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INCOME TAXES | 6 Months Ended
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Jun. 30, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract] |
INCOME TAXES | INCOME TAXES At the end of each interim period, the Company makes its best estimate of the annual expected effective income tax rate and applies that rate to its ordinary year-to-date earnings or loss. The income tax provision or benefit related to significant, unusual, or extraordinary items, if applicable, that will be separately reported or reported net of their related tax effects are individually computed and recognized in the interim period in which those items occur. In addition, the effect of changes in enacted tax laws or rates, tax status, judgment on the realizability of a beginning-of-the-year deferred tax asset in future years or income tax contingencies is recognized in the interim period in which the change occurs. The computation of the annual expected effective income tax rate at each interim period requires certain estimates and assumptions including, but not limited to, the expected pre-tax income (or loss) for the year, projections of the proportion of income (and/or loss) earned and taxed in foreign jurisdictions, permanent and temporary differences, and the likelihood of the realizability of deferred tax assets generated in the current year. The accounting estimates used to compute the provision or benefit for income taxes may change as new events occur, more experience is acquired, additional information is obtained or our tax environment changes. To the extent that the expected annual effective income tax rate changes during a quarter, the effect of the change on prior quarters is included in income tax provision in the quarter in which the change occurs. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, the Company recorded an income tax provision for continuing operations of $39.4 million and $65.2 million, respectively, which represents effective income tax rates of 40% and 37%, respectively. The effective rates for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 are higher than the statutory rate of 35% due primarily to state taxes and interest on reserves for income tax contingencies, partially offset by foreign income taxed at lower rates. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, the Company recorded an income tax provision for continuing operations of $28.6 million and $55.8 million, respectively, which represents effective income tax rates of 37% and 41%, respectively. The effective rate for the three months ended June 30, 2012 is higher than the statutory rate of 35% due primarily to a valuation allowance on the deferred tax asset created by News_Beast (formerly The Newsweek/Daily Beast Company) non-cash re-measurement charge related to our acquisition of a controlling interest, and state taxes, partially offset by foreign income taxed at lower rates and a net decrease in the valuation allowance on beginning of the year deferred tax assets related to investments in unconsolidated affiliates. The effective rate for the six months ended June 30, 2012 is higher than the statutory rate of 35% due primarily to an increase in reserves for and interest on reserves for income tax contingencies, a valuation allowance on the deferred tax asset created by the News_Beast non-cash re-measurement charge, and state taxes, partially offset by foreign income taxed at lower rates and a net decrease in the valuation allowance on beginning of the year deferred tax assets related to investments in unconsolidated affiliates. At June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, unrecognized tax benefits, including interest, are $499.3 million and $496.8 million, respectively. Unrecognized tax benefits, including interest, at June 30, 2013 increased by $2.5 million due principally to interest, partially offset by a net decrease in deductible timing differences. Of the total unrecognized tax benefits at June 30, 2013, $484.0 million is included in "Income taxes payable," $15.0 million relates to deferred tax assets included in "Deferred income taxes" and $0.3 million is included in "Accrued expenses and other current liabilities" in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. Included in unrecognized tax benefits at June 30, 2013 is $70.3 million relating to tax positions for which the ultimate deductibility is highly certain, but for which there is uncertainty about the timing of such deductibility. If unrecognized tax benefits at June 30, 2013 are subsequently recognized, $112.6 million and $224.3 million, net of related deferred tax assets and interest, would reduce income tax expense for continuing operations and discontinued operations, respectively. The Company recognizes interest and, if applicable, penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax provision. Included in the income tax provision for continuing operations and discontinued operations for the three months ended June 30, 2013 is a $1.5 million and a $1.0 million expense, respectively, net of related deferred taxes, for interest on unrecognized tax benefits. Included in the income tax provision for continuing operations and discontinued operations for the six months ended June 30, 2013 is a $2.9 million and a $2.0 million expense, respectively, net of related deferred taxes, for interest on unrecognized tax benefits. At June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company has accrued $125.0 million and $117.5 million, respectively, for the payment of interest. At June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company has accrued $5.0 million for penalties. The Company is routinely under audit by federal, state, local and foreign authorities in the area of income tax. These audits include questioning the timing and the amount of income and deductions and the allocation of income and deductions among various tax jurisdictions. The Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") has substantially completed its audit of the Company's tax returns for the years ended December 31, 2001 through 2009. The settlement of these tax years has been submitted to the Joint Committee of Taxation for approval. The statute of limitations for the years 2001 through 2009 is extended through June 30, 2014. Various state and local jurisdictions are currently under examination, the most significant of which are California, New York and New York City for various tax years beginning with 2006. Income taxes payable include reserves considered sufficient to pay assessments that may result from examination of prior year tax returns. Changes to reserves from period to period and differences between amounts paid, if any, upon resolution of issues raised in audits and amounts previously provided may be material. Differences between the reserves for income tax contingencies and the amounts owed by the Company are recorded in the period they become known. The Company believes that it is reasonably possible that its unrecognized tax benefits could decrease by $124.4 million within twelve months of the current reporting date, of which approximately $16.8 million could decrease income tax provision, primarily due to settlements, expirations of statutes of limitations, and the reversal of deductible temporary differences that will primarily result in a corresponding decrease in net deferred tax assets. An estimate of other changes in unrecognized tax benefits, while potentially significant, cannot be made.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for income taxes. Disclosures may include net deferred tax liability or asset recognized in an enterprise's statement of financial position, net change during the year in the total valuation allowance, approximate tax effect of each type of temporary difference and carryforward that gives rise to a significant portion of deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets, utilization of a tax carryback, and tax uncertainties information. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32718-109319 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6881521&loc=d3e23780-122690 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 08 -Paragraph h -Article 4 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32639-109319 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32537-109319 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32559-109319 Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 109 -Paragraph 136, 172 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 109 -Paragraph 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
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