMS) business unit and other digital advertising across our platforms. Contracts within this revenue stream are short-term in nature (most often three months or less). Contracts generally consist of multiple deliverables, such as television commercials, or digital advertising solutions, that we have identified as individual performance obligations. Before performing under the contract we establish the transaction price with our customer based on the agreed upon rates for each performance obligation. There is no material variability in the transaction price during the term of the contract. Revenue is recognized as we deliver our performance obligations to our customers. For our AMS revenue stream, we measure our performance based on the airing of the individual television commercials or display of digital advertisements. This measure is most appropriate as it aligns our revenue recognition with the value we are providing to our customers. The price of each individual commercial and digital advertisement is negotiated with our customer and is determined based on multiple factors, including, but not limited to, the programming and day-part selected, supply of available inventory, our station’s viewership ratings and overall market conditions (e.g., timing of the year and strength of U.S. economy). Customers are billed monthly and payment is generally due 30 days after the date of invoice. Commission costs related to these contracts are expensed as incurred due to the short term nature of the contracts. We also earn subscription revenue from retransmission consent contracts with multichannel video programming distributors (e.g., cable and satellite providers) and over the top providers (companies that deliver video content to consumers over the Internet). Under these multi-year contracts, we have performance obligations to provide our customers with our stations’ signals, as well as our consent to retransmit those signals to their customers. Subscription revenue is recognized in accordance with the guidance for licensing intellectual property utilizing a usage based method. The amount of revenue earned is based on the number of subscribers to which our customers retransmit our signal, and the negotiated fee per subscriber included in our contract agreement. Our customers submit payments monthly, generally within 60 - 90 days after the month that service was provided. Our performance obligations are satisfied, and revenue is recognized, as we provide our consent for our customers to retransmit our signal. This measure toward satisfaction of our performance obligations and recognition of revenue is the most appropriate as it aligns our revenue recognition with the value that we are delivering to our customers through our retransmission consent. We also generate revenue from the sale of political advertising. Contracts within this revenue stream are short term in nature (typically weekly or monthly buys during political campaigns). Customers pre-pay these contracts and we therefore defer the associated revenue until the advertising has been delivered, at which time we have satisfied our performance obligations and recognize revenue. Commission costs related to these contracts are expensed as incurred due to the short term nature of the contracts. Our remaining revenue is comprised of various other services, primarily production services (for news content and commercials) and sublease rental income. Revenue is recognized as these various services are provided to our customers. In instances where we sell services from more than one revenue stream to the same customer at the same time, we recognize one contract and allocate the transaction price to each deliverable element (e.g. performance obligation) based on the relative fair value of each element.

Accounting Policies (Tables)

Accounting Policies (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Disaggregation of Revenue	Revenue earned by categories in the third quarter and nine months of 2018 and 2017 are shown below (amounts in thousands): Quarter ended Sept. 30, Nine months ended Sept. 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 Advertising & Marketing Services $ 264,852 $ 277,817 $ 829,638 $ 843,175 Subscription 207,463 177,692 622,382 540,344 Political 60,410 3,783 93,725 13,387 Other 6,251 4,972 19,401 15,797 Total revenues $ 538,976 $ 464,264 $ 1,565,146 $ 1,412,703

Goodwill and Other Intangible_2

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Intangible Assets and Goodwill	The following table displays goodwill, indefinite-lived intangible assets, and amortizable intangible assets as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 (in thousands): Sept. 30, 2018 Dec. 31, 2017 Gross Accumulated Amortization Gross Accumulated Amortization Goodwill $ 2,596,863 $ — $ 2,579,417 $ — Indefinite-lived intangibles: Television and radio station FCC licenses 1,384,186 — 1,191,950 — Amortizable intangible assets: Retransmission agreements 121,594 (74,972 ) 110,191 (62,355 ) Network affiliation agreements 110,390 (27,712 ) 43,485 (19,371 ) Other 28,865 (8,227 ) 15,763 (6,394 ) Total indefinite-lived and amortizable intangible assets $ 1,645,035 $ (110,911 ) $ 1,361,389 $ (88,120 )

