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INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND GOODWILL (Block)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Goodwil And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure Text Block

4. INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND GOODWILL

(A) Indefinite-Lived Intangibles

Goodwill and certain intangible assets are not amortized for book purposes. They may be, however, amortized for tax purposes. 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 Company may only write down the carrying value of its indefinite-lived intangibles. The Company is not permitted to increase the carrying value if the fair value of these assets subsequently increases.

The following table presents the changes in broadcasting licenses primarily as a result of the acquisitions and disposition of radio stations:

	Broadcasting Licenses
	Carrying Amount
	December 31,		December 31,
	2016		2015
	(amounts in thousands)

Beginning of period balance as of January 1,	$	807,381	$	718,992
Consolidation of a VIE		15,738		-
Acquisition of radio stations		-		79,209
Acquisition of a radio station through an exchange of assets		-		53,057
Acquisitions - other		112		100
Assets held for sale		-		(1,397)
Disposition of radio stations previously reflected as held for sale		(36)		(32,979)
Disposition of a radio station previously reflected as deconsolidated subsidiary		-		(9,601)
Ending period balance	$	823,195	$	807,381

The following table presents the changes in goodwill primarily as a result of the acquisition and disposition of radio stations:

	Goodwill Carrying Amount
	December 31,		December 31,
	2016		2015
	(amounts in thousands)
Goodwill balance before cumulative loss
on impairment as of January 1,	$	158,244	$	164,465
Accumulated loss on impairment as of January 1,		(125,615)		(125,615)
Goodwill beginning balance after cumulative loss
on impairment as of January 1,		32,629		38,850
Loss on impairment during year		-		-
Acquisition of radio stations		-		5,866
Acquisition of radio stations through an exchange		-		266
Adjustment to acquired goodwill associated with an assumed fair value liability		92		(1,364)
Disposition of radio stations previously reflected as assets held for sale		(3)		(10,230)
Disposition of a radio station previously reflected as a deconsolidated subsidiary		-		(759)
Ending period balance	$	32,718	$	32,629

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.

During the second quarter of the current year and each of the past several years, 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. The annual impairment test in 2016 included the four new markets added during the second half of 2015. For the new market added during the fourth quarter of 2016, similar valuation techniques that are used in the testing process were applied to the valuation of the broadcasting licenses under purchase price accounting.

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, 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 and sensitive in the determination of fair value.

The following table reflects the estimates and assumptions used in the second quarter of each year (no interim tests were performed in these years):

	Estimates And Assumptions
	Second	Second	Second	Second
	Quarter	Quarter	Quarter	Quarter
	2016	2015	2014	2013
Discount rate	9.5%	9.7%	9.6%	9.8%
Operating profit margin ranges expected
for average stations in the markets
where the Company operates	14% to 40%	25% to 40%	25% to 40%	25% to 41%
Long-term revenue growth rate range
of the Company's markets	1.0% to 2.0%	1.5% to 2.0%	1.5% to 2.0%	1.5% to 2.0%

The Company has made reasonable estimates and assumptions to calculate the fair value of its broadcasting licenses. These estimates and assumptions could be materially different from actual results.

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 Company’s second quarter annual license impairment test that indicated an interim review of broadcasting licenses was required.

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.

During the second quarter in each of the years 2016, 2015, and 2014, the results of step one indicated that it was not necessary to perform the second step analysis in any of the reporting units that contained goodwill. For the one new market added during the fourth quarter of 2016, similar valuation techniques that are used in the testing process were applied to the valuation of goodwill under purchase price accounting. See Note 20 for further discussion.

The Company also performed a reasonableness test on the fair value results for goodwill on a combined basis by comparing the carrying value of the Company’s assets to the Company’s enterprise value based upon its 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, when appropriate, the income approach 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 profit 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. 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/or management’s estimates of future performance.

The Company has determined that a radio market is a reporting unit and the Company assesses goodwill in each of the Company’s markets. If the fair value of any reporting unit is less than the amount reflected on the balance sheet, an indication exists that the amount of goodwill attributed to a reporting unit may be impaired, and the Company is required to perform a second step of the impairment test. The Company uses quantitative rather than qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. In the second step, the Company compares the amount reflected on the balance sheet to the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill, determined by allocating the reporting unit’s fair value to all of its assets and liabilities in a manner similar to a purchase price allocation.

To determine the fair value, the Company uses a market approach and, when appropriate, an income approach in computing the fair value of each reporting unit. The market approach calculates the fair value of each market’s radio stations by analyzing recent sales and offering prices of similar properties expressed as a multiple of cash flow. The income approach utilizes a discounted cash flow method by projecting the subject property’s income over a specified time and capitalizing at an appropriate market rate to arrive at an indication of the most probable selling price.

The following table reflects the estimates and assumptions used in the second quarter of each year (no interim tests were performed in these years):

	Estimates And Assumptions
	Second	Second	Second	Second
	Quarter	Quarter	Quarter	Quarter
	2016	2015	2014	2013
Discount rate	9.5%	9.7%	9.6%	9.8%
Long-term revenue growth rate range
of the Company's markets	1.0% to 2.0%	1.5% to 2.0%	1.5% to 2.0%	1.5% to 2.0%
Market multiple used in the market
valuation approach	7.5x to 8.0x	7.5x to 8.0x	7.5x to 8.0x	7.5x to 8.0x

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 indicated an interim review of goodwill was required.

(B) Definite-Lived Intangibles

The Company has definite-lived intangible assets that consist of advertiser lists and customer relationships, and acquired advertising contracts. These assets are amortized over the period for which the assets are expected to contribute to the Company’s future cash flows and are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. For 2016, 2015 and 2014, the Company reviewed the carrying value and the useful lives of these assets and determined they were appropriate.

See Note 5 for: (1) a listing of the assets comprising definite-lived assets, which are included in deferred charges and other assets on the balance sheets; (2) the amount of amortization expense for definite-lived assets; and (3) the Company’s estimate of amortization expense for definite-lived assets in future periods.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the aggregate amount of goodwill and a description of intangible assets, which may include (a) for amortizable intangible assets (also referred to as finite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, the amount of any significant residual value, and the weighted-average amortization period, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization (also referred to as indefinite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, and (c) the amount of research and development assets acquired and written off in the period, including the line item in the income statement in which the amounts written off are aggregated, if not readily apparent from the income statement. Also discloses (a) for amortizable intangibles assets in total and by major class, the gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization, the total amortization expense for the period, and the estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the five succeeding fiscal years, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization the carrying amount in total and by major class, and (c) for goodwill, in total and for each reportable segment, the changes in the carrying amount of goodwill during the period (including the aggregate amount of goodwill acquired, the aggregate amount of impairment losses recognized, and the amount of goodwill included in the gain (loss) on disposal of a reporting unit). If any part of goodwill has not been allocated to a reportable segment, discloses the unallocated amount and the reasons for not allocating. For each impairment loss recognized related to an intangible asset (excluding goodwill), discloses: (a) a description of the impaired intangible asset and the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method for determining fair value, (c) the caption in the income statement or the statement of activities in which the impairment loss is aggregated, and (d) the segment in which the impaired intangible asset is reported. For each goodwill impairment loss recognized, discloses: (a) a description of the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method of determining the fair value of the associated reporting unit, and (c) if a recognized impairment loss is an estimate not finalized and the reasons why the estimate is not final. May also disclose the nature and amount of any significant adjustments made to a previous estimate of an impairment loss.

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