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Income Taxes | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract] |
Income Taxes [Text Block] | NOTE 9 – INCOME TAXES Significant components of the provision for income tax benefit (expense) are as follows:
(In thousands) |  | Years Ended December 31,
|  |  | 2012 |  |  | 2011 |  |  | 2010
Current - Federal | $ | 61,655 |  | $ | 18,608 |  | $ | (4,534)
Current - foreign |  | (48,579) |  |  | (51,293) |  |  | (41,388)
Current - state |  | (9,408) |  |  | 14,719 |  |  | (5,278)
| Total current benefit (expense) |  | 3,668 |  |  | (17,966) |  |  | (51,200)
Deferred - Federal |  | 261,014 |  |  | 126,078 |  |  | 211,137
Deferred - foreign |  | 27,970 |  |  | 13,708 |  |  | (3,859)
Deferred - state |  | 15,627 |  |  | 4,158 |  |  | 3,902
| Total deferred benefit |  | 304,611 |  |  | 143,944 |  |  | 211,180
Income tax benefit | $ | 308,279 |  | $ | 125,978 |  | $ | 159,980
Current tax benefits of $3.7 million were recorded for 2012 as compared to current tax expenses of $18.0 million for 2011 primarily due to the Company's settlement of U.S. Federal and foreign tax examinations during 2012. Pursuant to the settlements, the Company recorded a reduction to current income tax expense of approximately $67.3 million during 2012 to reflect the net current tax benefits of the settlements. Current tax expenses of $18.0 million were recorded for 201 1 as compared to current tax expenses of $51.2 million for 201 0 primarily due to the Company's settlement of U.S. Federal, foreign and st ate tax examinations during 2011. Pursuant to the settlements, the Company recorded a reduction to current income tax expense of approximately $51.1 million during 2011 to reflect the net current tax benefits of the settlements. Deferred tax benefits of $304.6 million for 2012 primarily relate to future benefits of net operating loss carryforwards, and were higher when compared with deferred tax benefits of $143.9 million for 2011. The increase in deferred tax benefits in 2012 is primarily due to additional loss before income taxes in 2012 compared to 2011. Deferred tax benefits of $143.9 million for 2011 primarily relate to future benefits of net operating loss carryforwards, and were lower when compared with deferred tax benefits of $211.2 million for 2010. The decrease in deferred tax benefits in 2011 is primarily due to a decrease in Federal tax losses. Additional decreases are a result of the deferred tax impacts from the Company's settlement of U.S. Federal and state tax examinations during 2011 along with the write-off of deferred tax assets associated with the 2011 vesting of certain equity awards. Significant components of the Company's deferred tax liabilities an d assets as of December 31, 2012 and 201 1 are as follows:
(In thousands) |  | 2012 |  |  | 2011
Deferred tax liabilities: |  |  |  |  |
| Intangibles and fixed assets | $ | 2,418,558 |  | $ | 2,381,177
| Long-term debt |  | 381,712 |  |  | 465,201
| Foreign |  | 21,828 |  |  | 43,305
| Investments in nonconsolidated affiliates |  | 49,654 |  |  | 46,502
| Unrealized loss in marketable securities |  | 13,768 |  |  | -
| Other investments |  | 2,122 |  |  | 7,068
| Other |  | 5,480 |  |  | 25,834
Total deferred tax liabilities |  | 2,893,122 |  |  | 2,969,087
Deferred tax assets: |  |  |  |  |
| Accrued expenses |  | 82,550 |  |  | 92,038
| Unrealized gain in marketable securities |  | - |  |  | 6,833
| Net operating losses |  | 1,107,594 |  |  | 917,078
| Bad debt reserves |  | 8,418 |  |  | 10,767
| Deferred Income |  | 553 |  |  | 590
| Other |  | 35,693 |  |  | 33,931
Total gross deferred tax assets |  | 1,234,808 |  |  | 1,061,237
| Less: Valuation allowance |  | 12,312 |  |  | 14,177
Total deferred tax assets |  | 1,222,496 |  |  | 1,047,060
Net deferred tax liabilities | $ | 1,670,626 |  | $ | 1,922,027
Included in the Company's net deferred tax liabilities are $19.2 million and $16.6 million of current net deferred tax assets for 2012 and 2011, respectively. The Company presents these assets in “Other current assets” on its consolidated balance sheets. The remaining $1.7 billion and $1.9 billion of net deferred tax liabilities for 2012 and 2011, respectively, are presented in “Deferred tax liabilities” on the consolidated balance sheets. At December 31, 2012, the Company had recorded net operating loss carryforwards (tax effected) for federal and state income tax purposes of $1.1 b illion, expiring in various amounts through 203 2. The Company expects to realize the benefits of the majority of net operating losses based on its expectations as to future taxable income from deferred tax liabilities that reverse in the relevant carryforward period and, therefore, the Company has not recorded a valuation allowance against those losses. At December 31, 2012, net deferred tax liabilities include a deferred tax asset of $28.7 million relating to stock-based compensation expense under ASC 718-10, Compensation—Stock Compensation. Full realization of this deferred tax asset requires stock options to be exercised at a price equaling or exceeding the sum of the grant price plus the fair value of the option at the grant date and restricted stock to vest at a price equaling or exceeding the fair market value at the grant date. