INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND GOODWILL (Block)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Goodwil And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure Text Block

2. INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND GOODWILL

(A) Indefinite-Lived Intangibles

Goodwill and certain intangible assets are not amortized. The Company accounts for its acquired broadcasting licenses as indefinite-lived intangible assets and, similar to goodwill, these assets are reviewed at least annually for impairment. At the time of each review, if the fair value is less than the carrying value of goodwill and certain intangibles (such as broadcasting licenses), then a charge is recorded to the results of operations.

(1) Broadcasting Licenses Impairment Test

The Company performs its annual broadcasting license impairment test during the second quarter of each year by evaluating its broadcasting licenses for impairment at the market level using the direct method.

Each market's broadcasting licenses are combined into a single unit of accounting for purposes of testing impairment, as the broadcasting licenses in each market are operated as a single asset. The Company determines the fair value of the broadcasting licenses in each of its markets by relying on a discounted cash flow approach (a 10-year income model) assuming a start-up scenario in which the only assets held by an investor are broadcasting licenses. The Company's fair value analysis contains assumptions based upon past experience and reflecting expectations of industry observers and including judgments about future performance using industry normalized information for an average station within a certain market. These assumptions include, but are not limited to: (1) the discount rate; (2) the market share and profit margin of an average station within a market based upon market size and station type; (3) the forecast growth rate of each radio market; (4) the estimated capital start-up costs and losses incurred during the early years; (5) the likely media competition within the market area; (6) a tax rate; and (7) future terminal values.

The methodology used by the Company in determining its key estimates and assumptions was applied consistently to each market. Of the seven variables identified above, the Company believes that the first three (in clauses (1) through (3) above) are the most important to the determination of fair value.

The following table presents the changes in broadcasting licenses for the periods indicated:

	Broadcasting Licenses
	Carrying Amount
	2012		2011
	(amounts in thousands)

Beginning of period balance as of January 1,	$	715,902	$	707,852
Impairment loss		(22,307)		-
Acquisition		24,760		8,050
Ending period balance as of June 30,	$	718,355	$	715,902

Broadcasting License Impairment Testing During The Quarter Ended June 30, 2012

The following table reflects the estimates and assumptions used in the second quarter of 2012 as compared to the second quarter of 2011, the date of the most recent prior impairment test.

	Estimates And Assumptions
	Second	Second
	Quarter	Quarter
	2012	2011
Discount rate	10.0%	10.0%
Operating profit margin ranges expected for average stations in the markets where the Company operates	20.7% to 40.9%	19.5% to 41.5%
Long-term revenue growth rate range of the Company's markets	1.5% to 2.0%	1.5% to 2.0%

The Company completed its annual impairment test for broadcasting licenses and determined that the fair value of its broadcasting licenses in Boston was less than the amount reflected in the balance sheet. The impairment was principally due to a change in the relative market share attributable to the different classes of broadcast license signals in the Boston market. As a result, the Company recorded an impairment loss of $22.3 million.

The Company has made reasonable estimates and assumptions to calculate the fair value of its broadcasting licenses, however, these estimates and assumptions could be materially different from actual results. If actual market conditions are less favorable than those projected by the industry or the Company, or if events occur or circumstances change that would reduce the fair value of the Company's broadcasting licenses below the amount reflected in the balance sheet, the Company may be required to conduct an interim test and possibly recognize impairment charges, which may be material, in future periods.

(2) Goodwill Impairment Test

The Company performs its annual goodwill impairment test during the second quarter of each year by evaluating its goodwill for each reporting unit.

The Company has determined that a radio market is a reporting unit and, in total, the Company assesses goodwill at 19 separate reporting units (4 of the Company's 23 reporting units have no goodwill). If the fair value of any reporting unit is less than the amount reflected on the balance sheet, an indication exists that the amount of goodwill attributed to a reporting unit may be impaired, and the Company is required to perform a second step of the impairment test. In the second step, the Company compares the amount reflected on the balance sheet to the implied fair value of the reporting unit's goodwill, determined by allocating the reporting unit's fair value to all of its assets and liabilities in a manner similar to a purchase price allocation.

