INCOME TAXES (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Income Tax Disclosure Abstract

Schedule Of Income Tax Expense Reconciliation

		Years Ended December 31,
			2016	2015		2014
			(amounts in thousands)
Federal statutory income tax rate			35%		35%		35%
Computed tax expense at federal statutory rates on income
	before income taxes	$	18,501	$	16,667	$	16,357
State income tax expense, net of federal benefit			(5,202)		1,333		2,491
Non-recognition of expense due to full valuation allowance			-		(244)		-
Tax benefit shortfall associated with share-based awards			286		12		62
Nondeductible expenses and other			1,209		669		1,001
Income taxes		$	14,794	$	18,437	$	19,911

Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit)

				Years Ended December 31,
				2016		2015		2014
	Current:
		Federal		$	(33)	$	25	$	-
		State			139		90		100
			Total current		106		115		100
	Deferred:
		Federal			19,980		17,042		17,373
		State			(5,292)		1,280		2,438
			Total deferred		14,688		18,322		19,811
Total income taxes (benefit)				$	14,794	$	18,437	$	19,911

Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities

			December 31,
			2016		2015
			(amounts in thousands)
Deferred tax assets:
	Employee benefits		$	-	$	783
	Deferred compensation			-		988
	Provision for doubtful accounts			-		835
	Deferred gain on tower transaction			-		235
	Other			-		987
	Total current deferred tax assets before valuation allowance			-		3,828
	Valuation allowance			-		(231)
	Total current deferred tax assets - net			-		3,597
	Federal and state income tax loss carryforwards			126,278		129,944
	Share-based compensation			3,145		3,218
	Investments - impairments			499		499
	Lease rental obligations			3,504		3,440
	Deferred compensation			5,307		3,968
	Deferred gain on tower transaction			3,035		3,039
	Property, equipment and certain intangibles (other
		than broadcasting licenses and goodwill)		4,036		4,804
	Advertiser broadcasting obligations			47		-
	Employee benefits			944		-
	Provision for doubtful accounts			795		-
	Other non-current			1,532		1,014
	Total non-current deferred tax assets before valuation allowance			149,122		149,926
	Valuation allowance			(12,861)		(20,407)
	Total non-current deferred tax assets - net		$	136,261	$	129,519
Deferred tax liabilities:
	Advertiser broadcasting obligations		$	-	$	(133)
	Total current deferred tax liabilities			-		(133)
	Deferral of gain recognition on the extinguishment of debt			(3,031)		(4,568)
	Broadcasting licenses and goodwill			(226,128)		(206,594)
	Total non-current deferred tax liabilities			(229,159)		(211,162)
	Total deferred tax liabilities			(229,159)		(211,295)
	Total net deferred tax liabilities		$	(92,898)	$	(78,179)

Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance

			Increase		Increase
			(Decrease)		(Decrease)
			Charged		Charged
			(Credited)		(Credited)
	Balance At		To Income		To		Balance At
	Beginning		Taxes		Balance		End Of
Year Ended	Of Year		(Benefit)		Sheet		Year
		(amounts in thousands)
December 31, 2016	$	20,638	$	(7,777)	$	-	$	12,861
December 31, 2015		20,766		(165)		37		20,638
December 31, 2014		20,238		528		-		20,766

Schedule of Liabilities For Uncertain Tax Positions

		December 31,
		2016		2015
		(amounts in thousands)
Liabilities for uncertain tax positions
	Tax	$	-	$	67
	Interest and penalties		-		170
	Total	$	-	$	237

Schedule of Expense Income For Uncertain Tax Positions

	Years Ended December 31,
	2016		2015		2014
	(amounts in thousands)
Tax expense (income)	$	(67)	$	-	$	-
Interest and penalties (income)		(170)		20		18
Total income taxes (benefit)
from uncertain tax positions	$	(237)	$	20	$	18

Schedule of Changes in Unrecognized Tax Benefits

		Years Ended December 31,
		2016		2015		2014
		(amounts in thousands)
Beginning of year balance		$	(7,690)	$	(7,690)	$	(7,690)
Prior year positions
	Gross Increases		-		-		-
	Gross Decreases		-		-		-
Current year positions
	Gross Increases		-		-		-
	Gross Decreases		-		-		-
Settlements with tax authorities			-		-		-
Reductions due to statute lapse			552		-		-
End of year balance		$	(7,138)	$	(7,690)	$	(7,690)
Ending liability balance included above that was
	reflected as an offset to deferred tax assets	$	(7,138)	$	(7,623)	$	(7,623)

Schedule of Income Tax Payments and Refunds

	Years Ended December 31,
	2016		2015		2014
	(amounts in thousands)
State income tax payments	$	381	$	81	$	79
Federal and state income tax refunds	$	-	$	-	$	10

Summary of Operating Loss Carryforwards [Table Text Block]

	Net Operating Losses
	December 31, 2016
			Suspended
	NOLs		Windfall		NOL Expiration Period
	(amounts in thousands)				(in years)
Federal NOL carryforwards	$	285,521	$	13,338	2030	to	2036
State NOL carryforwards	$	618,399	$	9,837	2017	to	2036
State income tax credit	$	1,248				to	2018