CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Income Statement Abstract
NET REVENUES	$ 592,884	$ 464,771	$ 414,481
OPERATING EXPENSE:
Station operating expenses, including non-cash compensation expense	443,512	323,270	290,814
Depreciation and amortization expense	15,546	9,793	8,419
Corporate general and administrative expenses, including non-cash compensation expense	47,859	33,328	26,479
Impairment loss	952	254	0
Other expenses related to financing	2,213	565	0
Total Restructuring Charge and Transition Services	16,922	0	2,858
Merger and acquisition costs and restructuring charges	41,313	708	3,978
Net time brokerage agreement (income) fees	130	417	(1,285)
Net (gain) loss on sale or disposal of assets	11,853	(1,621)	(2,364)
Total operating expense	580,300	366,714	328,899
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	12,584	98,057	85,582
OTHER (INCOME) EXPENSE:
Net interest expense	32,521	36,639	37,961
Net (gain) loss on extinguishment of debt	4,135	10,858	0
Net (gain) loss on investments	0	0	0
Other income	0	(2,299)	0
TOTAL OTHER (INCOME) EXPENSE	4,135	8,559	0
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES (BENEFIT)	(24,072)	52,859	47,621
INCOME TAXES (BENEFIT)	(257,085)	14,794	18,437
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	233,013	38,065	29,184
Preferred stock dividend	(2,015)	(1,901)	(752)
NET INCOME (LOSS) AVAILABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS	230,998	36,164	28,432
Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax	836	0	0
NET INCOME (LOSS)	$ 233,849	$ 38,065	$ 29,184
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE - BASIC
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$ 4.49	$ 0.94	$ 0.75
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income (taxes) benefit	0.02	0	0
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE - BASIC	4.51	0.94	0.75
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE - DILUTED
Income (loss) from continuing operations	4.37	0.91	0.73
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income (taxes) benefit	0.02	0	0
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE - DILUTED	4.16	0.91	0.73
DIVIDENDS DECLARED AND PAID PER COMMON SHARE	$ 0.515	$ 0.225	$ 0
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES:
Basic	51,392,899	38,500,495	38,083,947
Diluted	55,678,189	39,568,062	39,037,623