INCOME TAXES (Tables)
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12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2015 |
| Income Tax Disclosure Abstract |
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| Schedule Of Income Tax Expense Reconciliation |
| | | Years Ended December 31, | | | | | 2015 | | 2014 | | 2013 | | | | | (amounts in thousands) | | | | | | | | | | | | | Federal statutory income tax rate | | | 35% | | | 35% | | | 35% | | | | | | | | | | | | | Computed tax expense at federal statutory rates on income | | | | | | | | | | | | before income taxes | | $ | 16,667 | | $ | 16,357 | | $ | 16,975 | | State income tax expense, net of federal benefit | | | 1,333 | | | 2,491 | | | 3,399 | | Non-recognition of expense due to full valuation allowance | | | (244) | | | - | | | 54 | | Tax benefit shortfall associated with share-based awards | | | 12 | | | 62 | | | 997 | | Nondeductible expenses and other | | | 669 | | | 1,001 | | | 1,051 | | Income taxes | | $ | 18,437 | | $ | 19,911 | | $ | 22,476 |
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| Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) |
| | | | | Years Ended December 31, | | | | | | 2015 | | 2014 | | 2013 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Current: | | | | | | | | | | | | Federal | | $ | 25 | | $ | - | | $ | - | | | State | | | 90 | | | 100 | | | 54 | | | | Total current | | | 115 | | | 100 | | | 54 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Deferred: | | | | | | | | | | | | Federal | | | 17,042 | | | 17,373 | | | 19,051 | | | State | | | 1,280 | | | 2,438 | | | 3,371 | | | | Total deferred | | | 18,322 | | | 19,811 | | | 22,422 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Total income taxes (benefit) | | $ | 18,437 | | $ | 19,911 | | $ | 22,476 |
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| Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities |
| | | | | December 31, | | | | | | 2015 | | 2014 | | | | | | (amounts in thousands) | | Deferred tax assets: | | | | | | | | Employee benefits | | $ | 783 | | $ | 678 | | Deferred compensation | | | 988 | | | 588 | | Provision for doubtful accounts | | | 835 | | | 959 | | Deferred gain on tower transaction | | | 235 | | | 236 | | Other | | | 987 | | | 505 | | Total current deferred tax assets before valuation allowance | | | 3,828 | | | 2,966 | | Valuation allowance | | | (231) | | | (620) | | Total current deferred tax assets - net | | | 3,597 | | | 2,346 | | Federal and state income tax loss carryforwards | | | 129,944 | | | 130,074 | | Share-based compensation | | | 3,218 | | | 2,648 | | Investments - impairments | | | 499 | | | 498 | | Lease rental obligations | | | 3,440 | | | 2,289 | | Deferred compensation | | | 3,968 | | | 4,322 | | Deferred gain on tower transaction | | | 3,039 | | | 3,281 | | Other non-current | | | 1,014 | | | 1,154 | | Total non-current deferred tax assets before valuation allowance | | | 145,122 | | | 144,266 | | Valuation allowance | | | (20,407) | | | (20,146) | | Total non-current deferred tax assets - net | | | 124,715 | | | 124,120 | | Total deferred tax assets | | $ | 128,312 | | $ | 126,466 | | | | | | | | | | Deferred tax liabilities: | | | | | | | | Advertiser broadcasting obligations | | $ | (133) | | $ | (98) | | Total current deferred tax liabilities | | | (133) | | | (98) | | Deferral of gain recognition on the extinguishment of debt | | | (4,568) | | | (6,119) | | Property, equipment and certain intangibles (other | | | | | | | | | than broadcasting licenses and goodwill) | | | 4,804 | | | 5,579 | | Broadcasting licenses and goodwill | | | (206,594) | | | (187,050) | | Total non-current deferred tax liabilities | | | (206,358) | | | (187,590) | | Total deferred tax liabilities | | $ | (206,491) | | $ | (187,688) | | | | | | | | | | | | Total net deferred tax liabilities | | $ | (78,179) | | $ | (61,222) |
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| Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance |
| | | | | Increase | | Increase | | | | | | | | | (Decrease) | | (Decrease) | | | | | | | | | Charged | | Charged | | | | | | | | | (Credited) | | (Credited) | | | | | | Balance At | | To Income | | To | | Balance At | | | Beginning | | Taxes | | Balance | | End Of | | Year Ended | | Of Year | | (Benefit) | | Sheet | | Year | | | | (amounts in thousands) | | December 31, 2015 | | $ | 20,766 | | $ | (165) | | $ | 37 | | $ | 20,638 | | December 31, 2014 | | | 20,238 | | | 528 | | | - | | | 20,766 | | December 31, 2013 | | | 18,333 | | | 1,905 | | | - | | | 20,238 |
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| Schedule of Liabilities For Uncertain Tax Positions |
| | | December 31, | | | | 2015 | | 2014 | | | | (amounts in thousands) | | Liabilities for uncertain tax positions | | | | | | | | Tax | | $ | 67 | | $ | 67 | | Interest and penalties | | | 170 | | | 150 | | Total | | $ | 237 | | $ | 217 |
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| Schedule of Expense Income For Uncertain Tax Positions |
| | Years Ended December 31, | | | 2015 | | 2014 | | 2013 | | | (amounts in thousands) | | | | | | | | | | | | Interest and penalties (income) | | | 20 | | | 18 | | | 11 | | Total income taxes (benefit) | | | | | | | | | | | from uncertain tax positions | | $ | 20 | | $ | 18 | | $ | 11 |
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| Schedule of Changes in Unrecognized Tax Benefits |
| | | Years Ended December 31, | | | | 2015 | | 2014 | | 2013 | | | | (amounts in thousands) | | | | | | | | | | | | | Beginning of year balance | | $ | (7,690) | | $ | (7,690) | | $ | (7,690) | | Prior year positions | | | | | | | | | | | Gross Increases | | | - | | | - | | | - | | Gross Decreases | | | - | | | - | | | - | | Current year positions | | | | | | | | | | | Gross Increases | | | - | | | - | | | - | | Gross Decreases | | | - | | | - | | | - | | Settlements with tax authorities | | | - | | | - | | | - | | Reductions due to statute lapse | | | - | | | - | | | - | | End of year balance | | $ | (7,690) | | $ | (7,690) | | $ | (7,690) | | | | | | | | | | | | | Ending liability balance included above that was | | | | | | | | | | | reflected as an offset to deferred tax assets | | $ | (7,623) | | $ | (7,623) | | $ | (7,623) |
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| Schedule of Income Tax Payments and Refunds |
| | | Years Ended December 31, | | | | 2015 | | 2014 | | 2013 | | | | (amounts in thousands) | | | | | | | | | | | | | State income tax payments | | $ | 81 | | $ | 79 | | $ | 69 | | Federal and state income tax refunds | | $ | - | | $ | 10 | | $ | 5 |
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| Summary of Operating Loss Carryforwards [Table Text Block] |
| | Net Operating Losses | | | December 31, 2015 | | | | | Suspended | | | | | | | NOLs | | Windfall | | NOL Expiration Period | | | (amounts in thousands) | | (in years) | | | | | | | | | | | | Federal NOL carryforwards | | $ | 292,800 | | $ | 10,799 | | 2030 | to | 2035 | | State NOL carryforwards | | $ | 614,834 | | $ | 8,806 | | 2016 | to | 2034 | | State income tax credit | | $ | 1,248 | | | | | | to | 2018 |
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