Goodwill And Intangible Assets

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Goodwill And Intangible Assets [Abstract]

Goodwill And Intangible Assets

4. Goodwill and Intangible Assets

The following table summarizes the carrying amount of goodwill and intangible assets (in thousands):

	September 30, 2011							December 31, 2010
	Gross carrying amount		Accumulated amortization			Net		Gross carrying amount		Accumulated amortization			Net
Goodwill (1)	$	13,293	$	—		$	13,293	$	13,293	$	—		$	13,293
Intangible assets:
Broadcast licenses (1)	$	37,430	$	—		$	37,430	$	37,430	$	—		$	37,430
Other intangible assets		285		—			285		285		—			285
Intangible assets subject to amortization (2)
Network affiliation agreement		3,560		(909	)		2,651		3,560		(732	)		2,828
Total intangible assets	$	41,275	$	(909	)	$	40,366	$	41,275	$	(732	)	$	40,543

(1) Goodwill and broadcast licenses are considered indefinite-lived assets for which no periodic amortization is recognized. The television and radio broadcast licenses are issued by the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") and provide the Company with the exclusive right to utilize certain frequency spectrum to air its stations' programming. While FCC licenses are issued for only a fixed time, renewals of FCC licenses have occurred routinely and at nominal cost. Moreover, the Company has determined that there are currently no legal, regulatory, contractual, competitive, economic or other factors that limit the useful lives of its FCC licenses.

(2) Intangible assets subject to amortization are amortized on a straight-line basis. Total amortization expense for intangible assets subject to amortization for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 was $59,000 and $177,000, respectively. Total amortization expense for intangible assets subject to amortization for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 was $60,000 and $177,000, respectively.

The Company tests goodwill and intangible assets for impairment at least annually, as of October 1^st of each year, or whenever events indicate that impairment may exist. The Company has determined that the impairment test should be conducted at the reporting unit level, which, with respect to the broadcast operations, requires separate assessment of each of the Company's television and radio station groups. The Company determines fair value based on valuation methodologies that include an analysis of market transactions for comparable businesses, discounted cash flows, and a review of the underlying assets of the reporting unit.

The following table presents the estimated amortization expense for the Company's intangible assets subject to amortization for the remainder of 2011 and each of the next five years and thereafter (in thousands):

Year ending December 31,
2011	$	59
2012		236
2013		236
2014		236
2015		236
2016		236
Thereafter		1,412
	$	2,651