Investments and Other Assets (T

Investments and Other Assets (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Investments, All Other Investments [Abstract]
Schedule of Other Assets	Our investments and other assets consisted of the following as of September 30, 2018, and December 31, 2017 (in thousands): Sept. 30, 2018 Dec. 31, 2017 Cash value life insurance $ 51,442 $ 51,188 Equity method investments 32,651 27,098 Cost method investments 24,212 17,374 Deferred debt issuance cost 10,029 6,048 Other long term assets 37,883 35,458 Total $ 156,217 $ 137,166

Long-Term Debt (Tables)

Long-Term Debt (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Summary Long-term debt	Our long-term debt is summarized below (in thousands): Sept. 30, 2018 Dec. 31, 2017 Unsecured floating rate term loan due quarterly through August 2018 $ — $ 20,500 VIE unsecured floating rate term loans due quarterly through December 2018 162 646 Unsecured floating rate term loan due quarterly through June 2020 70,000 100,000 Unsecured floating rate term loan due quarterly through September 2020 180,000 225,000 Borrowings under revolving credit agreement expiring June 2023 72,000 — Unsecured notes bearing fixed rate interest at 5.125% due October 2019 320,000 320,000 Unsecured notes bearing fixed rate interest at 5.125% due July 2020 600,000 600,000 Unsecured notes bearing fixed rate interest at 4.875% due September 2021 350,000 350,000 Unsecured notes bearing fixed rate interest at 6.375% due October 2023 650,000 650,000 Unsecured notes bearing fixed rate interest at 5.50% due September 2024 325,000 325,000 Unsecured notes bearing fixed rate interest at 7.75% due June 2027 200,000 200,000 Unsecured notes bearing fixed rate interest at 7.25% due September 2027 240,000 240,000 Total principal long-term debt 3,007,162 3,031,146 Debt issuance costs (16,766 ) (20,551 ) Other (fair market value adjustments and discounts) (799 ) (2,902 ) Total long-term debt 2,989,597 3,007,693 Less current portion of long-term debt maturities 162 646 Long-term debt, net of current portion $ 2,989,435 $ 3,007,047

Retirement Plans (Tables)

Retirement Plans (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Benefit costs	Our pension costs, which primarily include costs for the qualified TRP and the non-qualified SERP, are presented in the following table (in thousands): Quarter ended Sept. 30, Nine months ended Sept. 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 Service cost-benefits earned during the period $ 3 $ 218 $ 9 $ 654 Interest cost on benefit obligation 5,721 5,990 15,945 17,971 Expected return on plan assets (8,218 ) (6,580 ) (23,148 ) (19,741 ) Amortization of prior service cost 42 159 126 476 Amortization of actuarial loss 1,271 2,081 3,814 6,242 Pension payment timing related charges 1,198 — 7,498 — Expense for company-sponsored retirement plans $ 17 $ 1,868 $ 4,244 $ 5,602

