FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Block)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

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 that are outstanding from time to time (none currently outstanding); (4) deemed deferred compensation plans as described in Note 16; and (5) lease abandonment liabilities as described in Note 18.

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.

⁽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 at Level 1 as it is 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.

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.

During 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. 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.

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,
	2015				2014
	Carrying		Fair		Carrying		Fair
	Value		Value		Value		Value
	(amounts in thousands)

Term B Loan ⁽¹⁾	$	242,750	$	242,447	$	262,000	$	261,345
Revolver ⁽²⁾	$	26,000	$	26,000	$	-	$	-
Senior Notes ⁽³⁾	$	218,269	$	227,000	$	217,929	$	237,134
Letters of credit ⁽⁴⁾	$	670			$	620

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 Term B Loan was based on quoted prices for this instrument and is considered a Level 2 measurement as the pricing inputs are other than quoted prices in active markets.

⁽²⁾ The fair value of the Revolver is considered to approximate the carrying value as the interest payments are based on LIBOR that reset periodically. The Revolver is considered a Level 2 measurement as the pricing inputs are other than quoted prices in active markets.

⁽³⁾ 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. The Senior Notes are considered a Level 2 measurement as the pricing inputs are other than quoted prices in active markets.

⁽⁴⁾ 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.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

+ References + Details

Value Measurements At Reporting Date

December 31,

Description

(amounts in thousands)

Liabilities

Deferred compensation - Level 1 ⁽¹⁾