CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Statement Abstract
NET REVENUES	$ 411,378	$ 379,789	$ 377,618
OPERATING EXPENSE:
Station operating expenses, including non-cash compensation expense	287,711	259,184	252,596
Depreciation and amortization expense	8,419	7,794	8,545
Corporate general and administrative expenses, including non-cash compensation expense	26,479	26,572	24,381
Impairment loss	0	0	850
Merger and acquisition costs and restructuring charges	6,836	1,042	0
Net time brokerage agreement (income) fees	(1,285)	0	0
Net (gain) loss on sale or disposal of assets	(2,364)	(379)	(1,321)
Total operating expense	325,796	294,213	285,051
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	85,582	85,576	92,567
OTHER (INCOME) EXPENSE:
Net interest expense	37,961	38,821	44,232
Interest and dividend income	0	0	0
Net (gain) loss on extinguishment of debt	0	0	0
Net (gain) loss on derivative instruments	0	0	0
Net (gain) loss on investments	0	21	0
Other income	0	0	(165)
TOTAL OTHER EXPENSE	37,961	38,842	44,067
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES (BENEFIT)	47,621	46,734	48,500
INCOME TAXES (BENEFIT)	18,437	19,911	22,476
NET INCOME (LOSS)	29,184	26,823	26,024
Preferred stock dividend	(752)	0	0
NET INCOME (LOSS) AVAILABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS	$ 28,432	$ 26,823	$ 26,024
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE - BASIC
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE - BASIC	$ 0.75	$ 0.71	$ 0.7
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE - DILUTED
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE - DILUTED	$ 0.73	$ 0.69	$ 0.68
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES:
Basic	38,083,947	37,763,353	37,417,807
Diluted	39,037,623	38,664,066	38,301,495