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FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Block)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures Abstract  
Fair Value Disclosures Text Block

17. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Fair Value Of Financial Instruments Subject To Fair Value Measurements

The Company has determined the types of financial assets and liabilities subject to fair value measurement are: (1) certain tangible and intangible assets subject to impairment testing as described in Note 4; (2) financial instruments as described in Note 8; (3) interest rate derivative transactions as described under Note 10; (4) deemed deferred compensation plans as described in Note 16; and (5) lease abandonment liabilities as described in Note 19.

The fair value is the price that would be received upon the sale of an asset or be paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price). The Company utilizes market data or assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk and the risks inherent to the inputs of the valuation technique. These inputs can be readily observable, market corroborated, or generally unobservable. The Company utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value. The hierarchy assigns the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurement) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurement).

The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:

Level 1 – Quoted prices are available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the reporting date. 

Level 2 – Pricing inputs are other than quoted prices in active markets included in Level 1, which are either directly or indirectly observable as of the reported date.

Level 3 – Pricing inputs include significant inputs that are generally less observable than objective sources. These inputs may be used with internally developed methodologies that result in management’s best estimate of fair value. At each balance sheet date, the Company performs an analysis of all instruments and includes in Level 3 all of those whose fair value is based on significant unobservable inputs.

Recurring Fair Value Measurements

The following table sets forth the Company's financial assets and/or liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis and are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company's assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment and may affect the valuation of fair value and its placement within the fair value hierarchy levels.

Value Measurements At Reporting Date
December 31,
Description 20142013
(amounts in thousands)
Liabilities
Deferred compensation - Level 1 (1)$11,017$10,459

(1) The Company’s deferred compensation liability, which is included in other long-term liabilities, is recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. The unfunded plan allows participants to hypothetically invest in various specified investment options. The deferred compensation plan liability is valued based on quoted market prices of the underlying investments.

Non-Recurring Fair Value Measurements

The Company has certain assets that are measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis and are adjusted to fair value only when the carrying values are more than the fair values. The categorization of the framework used to price the assets is considered Level 3, due to the subjective nature of the unobservable inputs used to determine the fair value.

For 2014

The Company reviewed the fair value of its broadcasting licenses, goodwill and net property and equipment and other intangibles, and concluded that these assets were not impaired as the fair value of these assets equaled or exceeded their carrying values.

For 2013

The Company reviewed the fair value of its broadcasting licenses, goodwill and net property and equipment and other intangibles (except as described below), and concluded that these assets were not impaired as the fair value of these assets equaled or exceeded their carrying values.

During the second quarter of 2013, the Company determined that land it had reclassified as held for sale was in excess of the fair value less the cost to sell. As of June 30, 2013, the Company measured $2.1 million of land held for sale using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) and recorded an impairment loss of $0.9 million. This land was later sold in October 2014.

For 2012

During the second quarter of 2012, the Company reviewed the fair value of its broadcasting licenses, goodwill and net property and equipment and other intangibles, and concluded that except as described below, the fair value of these assets equaled or exceeded their carrying values.

As of June 30, 2012, the Company measured $100.5 million of radio broadcasting licenses using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) and recorded an impairment loss of $22.3 million.

Fair Value Of Financial Instruments Subject To Disclosures

The estimated fair value of financial instruments is determined using the best available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies. Considerable judgment is necessary, however, in interpreting market data to develop the estimates of fair value. Accordingly, the estimates presented are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that the Company could realize in a current market exchange, or the value that ultimately will be realized upon maturity or disposition. The use of different market assumptions may have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts.

The carrying amount of the following assets and liabilities approximates fair value due to the short maturity of these instruments: (1) cash and cash equivalents; (2) accounts receivable; and (3) accounts payable, including accrued liabilities.

The following table presents the carrying value of financial instruments and, where practicable, the fair value as of the periods indicated:

December 31,December 31,
20142013
CarryingFairCarryingFair
ValueValueValueValue
(amounts in thousands)
Credit Facility (1)$262,000$261,345$299,500$301,559
Senior Notes (2)$217,929$237,134$217,624$248,635
Letters of credit (3)$620$370

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of financial instruments:

(1) The Company’s determination of the fair value of the Credit Facility was based on quoted prices for this instrument and is considered a Level 2 measurement.

(2) The Company utilizes a Level 2 valuation input based upon the market trading prices of the Senior Notes to compute the fair value as these Senior Notes are traded in the debt securities market.

(3) The Company does not believe it is practicable to estimate the fair value of the outstanding standby letters of credit and does not expect any material loss since the performance of the letters of credit is not likely to be required.