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FCC Licenses
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2025
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
FCC Licenses
(5)
FCC Licenses

Changes in the carrying amount of FCC licenses for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2025 are as follows:

 

Balance as of January 1, 2024

 

$

393,006,900

 

License terminations

 

 

(747,069

)

Balance as of December 31, 2024

 

 

392,259,831

 

Dispositions (see Note 3)

 

 

(7,185,620

)

Assets held for sale reclassification (see Note 3)

 

 

(5,191,700

)

License terminations

 

 

(356,162

)

Impairment losses

 

 

(224,815,149

)

Balance as of December 31, 2025

 

$

154,711,200

 

 

FCC licenses are tested for impairment on an annual basis, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the FCC licenses might be impaired. The Company assesses qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that its FCC licenses are impaired. If the Company determines it is more likely than not that its FCC licenses are impaired, then the Company is required to perform the quantitative impairment test. The quantitative impairment test compares the fair value of the FCC licenses with the carrying amounts of such licenses. If the carrying amounts of the FCC licenses exceed the fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess. For the purpose of testing FCC licenses for impairment, the Company combines its licenses into reporting units based on its market clusters. The FCC license valuations are Level 3 non-recurring fair value measurements.

The fair values of the FCC licenses were estimated using an income approach. The income approach is based upon discounted cash flow analyses for the next ten years incorporating variables such as projected audio market revenues, projected growth rate for audio market revenues, projected audio market revenue shares, projected audio station operating cash flow margins, and a discount rate appropriate for the audio industry.

The Company performed the annual quantitative impairment test for its FCC licenses in all markets during the fourth quarter of 2025. As a result of the annual quantitative impairment test, the Company recorded impairment losses of $224.8 million related to the FCC licenses in each of its reporting units. The impairment losses were primarily due to a decrease in the projected revenues in each market cluster, a decrease in operating cash flow margins in each market cluster, and an increase in the discount rate used in the discounted cash flow analyses to estimate the fair value of the FCC licenses.

 

There were a number of factors that contributed to these changes and the recognition of impairment in the fourth quarter of 2025 as compared to prior periods: 1) the full impact of the general economic uncertainty created by tariffs, inconsistent government economic data, and a degree of global economic upheaval resulting from the change in administrations became apparent by the fourth quarter of 2025. These factors, tariffs in particular, had a negative effect on advertiser spending, which impacted both revenues and cash flow for broadcasters; 2) the decline in core advertising, excluding political, was more significant than anticipated in 2025 while at the same time, the growth in digital advertising was less than anticipated; and 3) the financial outlook for the Company took an adverse turn in the fourth quarter of 2025, as significant concerns around the future liquidity of the Company arose. This translated into increased risk around the Company’s FCC licenses.

The key assumptions used in the discounted cash flow analyses are as follows:

 

Revenue growth rates

 

(9.0)% - 3.5%

Market revenue shares at maturity

 

15.2% - 45.8%

Operating cash flow margins at maturity

 

12.0% - 23.3%

Discount rate

 

12.0%

 

On September 29, 2025, the 12-month silent period for WGUS-FM in Augusta, GA expired, and the FCC license was terminated. The termination resulted in a loss of $0.4 million.

The Company performed the annual quantitative impairment test for its FCC licenses in all markets during the fourth quarter of 2024 and did not record any impairment losses related to the FCC licenses in each of its reporting units. The fair values of the FCC licenses were estimated using an income approach. The key assumptions used in the discounted cash flow analyses are as follows:

 

Revenue growth rates

 

(10.7)% - 6.1%

Market revenue shares at maturity

 

0.4% - 45.4%

Operating cash flow margins at maturity

 

19.7% - 28.6%

Discount rate

 

9.0%

On December 25, 2024, the 12-month silent period for WAEC-AM in Atlanta, GA expired, and the FCC license was terminated. The termination resulted in a loss of $0.3 million. On December 20, 2024, the 12-month silent period for WCHZ-FM in Augusta, GA expired, and the FCC license was terminated. The termination resulted in a loss of $0.3 million.