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the stock price of the Company's common stock will rise to levels sufficient to realize the entire deferred tax benefit currently reflected in its balance sheet. The deferred tax liability related to intangibles and fixed assets primarily relates to the difference in book and tax basis of acquired FCC licenses, permits and tax deductible goodwill created from the Company's various stock acquisitions. In accordance with ASC 350-10, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other, the Company does not amortize FCC licenses and permits. As a result, this deferred tax liability will not reverse over time unless the Company recognizes future impairment charges related to its FCC licenses, permits and tax deductible goodwill or sells its FCC licenses or permits. As the Company continues to amortize its tax basis in its FCC licenses, permits and tax deductible goodwill, the deferred tax liability will increase over time. The reconciliation of income tax computed at the U.S. Federal statutory tax rates to income tax benefit is:
|  |  | Years Ended December 31,
(In thousands) |  | 2012 |  |  | 2011 |  |  | 2010
|  |  | Amount |  | Percent |  |  | Amount |  | Percent |  |  | Amount |  | Percent
Income tax benefit at |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| statutory rates | $ | 251,814 |  | 35% |  | $ | 137,903 |  | 35% |  | $ | 217,991 |  | 35%
State income taxes, net of |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Federal tax benefit |  | 6,218 |  | 1% |  |  | 18,877 |  | 5% |  |  | (1,376) |  | (0%)
Foreign taxes |  | 8,782 |  | 2% |  |  | (4,683) |  | (1%) |  |  | (30,967) |  | (5%)
Nondeductible items |  | (4,617) |  | (1%) |  |  | (3,154) |  | (1%) |  |  | (3,165) |  | (0%)
Changes in valuation allowance |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| and other estimates |  | 50,697 |  | 7% |  |  | (15,816) |  | (4%) |  |  | (16,263) |  | (3%)
Impairment charge |  | - |  | 0% |  |  | - |  | 0% |  |  | - |  | 0%
Other, net |  | (4,615) |  | (1%) |  |  | (7,149) |  | (2%) |  |  | (6,240) |  | (1%)
Income tax benefit | $ | 308,279 |  | 43% |  | $ | 125,978 |  | 32% |  | $ | 159,980 |  | 26%
(In thousands) |  | Years Ended December 31,
Unrecognized Tax Benefits |  | 2012 |  |  | 2011
Balance at beginning of period | $ | 175,782 |  | $ | 225,469
Increases for tax position taken in the current year |  | 10,575 |  |  | 5,373
Increases for tax positions taken in previous years |  | 14,774 |  |  | 12,115
Decreases for tax position taken in previous years |  | (55,113) |  |  | (37,677)
Decreases due to settlements with tax authorities |  | (7,581) |  |  | (29,443)
Decreases due to lapse of statute of limitations |  | - |  |  | (55)
Balance at end of period | $ | 138,437 |  | $ | 175,782
The Company and its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the United States Federal jurisdiction and various state and foreign jurisdictions. During 2012, the C ompany effectively settled certain Federal and foreign examinations and as a result reversed liabilities that had been recorded for the uncertain tax positions in those periods. The amount of liabilities reversed during 2012 was approximately $67.3 million, inclusive of interest. In addition the Company settled an examination in the United Kingdom and, as a result of the settlement, paid approximately $7.2 million in tax and interest. During 2011, the Company reached a settlement with the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) related to the examination of the t ax years 2003 and 2004. As a result of the settlement the Company paid approximately $22.4 million, inclusive of interest, to the IRS and reversed liabilities related to the settled tax years. In addition, the Company effectively settled several state and foreign tax examinations during 2011 that resulted in a reduction to its net tax liabilities to reflect the tax benefits of the settlements. The IRS is currently auditing the Company's 2009 and 2010 periods and the Company is awaiting an appeals conference meeting for its 2007 and 2008 pre and post-merger periods. Substantially all material state, local, and foreign income tax matters have been concluded for years through 2005.

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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 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32537-109319 Reference 2: 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 3: 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. Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 08 -Paragraph h -Article 4 Reference 5: 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 6: 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 7: 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 8: 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 + Details
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