CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income (loss)	$ 38,065,000	$ 29,184,000	$ 26,823,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	9,793,000	8,419,000	7,794,000
Amortization of deferred financing costs	2,897,000	3,203,000	4,165,000
Net deferred taxes (benefit) and other	14,688,000	18,322,000	19,811,000
Tax benefit on exercise of options	0	0	0
Provision for bad debts	1,330,000	1,553,000	1,004,000
Net (gain) loss on sale or disposal of assets	(1,621,000)	(2,364,000)	(379,000)
Non-cash stock-based compensation expense	6,539,000	5,524,000	5,232,000
Net (gain) loss on investments	0	0	21,000
Net (gain) loss on derivatives	0	0	0
Deferred rent	138,000	1,017,000	807,000
Unearned revenue - long-term	0	(10,000)	(33,000)
Net (gain) loss on extinguishment of debt	10,858,000	0	0
Deferred compensation	1,683,000	584,000	1,291,000
Tax benefit for vesting of restricted stock unit awards	0	0	0
Impairment loss	254,000	0	0
Net accretion expense for asset retirement obligations	27,000	13,000	(11,000)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(4,202,000)	(4,027,000)	565,000
Prepaid expenses and deposits	(1,368,000)	642,000	(1,586,000)
Prepaid and refundable income taxes	0	0	0
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(739,000)	700,000	1,633,000
Accrued interest expense	40,000	769,000	(132,000)
Accrued liabilities - long-term	(1,894,000)	146,000	(1,311,000)
Prepaid expenses - long-term	(4,458,000)	1,115,000	(398,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	72,030,000	64,790,000	65,296,000
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Additions to property and equipment	(7,336,000)	(7,043,000)	(8,408,000)
Proceeds from sale of property, equipment, intangibles and other assets	7,974,000	427,000	2,153,000
Purchases of radio station assets	(92,000)	(83,553,000)	0
Deferred charges and other assets	(353,000)	(1,575,000)	(800,000)
Purchases of investments	0	(9,000)	0
Proceeds from investments and capital projects	0	9,000	0
Proceeds from insurance recovery	0	0	0
Station acquisition deposits and costs	0	0	0
CashAcquiredFromAcquisition	302,000	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	495,000	(91,744,000)	(7,055,000)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	480,000,000	0	0
Proceeds from the financing method of lease obligations	102,000	0	0
Payments of long-term debt	(293,266,000)	(51,250,000)	(53,000,000)
Retirement of senior subordinated notes	(220,000,000)	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of employee stock plan	379,000	0	0
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	265,000	35,000	82,000
Purchase of vested employee restricted stock units	(2,268,000)	(1,562,000)	(1,514,000)
Payment of dividend equivalents on vested restricted stock units	(94,000)	(7,000)	0
Payment of dividends on common stock	(8,666,000)	0	0
Payment of fees associated with the issuance of preferred stock	0	(220,000)	0
Payments of dividends on preferred stock	(1,788,000)	(413,000)	0
ProceedsFromShortTermDebt	24,500,000	58,000,000	15,500,000
PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	(8,038,000)	0	0
PaymentsOfDebtExtinguishmentCosts	(5,977,000)	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(34,851,000)	4,583,000	(38,932,000)
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	37,674,000	(22,371,000)	19,309,000
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF YEAR	9,169,000	31,540,000	12,231,000
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD	46,843,000	9,169,000	31,540,000
Cash paid during the period for:
Interest	34,568,000	34,822,000	35,593,000
Income taxes	381,000	81,000	79,000
Dividends on common stock	8,666,000	0	0
Dividends on preferred stock	$ 1,788,000	$ 413,000	$ 0