INCOME TAXES (Tables)
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12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2018 |
| Income Tax Disclosure Abstract |
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| Schedule Of Income Tax Expense Reconciliation |
| | | Years Ended December 31, | | | | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | | | | | (amounts in thousands) | | | | | | | | | | | | | Federal statutory income tax rate | | | 21% | | | 35% | | | 35% | | | | | | | | | | | | | Computed tax expense at federal statutory rates on income | | | | | | | | | | | | before income taxes | | $ | (77,016) | | $ | (8,425) | | $ | 18,501 | | State income tax expense, net of federal benefit | | | (4,779) | | | 23,045 | | | (5,202) | | Goodwill impairment | | | 64,465 | | | - | | | - | | Valuation allowance current year activity | (2,593) | | | 2,395 | | | - | | Tax impact of share-based awards | | | 872 | | | 1,383 | | | - | | Transaction costs | | | 391 | | | 8,477 | | | - | | Recognized gain on Exchange Transactions | | | - | | | 6,435 | | | - | | U.S. federal income tax reform | | | 883 | | | (291,497) | | | - | | Tax benefit shortfall associated with share-based awards | | | - | | | - | | | 286 | | Taxable gain on sale of radio stations | | | 5,511 | | | - | | | - | | Nondeductible expenses and other | | | 8,113 | | | 1,102 | | | 1,209 | | Income taxes | | $ | (4,153) | | $ | (257,085) | | $ | 14,794 |
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| Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) |
| | | | | Years Ended December 31, | | | | | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Current: | | | | | | | | | | | | Federal | | $ | 38,481 | | $ | 5,178 | | $ | (33) | | | State | | | 17,836 | | | 1,289 | | | 139 | | | | Total current | | | 56,317 | | | 6,467 | | | 106 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Deferred: | | | | | | | | | | | | Federal | | | (37,678) | | | (295,467) | | | 19,980 | | | State | | | (22,792) | | | 31,915 | | | (5,292) | | | | Total deferred | | | (60,470) | | | (263,552) | | | 14,688 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Total income taxes (benefit) | | $ | (4,153) | | $ | (257,085) | | $ | 14,794 |
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| Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities |
| | | | | December 31, | | | | | | 2018 | | 2017 | | | | | | (amounts in thousands) | | Deferred tax assets: | | | | | | | | Federal and state income tax loss carryforwards | | | 81,368 | | | 96,334 | | Share-based compensation | | | 3,382 | | | 4,174 | | Investments - impairments | | | 347 | | | 348 | | Lease rental obligations | | | 15,080 | | | 13,910 | | Deferred compensation | | | 9,097 | | | 11,601 | | Deferred gain on tower transaction | | | 1,732 | | | 1,897 | | Debt fair value adjustment | | | 4,390 | | | 5,162 | | Reserves | | | - | | | 7,442 | | Property, equipment and certain intangibles (other | | | | | | | | than broadcasting licenses and goodwill) | | | - | | | - | | Advertiser broadcasting obligations | | | - | | | - | | Employee benefits | | | 2,396 | | | 543 | | Provision for doubtful accounts | | | 4,406 | | | 4,383 | | Other non-current | | | 5,799 | | | 1,614 | | Total deferred tax assets before valuation allowance | | | 127,997 | | | 147,408 | | Valuation allowance | | | (25,761) | | | (37,154) | | Total deferred tax assets | | $ | 102,236 | | $ | 110,254 | | Deferred tax liabilities: | | | | | | | | Advertiser broadcasting obligations | | $ | 47 | | $ | (7,172) | | Deferral of gain recognition on the extinguishment of debt | | | - | | | - | | Property, equipment and certain intangibles | | | (49,662) | | | (55,922) | | Broadcasting licenses and goodwill | | | (598,603) | | | (656,949) | | | | | | | | | | Total deferred tax liabilities | | $ | (648,218) | | $ | (720,043) | | | | | | | | | | | | Total net deferred tax liabilities | | $ | (545,982) | | $ | (609,789) |
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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 | | Purchase | | End Of | | Year Ended | | of Year | | (Benefit) | | Sheet | | Accounting | | Year | | | | (amounts in thousands) | | December 31, 2018 | | $ | 37,154 | | $ | (11,393) | | $ | - | | $ | - | | $ | 25,761 | | December 31, 2017 | | | 12,861 | | | 17,785 | | | 151 | | | 6,357 | | | 37,154 | | December 31, 2016 | | | 20,638 | | | (7,777) | | | - | | | - | | | 12,861 |
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| Schedule of Liabilities For Uncertain Tax Positions |
| | | December 31, | | | | 2018 | | 2017 | | | | (amounts in thousands) | | Liabilities for uncertain tax positions | | | | | | | | Tax | | $ | 370 | | $ | 711 | | Total | | $ | 370 | | $ | 711 |
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| Schedule of Expense Income For Uncertain Tax Positions |
| | Years Ended December 31, | | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | | | (amounts in thousands) | | | | | | | | | | | | Tax expense (income) | | $ | - | | $ | - | | $ | (67) | | Interest and penalties (income) | | | - | | | - | | | (170) | | Total income taxes (benefit) | | | | | | | | | | | from uncertain tax positions | | $ | - | | $ | - | | $ | (237) |
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| Schedule of Changes in Unrecognized Tax Benefits |
| | | Years Ended December 31, | | | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | | | | (amounts in thousands) | | | | | | | | | | | | | Beginning of year balance | | $ | (7,820) | | $ | (7,138) | | $ | (7,690) | | Prior year positions | | | | | | | | | | | Gross Increases | | | - | | | (710) | | | - | | Gross Decreases | | | - | | | - | | | - | | Current year positions | | | | | | | | | | | Gross Increases | | | - | | | - | | | - | | Gross Decreases | | | - | | | - | | | - | | Settlements with tax authorities | | | - | | | - | | | - | | Reductions due to statute lapse | | | 535 | | | 28 | | | 552 | | End of year balance | | $ | (7,285) | | $ | (7,820) | | $ | (7,138) | | | | | | | | | | | | | Ending liability balance included above that was | | | | | | | | | | | reflected as an offset to deferred tax assets | | $ | (6,915) | | $ | (7,110) | | $ | (7,138) |
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| Schedule of Income Tax Payments and Refunds |
| | | Years Ended December 31, | | | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | | | | (amounts in thousands) | | | | | | | | | | | | | Federal and state income tax payments | | $ | 54,217 | | $ | 2,030 | | $ | 381 |
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| Summary of Operating Loss Carryforwards [Table Text Block] |
| | Net Operating Losses | | | December 31, 2018 | | | | | | | | | | NOLs | | NOL Expiration Period | | | (amounts in | (in years) | | | thousands) | | | | | | | | | | | | | Federal NOL carryforwards | | $ | 262,066 | | 2030 | to | 2033 | | State NOL carryforwards | | $ | 518,779 | | 2019 | to | 2034 |
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