Supplemental Equity Informati_2

Supplemental Equity Information (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Equity [Abstract]
Schedule of Equity	The following table summarizes equity account activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands): TEGNA Inc. Shareholders’ Equity Noncontrolling Interests Total Equity Balance at Dec. 31, 2017 $ 995,041 $ — $ 995,041 Comprehensive income: Net income 244,850 — 244,850 Other comprehensive income 8,855 — 8,855 Total comprehensive income 253,705 — 253,705 Dividends declared (45,193 ) — (45,193 ) Stock-based compensation 12,292 — 12,292 Treasury shares acquired (5,831 ) — (5,831 ) Impact from adoption of new revenue standard (3,724 ) — (3,724 ) Other activity, including shares withheld for employee taxes (707 ) — (707 ) Balance at Sept. 30, 2018 $ 1,205,583 $ — $ 1,205,583 Balance at Dec. 31, 2016 $ 2,271,418 $ 281,587 $ 2,553,005 Comprehensive income: Net loss (29,881 ) (58,698 ) (88,579 ) Redeemable noncontrolling interests (income not available to shareholders) — (2,797 ) (2,797 ) Other comprehensive income 34,241 5,819 40,060 Total comprehensive income (loss) 4,360 (55,676 ) (51,316 ) Dividends declared (60,121 ) — (60,121 ) Stock-based compensation 14,189 — 14,189 Treasury shares acquired (8,453 ) — (8,453 ) Spin-off of Cars.com (1,510,851 ) — (1,510,851 ) Deconsolidation of CareerBuilder — (225,911 ) (225,911 ) Other activity, including shares withheld for employee taxes (4,667 ) — (4,667 ) Balance at Sept. 30, 2017 $ 705,875 $ — $ 705,875
Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	The following table summarizes the components of, and the changes in, Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (AOCL), net of tax and noncontrolling interests (in thousands): Retirement Plans Foreign Currency Translation Other Total Quarters Ended: Balance at June 30, 2018 $ (125,288 ) $ 547 $ — $ (124,741 ) Other comprehensive income before reclassifications — (23 ) — (23 ) Amounts reclassified from AOCL 1,851 — — 1,851 Total other comprehensive income 1,851 (23 ) — 1,828 Balance at Sept. 30, 2018 $ (123,437 ) $ 524 $ — $ (122,913 ) Balance at June 30, 2017 $ (124,632 ) $ (23,608 ) $ 2,364 $ (145,876 ) Other comprehensive income before reclassifications — 1,428 — 1,428 Amounts reclassified from AOCL 1,351 22,024 — 23,375 Other comprehensive income 1,351 23,452 — 24,803 Balance at Sept. 30, 2017 $ (123,281 ) $ (156 ) $ 2,364 $ (121,073 ) Retirement Plans Foreign Currency Translation Other Total Nine Months Ended: Balance at Dec. 31, 2017 $ (107,037 ) $ 114 $ — $ (106,923 ) Other comprehensive income before reclassifications — 410 — 410 Amounts reclassified from AOCL 8,445 — — 8,445 Total other comprehensive income 8,445 410 — 8,855 Reclassification of stranded tax effects to retained earnings (24,845 ) — — (24,845 ) Balance at Sept. 30, 2018 $ (123,437 ) $ 524 $ — $ (122,913 ) Balance at Dec. 31, 2016 $ (127,341 ) $ (28,560 ) $ (5,672 ) $ (161,573 ) Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications — 6,380 (1,707 ) 4,673 Amounts reclassified from AOCL 4,060 22,024 9,743 35,827 Other comprehensive income 4,060 28,404 8,036 40,500 Balance at Sept. 30, 2017 $ (123,281 ) $ (156 ) $ 2,364 $ (121,073 )
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	Amounts reclassified out of AOCL are summarized below (in thousands): Quarter ended Sept. 30, Nine months ended Sept. 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 Amortization of prior service (credit) cost $ (101 ) $ 16 $ (302 ) $ 48 Amortization of actuarial loss 1,376 2,185 4,129 6,555 Reclassification of CareerBuilder foreign currency translation — 22,024 — 22,024 Reclassification of available for sale investment — — — 9,743 Pension payment timing related charges 1,198 — 7,498 — Total reclassifications, before tax 2,473 24,225 11,325 38,370 Income tax effect (622 ) (850 ) (2,880 ) (2,543 ) Total reclassifications, net of tax $ 1,851 $ 23,375 $ 8,445 $ 35,827

Earnings Per Share (Tables)

Earnings Per Share (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted	Our earnings per share (basic and diluted) are presented below (in thousands of dollars, except per share amounts): Quarter ended Sept. 30, Nine months ended Sept. 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 Net income from continuing operations $ 92,826 $ 50,754 $ 240,525 $ 144,682 Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax 4,325 (10,803 ) 4,325 (233,261 ) Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests from discontinued operations — 2,806 — 58,698 Net income (loss) attributable to TEGNA Inc. $ 97,151 $ 42,757 $ 244,850 $ (29,881 ) Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic 216,015 215,863 216,210 215,558 Effect of dilutive securities: Restricted stock units 167 828 116 880 Performance share units — 721 72 674 Stock options 166 683 219 715 Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - diluted 216,348 218,095 216,617 217,827 Earnings from continuing operations per share - basic $ 0.43 $ 0.24 $ 1.11 $ 0.67 Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations per share - basic 0.02 (0.04 ) 0.02 (0.81 ) Net income (loss) per share - basic $ 0.45 $ 0.20 $ 1.13 $ (0.14 ) Earnings from continuing operations per share - diluted $ 0.43 $ 0.23 $ 1.11 $ 0.66 Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations per share - diluted 0.02 (0.04 ) 0.02 (0.80 ) Net income (loss) per share - diluted $ 0.45 $ 0.19 $ 1.13 $ (0.14 )