To determine the fair value, the Company uses a market approach and, when appropriate, an income approach for each reporting unit. The market approach compares recent sales and offering prices of similar properties. The income approach uses the subject property's income generated over a specified time and capitalized at an appropriate market rate to arrive at an indication of the most probable selling price.

In September 2011, the accounting guidance for how an entity tests goodwill for impairment was revised. The new guidance allows an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the two-step quantitative goodwill impairment test. An entity is no longer required to calculate the fair value of a reporting unit unless the entity determines, based on a qualitative assessment, that it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than its carrying amount. This guidance was available but not used for the Company's annual goodwill testing during the second quarter of 2012.

The following table presents the changes in goodwill for each of the periods indicated:

	Goodwill Carrying Amount
	2012		2011
	(amounts in thousands)
Goodwill balance before cumulative loss
on impairment as of January 1,	$	164,506	$	163,783
Accumulated loss on impairment as of January 1,		(125,615)		(125,615)
Goodwill beginning balance after cumulative loss
on impairment as of January 1,		38,891		38,168
Acquisition		212		723
Goodwill ending balance as of June 30,	$	39,103	$	38,891

Goodwill Impairment Testing During The Second Quarter Ended June 30, 2012

In step one of the Company's goodwill analysis, the Company considered the results of the market approach and the income approach in computing the fair value of the Company's reporting units. In the market approach, the Company applied an estimated market multiple of 8.0 times (7.5 times for smaller markets) to each reporting unit's operating performance to calculate the fair value. In the income approach, the Company utilized the discounted cash flow methodology to calculate the fair value of the reporting unit (the key estimates and assumptions are included in the table below). Management believes that these approaches are commonly used and appropriate methodologies for valuing broadcast radio stations. Factors contributing to the determination of the reporting unit's operating performance were historical performance and/or management's estimates of future performance.

The results of step one indicated that it was not necessary to perform the second step analysis in any of the 19 reporting units that contained goodwill.

The Company also performed a reasonableness test on the fair value results for goodwill on a combined basis for the Company. The Company compared the fair value results for goodwill by comparing it to the enterprise value of the Company based upon its stock price. The Company determined that the results were reasonable.

The following table reflects certain key estimates and assumptions used in the current and the most recent prior impairment test.

	Estimates And Assumptions
	Second	Second
	Quarter	Quarter
	2012	2011
Discount rate	10.0%	10.0%
Long-term revenue growth rate range of the Company's markets	1.5% to 2.0%	1.5% to 2.0%
Market multiple used in step one of the market valuation approach	7.5x to 8.0x	7.5x to 8.0x

If actual market conditions are less favorable than those projected by the industry or the Company, or if events occur or circumstances change that would reduce the fair value of the Company's goodwill below the amount reflected in the balance sheet, the Company may be required to conduct an interim test and possibly recognize impairment charges, which could be material, in future periods.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the aggregate amount of goodwill and a description of intangible assets, which may include (a) for amortizable intangible assets (also referred to as finite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, the amount of any significant residual value, and the weighted-average amortization period, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization (also referred to as indefinite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, and (c) the amount of research and development assets acquired and written off in the period, including the line item in the income statement in which the amounts written off are aggregated, if not readily apparent from the income statement. Also discloses (a) for amortizable intangibles assets in total and by major class, the gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization, the total amortization expense for the period, and the estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the five succeeding fiscal years, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization the carrying amount in total and by major class, and (c) for goodwill, in total and for each reportable segment, the changes in the carrying amount of goodwill during the period (including the aggregate amount of goodwill acquired, the aggregate amount of impairment losses recognized, and the amount of goodwill included in the gain (loss) on disposal of a reporting unit). If any part of goodwill has not been allocated to a reportable segment, discloses the unallocated amount and the reasons for not allocating. For each impairment loss recognized related to an intangible asset (excluding goodwill), discloses: (a) a description of the impaired intangible asset and the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method for determining fair value, (c) the caption in the income statement or the statement of activities in which the impairment loss is aggregated, and (d) the segment in which the impaired intangible asset is reported. For each goodwill impairment loss recognized, discloses: (a) a description of the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method of determining the fair value of the associated reporting unit, and (c) if a recognized impairment loss is an estimate not finalized and the reasons why the estimate is not final. May also disclose the nature and amount of any significant adjustments made to a previous estimate of an impairment loss.

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