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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Schedule of allowance for doubtful accounts | A rollforward of the allowance for doubtful accounts is as follows:
(in thousands) |  |
January 1, 2018 |  | $ | 1,949 |
Charged to costs and expenses |  | 3,378 |
Amounts charged off, net |  | (1,106) |
Balance as of December 31, 2018 |  | 4,221 |
Charged to costs and expenses |  | 1,823 |
Amounts charged off, net |  | (2,698) |
Balance as of December 31, 2019 |  | 3,346 |
Charged to costs and expenses |  | 3,305 |
Amounts charged off, net |  | (3,208) |
Balance as of December 31, 2020 |  | $ | 3,443 |
Estimated useful lives of property and equipment | We compute depreciation using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives as follows:
Buildings and improvements | 15 to 45 years
Leasehold improvements | Shorter of term of lease or useful life
Broadcast transmission towers and related equipment | 15 to 35 years
Other broadcast and program production equipment | 3 to 15 years
Computer hardware | 3 to 5 years
Office and other equipment | 3 to 10 years
Property and equipment consisted of the following:
|  | As of December 31,
(in thousands) |  | 2020 |  | 2019
Land and improvements |  | $ | 62,655 |  |  | $ | 62,712 |
Buildings and improvements |  | 183,516 |  |  | 187,830 |
Equipment |  | 447,139 |  |  | 452,239 |
Computer software |  | 25,888 |  |  | 20,047 |
Total |  | 719,198 |  |  | 722,828 |
Accumulated depreciation |  | 375,278 |  |  | 352,450 |
Net property and equipment |  | $ | 343,920 |  |  | $ | 370,378 |
Components of basic and diluted weighted-average shares | The following table presents information about basic and diluted weighted-average shares outstanding:
|  | For the years ended December 31,
(in thousands) |  | 2020 |  | 2019 |  | 2018
Numerator (for basic and diluted earnings per share) |  |  |  |  |  |
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax |  | $ | 153,564 |  |  | $ | (1,913) |  |  | $ | 69,889 |
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 632 |
Less income allocated to RSUs |  | (3,711) |  |  | — |  |  | (1,129) |
Numerator for basic and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations attributable to the shareholders of The E.W. Scripps Company |  | $ | 149,853 |  |  | $ | (1,913) |  |  | $ | 69,392 |
Denominator |  |  |  |  |  |
Basic weighted-average shares outstanding |  | 81,418 |  |  | 80,826 |  |  | 81,369 |
Effect of dilutive securities: |  |  |  |  |  |
Stock options and restricted stock units |  | 413 |  |  | — |  |  | 558 |
Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding |  | 81,831 |  |  | 80,826 |  |  | 81,927 |

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