Supplemental Cash Flow Inform_2

Supplemental Cash Flow Information (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract]
Schedule of Cash Flow, Supplemental Disclosures	The following table provides additional information about cash flows related to interest and taxes (in thousands): Nine months ended Sept. 30, 2018 2017 Supplemental cash flow information: Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds $ 51,325 $ 104,422 Cash paid for interest $ 121,616 $ 133,752 The following table provides a reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents, as reported on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, to cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, as reported on our Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (in thousands): Sept. 30, 2018 Dec. 31, 2017 Sept. 30, 2017 Dec. 31, 2016 Cash and cash equivalents included in: Continuing operations $ 23,766 $ 98,801 $ 383,354 $ 15,879 Discontinued operations — — — 61,041 Restricted cash equivalents included in: Prepaid expenses and other current assets — 29,240 — — Investments and other assets — — 29,620 28,197 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash $ 23,766 $ 128,041 $ 412,974 $ 105,117

Discontinued Operations (Tables

Discontinued Operations (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]
Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations	In our Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, the cash flows from discontinued operations are not separately classified, but supplemental cash flow information for these business units is presented below. The depreciation, amortization, and significant cash investing items of the discontinued operations were as follows (in thousands): Nine Months ended Sept. 30, 2017 (1) Depreciation $ 19,569 Amortization of intangible assets 40,300 Capital expenditures $ 37,441 (1) The nine months ended September 30, 2017 includes Cars.com through the spin-off date of May 31, 2017 and CareerBuilder’s operations through the date of sale on July 31, 2017. he following table presents the 2017 financial results of discontinued operations (in thousands): Quarter ended Sept. 30, 2017 (1) Nine months ended Sept. 30, 2017 (1) Revenues $ 54,874 $ 647,021 Operating expenses 58,429 925,056 Loss from discontinued operations, before income taxes (2,908 ) (279,113 ) (Provision) benefit for income taxes (7,895 ) 45,852 Income from discontinued operations, net of tax (10,803 ) (233,261 ) Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests from discontinued operations $ 2,806 $ 58,698 (1) The quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2017 include CareerBuilder’s operations through the date of sale on July 31, 2017. Cars.com operations are included in the nine months ended September 30, 2017 through the date of spin-off on May 31, 2017.

Accounting Policies - Narrative

Accounting Policies - Narrative (Details)	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)marketstation	Mar. 31, 2018USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)segmentmarketstation	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)	Jan. 01, 2018USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016USD ($)
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Operating segments | segment				1
Reportable segments | segment				1
Number of television stations | station	47			47
Number of markets In which entity operates | market	39			39
Cumulative effect of new accounting principle in period of adoption, decrease in retained earnings	$ 3,724,000			$ 3,724,000
Revenues	538,976,000		$ 464,264,000	1,565,146,000	$ 1,412,703,000
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities				332,660,000	351,739,000
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities				(352,407,000)	153,366,000
Tax cuts and jobs act, reclassification from aoci to retained earnings, tax effect		$ 24,800,000
Restricted cash	0		$ 29,600,000	$ 0	29,600,000		$ 29,200,000	$ 28,200,000
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Retained Earnings
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Cumulative effect of new accounting principle in period of adoption, decrease in retained earnings						$ 3,700,000
Accounting Standards Update 2016-15
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities					(900,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities					$ 900,000
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Estimated effect due to new accounting standard adoption, percentage				5.00%
Barter Arrangement, Syndicated Programming | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 500,000			$ 1,500,000
Minimum
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Revenue, performance obligation, description of timing				P60D
Maximum
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Revenue, performance obligation, description of timing				P90D

Accounting Policies - Revenue (

Accounting Policies - Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 538,976	$ 464,264	$ 1,565,146	$ 1,412,703
Advertising & Marketing Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	264,852	277,817	829,638	843,175
Subscription
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	207,463	177,692	622,382	540,344
Political
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	60,410	3,783	93,725	13,387
Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 6,251	$ 4,972	$ 19,401	$ 15,797

