INCOME TAXES (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation

Income tax expense (benefit) from continuing operations computed using the United States federal statutory rates is reconciled to the reported income tax expense (benefit) from continuing operations as follows:

	Years Ended December 31,
	2019			2018			2017
	(amounts in thousands)
Federal statutory income tax rate	21		%	21		%	35		%
Computed tax expense at federal statutory rates on income before income taxes	$	(80,432)		$	(77,016)		$	(8,425)
State income tax expense, net of federal benefit	13,661			(4,779)			23,045
Goodwill impairment	98,910			64,465			—
Valuation allowance current year activity	(321)			(2,593)			2,395
Tax impact of share-based awards	950			872			1,383
Transaction costs	105			391			8,477
Recognized gain on Exchange Transactions	—			—			6,435
U.S. federal income tax reform	—			883			(291,497)
Tax benefit shortfall associated with share-based awards	—			—			—
Taxable gain on sale of radio stations	—			5,511			—
Nondeductible expenses and other	4,333			8,113			1,102
Income taxes	$	37,206		$	(4,153)		$	(257,085)

Schedule of Components of Income Tax

The table does not include income tax expense from discontinued operations of $0.7 million and $0.5 million in 2018 and 2017, respectively.

	Years Ended December 31,
	2019		2018		2017
Current:
Federal	$	20,751	$	38,481	$	5,178
State	11,685		17,836		1,289
Total current	32,436		56,317		6,467
Deferred:
Federal	(837)		(37,678)		(295,467)
State	5,607		(22,792)		31,915
Total deferred	4,770		(60,470)		(263,552)
Total income taxes (benefit)	$	37,206	$	(4,153)	$	(257,085)

Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities

The components of deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, are as detailed below.

	December 31,
	2019		2018
	(amounts in thousands)
Deferred tax assets:
Federal and state income tax loss carryforwards	70,982		81,368
Share-based compensation	4,221		3,382
Investments - impairments	350		347
Lease rental obligations	4,709		15,080
Deferred compensation	10,253		9,097
Deferred gain on tower transaction	—		1,732
Debt fair value adjustment	4,987		4,390
Reserves	—		—
Property, equipment and certain intangibles (other than broadcasting licenses and goodwill)	—		—
Lease liability	77,722		—
Employee benefits	2,011		2,396
Provision for doubtful accounts	4,671		4,406
Other non-current	2,432		5,799
Total deferred tax assets before valuation allowance	182,338		127,997
Valuation allowance	(25,440)		(25,761)
Total deferred tax assets	$	156,898	$	102,236
Deferred tax liabilities:
Advertiser broadcasting obligations	$	—	$	47
Lease ROU asset	(69,243)		—
Property, equipment and certain intangibles	(43,788)		(49,662)
Broadcasting licenses and goodwill	(593,525)		(598,603)
Total deferred tax liabilities	$	(706,556)	$	(648,218)
Total net deferred tax liabilities	$	(549,658)	$	(545,982)

Summary of Valuation Allowance

The following table presents the changes in the deferred tax asset valuation allowance for the periods indicated:

Year Ended	Balance at Beginning of Year		Increase (Decrease) Charged (Credited) to Income Taxes (Benefit)		Increase (Decrease) Charged (Credited) to Balance Sheet		Purchase Accounting		Balance At End Of Year
	(amounts in thousands)
December 31, 2019	$	25,761	$	(321)	$	—	$	—	$	25,440
December 31, 2018	37,154		(11,393)		—		—		25,761
December 31, 2017	12,861		17,785		151		6,357		37,154

Schedule of Liabilities For Uncertain Tax

The Company’s liabilities for uncertain tax positions are reflected in the following table:

	December 31,
	2019		2018
	(amounts in thousands)
Liabilities for uncertain tax positions
Tax	$	—	$	370
Total	$	—	$	370

Schedule of Expense Income For Uncertain Tax Positions

The following table presents the expense (income) for uncertain tax positions, which amounts were reflected in the consolidated statements of operations as an increase (decrease) to income tax expense:

	Years Ended December 31,
	2019		2018		2017
	(amounts in thousands)
Tax expense (income)	$	—	$	—	$	—
Interest and penalties (income)	—		—		—
Total income taxes (benefit) from uncertain tax positions	$	—	$	—	$	—

Summary of Positions for which Significant Change in Unrecognized Tax Benefits is Reasonably Possible

The following table presents the gross amount of changes in unrecognized tax benefits:

	Years Ended December 31,
	2019		2018		2017
	(amounts in thousands)
Beginning of year balance	$	(7,285)	$	(7,820)	$	(7,138)
Prior year positions
Gross Increases	—		—		(710)
Gross Decreases	—		—		—
Current year positions
Gross Increases	—		—		—
Gross Decreases	—		—		—
Settlements with tax authorities	—		—		—
Reductions due to statute lapse	566		535		28
End of year balance	$	(6,719)	$	(7,285)	$	(7,820)
Ending liability balance included above that was reflected as an offset to deferred tax assets	$	(6,719)	$	(6,915)	$	(7,110)

Schedule of Income Tax Payments and Refunds

The following table provides the amount of income tax payments and income tax refunds for the periods indicated:

	Years Ended December 31,
	2019		2018		2017
	(amounts in thousands)
Federal and state income tax payments	$	39,100	$	54,217	$	2,030

Summary of Operating Loss Carryforwards

The NOLs in the following table reflect an estimate of the NOLs for the 2019 tax filing year as these returns will not be filed until later in 2020:

	Net Operating Losses
	December 31, 2019
	NOLs		NOL Expiration Period
	(amounts in thousands)		(in years)
Federal NOL carryforwards	$	214,387	2030 to 2033
State NOL carryforwards	$	502,156	2020 to 2035