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INCOME TAXES (Block)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016
Income Tax Disclosure Abstract  
Income Tax Disclosure Text Block

7. INCOME TAXES

Tax Rates For The Nine Months And Three Months Ended September 30, 2016

The effective income tax rates were 37.6% and 39.8% for the nine months and three months ended September 30, 2016, respectively. These rates were impacted by discrete income tax benefits from recent legislation in certain single member states that allowed for: (1) the reversal of partial valuation allowances; and (2) a retroactive decrease in deferred tax liabilities associated with non-amortizable assets such as broadcasting licenses and goodwill. The income tax rate was also impacted by income tax expense from: (i) an increase in deferred tax liabilities associated with non-amortizable assets such as broadcasting licenses and goodwill; (ii) an adjustment for expenses that are not deductible for tax purposes; and (iii) a tax benefit shortfall associated with share-based awards.

Tax Rates For The Nine Months And Three Months Ended September 30, 2015

The effective income tax rates were 38.9% and 37.1% for the nine months and three months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. These rates were impacted by an adjustment for expenses that are not deductible for tax purposes, an increase in net deferred tax liabilities associated with non-amortizable assets such as broadcasting licenses and goodwill and a tax benefit shortfall associated with stock-based awards.

Net Deferred Tax Assets And Liabilities

As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, net deferred tax liabilities were $94.1 million and $78.2 million, respectively. The income tax accounting process to determine the deferred tax liabilities involves estimating all temporary differences between the tax and financial reporting bases of the Company’s assets and liabilities, based on enacted tax laws and statutory tax rates applicable to the period in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. The Company estimated the current exposure by assessing the temporary differences and computing the provision for income taxes by applying the estimated effective tax rate to income.