Goodwill and Other Intangible_3

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Intangible Assets and Goodwill (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 2,596,863	$ 2,579,417
Goodwill, Accumulated Amortization	0	0
Total indefinite-live and amortizable intangible assets	1,645,035	1,361,389
Total indefinite-live and amortizable intangible assets, accumulated amortization	(110,911)	(88,120)
Retransmission agreements
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortizable intangible assets	121,594	110,191
Amortizable intangible assets, accumulated amortization	(74,972)	(62,355)
Network affiliation agreements
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortizable intangible assets	110,390	43,485
Amortizable intangible assets, accumulated amortization	(27,712)	(19,371)
Other
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortizable intangible assets	28,865	15,763
Amortizable intangible assets, accumulated amortization	(8,227)	(6,394)
Television and radio station FCC licenses
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Line Items]
Indefinite-lived intangibles	1,384,186	1,191,950
Total indefinite-live and amortizable intangible assets, accumulated amortization	$ 0	$ 0

Goodwill and Other Intangible_4

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Additional (Details) - KFMB - USD ($) $ in Millions	Feb. 15, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Estimated consideration transferred	$ 328.4
Working capital adjustment		$ 2.5
Finite-lived intangible assets, remaining amortization period	10 years
Goodwill, acquired during period	$ 17.4
Increase in goodwill		$ 0.3
Licensing Agreements
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Indefinite-lived intangible assets acquired	192.2
Retransmission And Network Affiliation Agreements
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired	$ 91.4

Investments and Other Assets -

Investments and Other Assets - Components of Investments and Other Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Investments, All Other Investments [Abstract]
Cash value life insurance	$ 51,442	$ 51,188
Equity method investments	32,651	27,098
Cost method investments	24,212	17,374
Deferred debt issuance cost	10,029	6,048
Other long term assets	37,883	35,458
Total	$ 156,217	$ 137,166

Investments and Other Assets _2

Investments and Other Assets - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	May 14, 2018	Jul. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investments			$ 32,651		$ 32,651		$ 27,098
Equity income (loss) in unconsolidated investments, net			771	$ 866	$ 15,080	$ (1,549)
CareerBuilder
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment retained after disposal, ownership interest (as a percent)		17.00%			17.00%
Equity method investment retained after disposal, fully diluted ownership interest (as a percent)		10.00%			10.00%
Equity method investments			$ 21,600		$ 21,600
Proceeds from dividends received	$ 9,900
Gain on sale of equity method investment	$ 16,800
Equity income (loss) in unconsolidated investments, net					$ 15,700

Income Taxes - Narrative (Detai

Income Taxes - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would impact effective tax rate	$ 9.7	$ 10.7
Accrued interest and penalties payable related to unrecognized tax benefits	1.4	$ 1.6
Estimated decrease in gross unrecognized tax positions within the next 12 months, maximum	3.9
Reduction in tax expense from change in federal tax rate	$ 5.3
Reduction of effective income tax rate	5.00%

Long-Term Debt (Details)

Long-Term Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total principal long-term debt	$ 3,007,162	$ 3,031,146
Debt issuance costs	(16,766)	(20,551)
Other (fair market value adjustments and discounts)	(799)	(2,902)
Total long-term debt	2,989,597	3,007,693
Less current portion of long-term debt maturities	162	646
Long-term debt, net of current portion	2,989,435	3,007,047
Unsecured floating rate term loan due quarterly through August 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total principal long-term debt	0	20,500
VIE unsecured floating rate term loans due quarterly through December 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total principal long-term debt	162	646
Unsecured floating rate term loan due quarterly through June 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total principal long-term debt	70,000	100,000
Unsecured floating rate term loan due quarterly through September 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total principal long-term debt	180,000	225,000
Borrowings under revolving credit agreement expiring June 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total principal long-term debt	72,000	0
Unsecured notes bearing fixed rate interest at 5.125% due October 2019
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total principal long-term debt	$ 320,000	320,000
Stated interest rate (as a percent)	5.125%
Unsecured notes bearing fixed rate interest at 5.125% due July 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total principal long-term debt	$ 600,000	600,000
Stated interest rate (as a percent)	5.125%
Unsecured notes bearing fixed rate interest at 4.875% due September 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total principal long-term debt	$ 350,000	350,000
Stated interest rate (as a percent)	4.875%
Unsecured notes bearing fixed rate interest at 6.375% due October 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total principal long-term debt	$ 650,000	650,000
Stated interest rate (as a percent)	6.375%
Unsecured notes bearing fixed rate interest at 5.50% due September 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total principal long-term debt	$ 325,000	325,000
Stated interest rate (as a percent)	5.50%
Unsecured notes bearing fixed rate interest at 7.75% due June 2027
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total principal long-term debt	$ 200,000	200,000
Stated interest rate (as a percent)	7.75%
Unsecured notes bearing fixed rate interest at 7.25% due September 2027
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total principal long-term debt	$ 240,000	$ 240,000
Stated interest rate (as a percent)	7.25%

