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INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND GOODWILL (Block)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Goodwil And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]  
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure Text Block

2.       INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND GOODWILL       

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.

       

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

 

  Broadcasting Licenses
  Carrying Amount
  2013 2012
  (amounts in thousands)
       
Beginning of period balance as of January 1, $ 718,656 $ 715,902
Impairment loss   -   (22,307)
Acquisitions   -   25,061
Ending period balance as of September 30, $ 718,656 $ 718,656

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

   Goodwill Carrying Amount
   2013 2012
   (amounts in thousands)
Goodwill balance before cumulative loss     
on impairment as of January 1,$ 164,718 $ 164,506
Accumulated loss on impairment as of January 1,  (125,615)   (125,615)
Goodwill beginning balance after cumulative loss     
on impairment as of January 1,  39,103   38,891
Acquisitions  -  212
Goodwill ending balance as of September 30,$ 39,103 $ 39,103

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 reflects expectations of industry observers and includes 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) the 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 assumptions in items (1) through (3) above are the most important to the determination of fair value.

Broadcasting License Impairment Testing During The Quarter Ended June 30, 201

       The Company completed its annual impairment test for broadcasting licenses and determined that the fair value of its broadcasting licenses was greater than the amount reflected in the balance sheet for each of the Company's markets and, accordingly, no impairment was recorded. 

 

       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.

       There were no events or circumstances since the second quarter of 2013 that indicated an interim review of broadcasting licenses was required.

 

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

 

       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.

 

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.

Goodwill Impairment Testing During The Second Quarter Ended June 30, 2013

 

The Company completed its annual goodwill impairment test during the second quarter of 2013 and the results indicated that there was no impairment as the fair value was greater than the carrying value.

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.

There were no events or circumstances since the Company's second quarter annual goodwill test that required the Company to test the carrying value of its goodwill.

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

 

The results of step one indicated that it was not necessary to perform the second step analysis in any of the markets tested, as the fair values for the goodwill in all of the Company's markets were in excess of the carrying values. As a result of the step one test, no impairment loss was recorded during the second quarter of 2012.

 

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

 

In step one of the Company's goodwill analysis, the Company considered the results of the market approach and the income approach, when appropriate, in computing the fair value of the Company's reporting units. In the market approach, the Company applied an estimated market multiple 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 management's estimate of future performance.