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EMPLOYEE SAVINGS AND BENEFIT PLANS (Block)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Compensation And Retirement Disclosure Abstract 
Compensation And Employee Benefit Plans Text Block

16.       EMPLOYEE SAVINGS AND BENEFIT PLANS

 

Deferred Compensation Plans

 

       The Company provides certain of its employees and the Board of Directors with an opportunity to defer a portion of their compensation on a tax-favored basis. The obligations by the Company to pay these benefits under the deferred compensation plans represent unsecured general obligations that rank equally with the Company's other unsecured indebtedness. Amounts deferred under these plans were included in other long-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. Any change in the deferred compensation liability for each quarter is recorded to general and administrative expense and to station operating expenses in the statement of operations.        

 

   Nine Months Ended
   September 30,
Benefit Plan Disclosures 2011 2010
   (amounts in thousands)
Reconciliation Of Deferred Compensation Liabilities       
 Beginning of period balance, January 1 $ 6,622  $ 5,173
 Employee compensation deferrals    631    683
 Employee compensation payments   (335)    (87)
 Increase (decrease) in plan fair value    (571)    256
 End of period balance $ 6,347  $ 6,025

401(k) Savings Plan

       Effective July 1, 2011, the Company reinstated its discretionary matching contribution, which is subject to certain conditions. The Company's previous discretionary matching contribution was suspended in 2008.       

 

       The following table presents for the periods indicated the Company's contribution to the 401K Plan:

       

   Nine Months Ended
   September 30,
  2011 2010
   (amounts in thousands)
         
401(K) savings plan expense $ 279  $ -