Long-Term Debt - Narrative (Det

Long-Term Debt - Narrative (Details)	Jun. 21, 2018USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)
Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, unused borrowing capacity, amount		$ 1,420,000,000
Covenant through June 30, 2019 | Amended and Restated Competitive Advance and Revolving Credit Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Covenant requirement, maximum total leverage ratio	5
Covenant from September 30, 2019 to June 30, 2020 | Amended and Restated Competitive Advance and Revolving Credit Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Covenant requirement, maximum total leverage ratio	4.75
Covenant from September 30, 2020 and thereafter | Amended and Restated Competitive Advance and Revolving Credit Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Covenant requirement, maximum total leverage ratio	4.50
Line of Credit | Amended and Restated Competitive Advance and Revolving Credit Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity	$ 1,510,000,000

Retirement Plans - Narrative (D

Retirement Plans - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Additional cash contribution to TRP for the remainder of the year	$ 0			$ 0
Pension lump-sum payment charge	1,200,000	$ 6,300,000
Retirement Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net pension plan obligation	130,900,000			130,900,000
Contributions to plan				11,100,000	$ 10,900,000
Pension lump-sum payment charge	1,198,000		$ 0	7,498,000	0
SERP
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Contributions to plan				32,900,000	$ 7,200,000
Accrued Liabilities | Retirement Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net pension plan obligation	8,400,000			8,400,000
KFMB
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net pension plan obligation	$ 7,300,000			$ 7,300,000

Retirement Plans (Details)

Retirement Plans (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Company's pension costs
Pension payment timing related charges	$ 1,200	$ 6,300
Retirement Plans
Company's pension costs
Service cost-benefits earned during the period	3		$ 218	$ 9	$ 654
Interest cost on benefit obligation	5,721		5,990	15,945	17,971
Expected return on plan assets	(8,218)		(6,580)	(23,148)	(19,741)
Amortization of prior service cost	42		159	126	476
Amortization of actuarial loss	1,271		2,081	3,814	6,242
Pension payment timing related charges	1,198		0	7,498	0
Expense for company-sponsored retirement plans	$ 17		$ 1,868	$ 4,244	$ 5,602

Supplemental Equity Informati_3

Supplemental Equity Information - Equity Rollforward (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance			$ 995,041	$ 2,553,005
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)	$ 97,151	$ 39,951	244,850	(88,579)
Other comprehensive income	1,828	26,213	8,855	40,060
Redeemable noncontrolling interests (earnings not available to shareholders)	0	36	0	(2,797)
Comprehensive income (loss)	98,979	66,200	253,705	(51,316)
Dividends declared			(45,193)	(60,121)
Stock-based compensation			12,292	14,189
Treasury shares acquired			(5,831)	(8,453)
Impact from adoption of new revenue standard	(3,724)		(3,724)
Other activity, including shares withheld for employee taxes			(707)	(4,667)
Spin-off of Cars.com				(1,510,851)
Deconsolidation of CareerBuilder				(225,911)
Ending Balance	1,205,583	705,875	1,205,583	705,875
TEGNA Inc. Shareholders’ Equity
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance			995,041	2,271,418
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)			244,850	(29,881)
Other comprehensive income			8,855	34,241
Redeemable noncontrolling interests (earnings not available to shareholders)				0
Comprehensive income (loss)			253,705	4,360
Dividends declared			(45,193)	(60,121)
Stock-based compensation			12,292	14,189
Treasury shares acquired			(5,831)	(8,453)
Impact from adoption of new revenue standard	(3,724)		(3,724)
Other activity, including shares withheld for employee taxes			(707)	(4,667)
Spin-off of Cars.com				(1,510,851)
Deconsolidation of CareerBuilder				0
Ending Balance	1,205,583	705,875	1,205,583	705,875
Noncontrolling Interests
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance			0	281,587
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)			0	(58,698)
Other comprehensive income			0	5,819
Redeemable noncontrolling interests (earnings not available to shareholders)				(2,797)
Comprehensive income (loss)			0	(55,676)
Dividends declared			0	0
Stock-based compensation			0	0
Treasury shares acquired			0	0
Impact from adoption of new revenue standard	0		0
Other activity, including shares withheld for employee taxes			0	0
Spin-off of Cars.com				0
Deconsolidation of CareerBuilder				(225,911)
Ending Balance	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0

