CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Statement Abstract
NET REVENUES	$ 460,245	$ 411,378	$ 379,789
OPERATING EXPENSE:
Station operating expenses, including non-cash compensation expense	318,744	287,711	259,184
Depreciation and amortization expense	9,793	8,419	7,794
Corporate general and administrative expenses, including non-cash compensation expense	33,328	26,479	26,572
Impairment loss	254	0	0
OtherCostAndExpenseOperating	565	0	0
Merger and acquisition costs and restructuring charges	708	6,836	1,042
Net time brokerage agreement (income) fees	417	(1,285)	0
Net (gain) loss on sale or disposal of assets	(1,621)	(2,364)	(379)
Total operating expense	362,188	325,796	294,213
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	98,057	85,582	85,576
OTHER (INCOME) EXPENSE:
Net interest expense	36,639	37,961	38,821
Net (gain) loss on extinguishment of debt	10,858	0	0
Net (gain) loss on investments	0	0	21
Other income	(2,299)	0	0
TOTAL OTHER (INCOME) EXPENSE	8,559	0	21
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES (BENEFIT)	52,859	47,621	46,734
INCOME TAXES (BENEFIT)	14,794	18,437	19,911
NET INCOME (LOSS)	38,065	29,184	26,823
Preferred stock dividend	(1,901)	(752)	0
NET INCOME (LOSS) AVAILABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS	$ 36,164	$ 28,432	$ 26,823
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE - BASIC
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE - BASIC	$ 0.94	$ 0.75	$ 0.71
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE - DILUTED
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE - DILUTED	$ 0.91	$ 0.73	$ 0.69
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES:
Basic	38,500,495	38,083,947	37,763,353
Diluted	39,568,062	39,037,623	38,664,066