Supplemental Equity Informati_4

Supplemental Equity Information - Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Increase (Decrease) in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance		$ 995,041		$ 995,041	$ 2,553,005
Amounts reclassified from AOCL	$ 1,851		$ 23,375	8,445	35,827
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	1,828		26,213	8,855	40,060
Reclassification of stranded tax effects to retained earnings		24,800
Ending Balance	1,205,583		705,875	1,205,583	705,875
Retirement Plans
Increase (Decrease) in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(125,288)	(107,037)	(124,632)	(107,037)	(127,341)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	0		0	0	0
Amounts reclassified from AOCL	1,851		1,351	8,445	4,060
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	1,851		1,351	8,445	4,060
Reclassification of stranded tax effects to retained earnings				(24,845)
Ending Balance	(123,437)		(123,281)	(123,437)	(123,281)
Foreign Currency Translation
Increase (Decrease) in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	547	114	(23,608)	114	(28,560)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	(23)		1,428	410	6,380
Amounts reclassified from AOCL	0		22,024	0	22,024
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	(23)		23,452	410	28,404
Reclassification of stranded tax effects to retained earnings				0
Ending Balance	524		(156)	524	(156)
Other
Increase (Decrease) in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	0	0	2,364	0	(5,672)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	0		0	0	(1,707)
Amounts reclassified from AOCL	0		0	0	9,743
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	0		0	0	8,036
Reclassification of stranded tax effects to retained earnings				0
Ending Balance	0		2,364	0	2,364
Total
Increase (Decrease) in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(124,741)	$ (106,923)	(145,876)	(106,923)	(161,573)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	(23)		1,428	410	4,673
Amounts reclassified from AOCL	1,851		23,375	8,445	35,827
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	1,828		24,803	8,855	40,500
Reclassification of stranded tax effects to retained earnings				(24,845)
Ending Balance	$ (122,913)		$ (121,073)	$ (122,913)	$ (121,073)

Supplemental Equity Informati_5

Supplemental Equity Information - Reclassifications out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Total reclassifications, before tax	$ 2,473	$ 24,225	$ 11,325	$ 38,370
Income tax effect	(622)	(850)	(2,880)	(2,543)
Total reclassifications, net of tax	1,851	23,375	8,445	35,827
Amortization of prior service (credit) cost
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Total reclassifications, before tax	(101)	16	(302)	48
Amortization of actuarial loss
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Total reclassifications, before tax	1,376	2,185	4,129	6,555
Reclassification of CareerBuilder foreign currency translation
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Total reclassifications, before tax	0	22,024	0	22,024
Total reclassifications, net of tax	0	22,024	0	22,024
Reclassification of available for sale investment
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Total reclassifications, before tax	0	0	0	9,743
Pension payment timing related charges
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Total reclassifications, before tax	$ 1,198	$ 0	$ 7,498	$ 0

Supplemental Equity Informati_6

Supplemental Equity Information - Additional (Details) shares in Millions	Mar. 01, 2018shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Performance period to earn shares	2 years
Additional performance period to earn shares	1 year
Performance share units
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Grants in period (in shares)	0.6

Earnings Per Share (Details)

Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Earnings Per Share, Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Net income from continuing operations	$ 92,826	$ 50,754	$ 240,525	$ 144,682
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	4,325	(10,803)	4,325	(233,261)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests from discontinued operations	0	2,806	0	58,698
Net income (loss) attributable to TEGNA Inc.	$ 97,151	$ 42,757	$ 244,850	$ (29,881)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	216,015	215,863	216,210	215,558
Effect of dilutive securities:
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	216,348	218,095	216,617	217,827
Earnings from continuing operations per share - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.43	$ 0.24	$ 1.11	$ 0.67
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations per share - basic (in dollars per share)	0.02	(0.04)	0.02	(0.81)
Net income (loss) per share – basic (In dollars per share)	0.45	0.20	1.13	(0.14)
Earnings from continuing operations per share - diluted (in dollars per share)	0.43	0.23	1.11	0.66
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations per share - diluted (in dollars per share)	0.02	(0.04)	0.02	(0.80)
Net income (loss) per share – diluted (In dollars per share)	$ 0.45	$ 0.19	$ 1.13	$ (0.14)
Restricted stock units
Effect of dilutive securities:
Dilutive securities (in shares)	167	828	116	880
Performance share units
Effect of dilutive securities:
Dilutive securities (in shares)	0	721	72	674
Stock options
Effect of dilutive securities:
Dilutive securities (in shares)	166	683	219	715

Earnings Per Share - Narrative

Earnings Per Share - Narrative (Details) - shares	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Anti-dilutive stock options outstanding excluded from diluted earnings per share (in shares)	189,000	96,000	235,000	142,000

Fair Value Measurement - Narrat

Fair Value Measurement - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cost method investments	$ 24,212	$ 17,374
Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation investments		14,600
Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value of total long-term debt	$ 3,060,000	$ 3,160,000

Supplemental Cash Flow Inform_3

Supplemental Cash Flow Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Continuing operations	$ 23,766	$ 383,354	$ 98,801	$ 15,879
Discontinued operations	0	0	0	61,041
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	23,766	412,974	128,041	105,117
Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds	51,325	104,422
Cash paid for interest	121,616	133,752
Continuing Operations | Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Restricted cash equivalents	0	0	29,240	0
Continuing Operations | Investments and other assets
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Restricted cash equivalents	$ 0	$ 29,620	$ 0	$ 28,197

Other Matters - Narrative (Deta

Other Matters - Narrative (Details)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2017USD ($)stationphase	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)	Mar. 23, 2018USD ($)
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Number of stations assigned new channels | station	13
Authorized reimbursement amount	$ 1,750,000,000
Authorized reimbursement amount, repacking fund				$ 1,000,000,000
Authorized reimbursement amount, repacking fund, full power, class a stations and multichannel distributors				$ 750,000,000
Repacking period	39 months
Number of repacking phases | phase	10
Capital expenditures incurred			$ 7,900,000
Amount purchased			6,600,000
FCC reimbursements received			$ 5,100,000
Amounts reimbursed as a percentage of total costs	92.50%
Severance charges		$ 7,300,000

Discontinued Operations - Narra

Discontinued Operations - Narrative (Details) $ in Millions	Jul. 31, 2017USD ($)seat	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)	May 31, 2017
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Conversion ratio for every share of Tegna common stock owned by stockholders				0.3333
Tax benefit from discontinued operations		$ 4.3
CareerBuilder
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale of discontinued operation	$ 198.3
CareerBuilder
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Equity method investment retained after disposal, ownership interest (as a percent)	17.00%		17.00%
Equity method investment retained after disposal, fully diluted ownership interest (as a percent)	10.00%		10.00%
Number seats retained on Board of Directors after sale | seat	2
Total number of seats on Board of Directors | seat	10
Equity income (loss) in unconsolidated investments, net			$ 15.7

Discontinued Operations - Finan

Discontinued Operations - Financial Results (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	$ 4,300
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	$ 4,325	$ (10,803)	$ 4,325	$ (233,261)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests from discontinued operations		2,806		58,698
Digital
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Revenues		54,874		647,021
Operating expenses		58,429		925,056
Loss from discontinued operations, before income taxes		(2,908)		(279,113)
(Provision) benefit for income taxes		(7,895)		45,852
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax		$ (10,803)		$ (233,261)

Discontinued Operations - Cash

Discontinued Operations - Cash Flows (Details) - Digital $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Depreciation	$ 19,569
Amortization of intangible assets	40,300
Capital expenditures	$ 37,441