Consolidation, Variable Interest Entity, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Variable Interest Entity

In October 2013, we entered into a series of transactions with the News-Press Gazette Company and Excalibur Broadcasting, LLC (collectively with its subsidiaries, “Excalibur”), pursuant to which we acquired the non-license assets for $9.0 million, and Excalibur acquired the license assets for $3.0 million, of KJCT-TV and associated low power stations (collectively, “KJCT-TV”), in the Grand Junction, Colorado market. In connection therewith, we entered into a shared services agreement, pursuant to which we provide certain services, including back-office, engineering and sales support, and a lease agreement, pursuant to which we provide studio and office space, to Excalibur. We have also entered into a put and call option agreement with Excalibur, pursuant to which we have the right to purchase, and Excalibur has the right to require us to purchase, the license assets of KJCT-TV, upon receipt of Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) approval (the “Excalibur Option”). In

connection with the consummation of Excalibur’s acquisition of KJCT-TV’s license assets, Excalibur incurred approximately $3.0 million of debt which Gray has guaranteed. The assets of Excalibur can only be used to settle the obligations of Excalibur. In compliance with FCC regulations, Excalibur maintains complete responsibility for and control over programming, finances, personnel and operations of KJCT-TV. See Note 2 “Acquisitions” and Note 3 “Long-Term Debt” for more information.

We consolidate a VIE when we are determined to be the primary beneficiary. In accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”), in determining whether we are the primary beneficiary of a VIE for financial reporting purposes, we consider whether we have the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE and whether we have the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive returns that would be significant to the VIE. Based on the terms of our agreements with, the significance of our investment in, and our guarantee of the debt of, Excalibur, we have determined that Excalibur is a VIE of Gray. We believe we are the primary beneficiary of the VIE because, subject to the ultimate control of the licensees, we have the power to direct the activities which significantly impact the economic performance of Excalibur through the services we provide, and our obligation to absorb losses and earn returns that would be considered significant to Excalibur. Included in our consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2013 is net revenue of $0.4 million attributable to Excalibur.

The carrying amounts and classification of the assets and liabilities of Excalibur mentioned above have been included in our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2013 as follows (in thousands):

	December 31, 2013
Assets:
Current assets:
Cash	$	473
Accounts receivable		524
Current portion of program broadcast rights, net		42
Prepaid and other current assets		7
Total current assets		1,046

Property and equipment, net		883
Deferred loan costs, net		174
Broadcast licenses		4,161
Other intangible assets, net		575
Total assets	$	6,839

Liabilities:
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	14
Employee compensation and benefits		8
Accrued interest		2
Other accrued expenses		13
Accrued expenses due to Gray		651
Current portion of program broadcast obligations		45
Current portion of long-term debt		200
Total current liabilities		933

Long-term debt, less current portion		2,800
Other long-term liabilities		3,106
Total liabilities	$	6,839

The assets of Excalibur can only be used to settle the obligations of Excalibur and may not be sold, or otherwise disposed of, except for assets sold or replaced with others of like kind or value. Other long-term liabilities of $3.1 million representing the fair value of the Excalibur Option and accrued expenses due to Gray of $0.7 million as of December 31, 2013 were eliminated in our consolidated financial statements. The Excalibur Option would allow Gray to acquire the license assets of KJCT-TV for an exercise price that was less than the carrying value of such assets as of December 31, 2013.

Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Revenue Recognition

Broadcast advertising revenue is generated primarily from the sale of television advertising time to local, national and political advertisers. Internet advertising revenue is generated from the sale of advertisements associated with our stations’ websites. Our aggregate internet revenue is derived from two sources. The first is advertising or sponsorship opportunities directly on our websites, referred to as “direct internet revenue.” The other source is television advertising time purchased by our clients to directly promote their involvement in our websites, referred to as “internet-related commercial time sales.”Advertising revenue is billed to the customer and recognized when the advertisement is broadcast or appears on our stations’ websites. Retransmission consent revenue consists of payments to us from cable, satellite and other multiple video program distribution systems for their retransmission of our broadcast signals. Retransmission consent revenue is recognized as earned over the life of the retransmission consent contract. Other revenue consists primarily of revenue earned from the production of programming and payments from tower space rent. Revenue from the production of programming is recognized as the programming is produced. Tower rent is recognized over the life of the rental agreements. Consulting revenue, if any, is generated from consulting services provided and typically includes a base and an incentive component. Revenue from the base component is fixed and is recognized on a straight line basis over the term of the consulting agreement. Revenue from the incentive component, if any, is variable and is typically determined by performance. Revenue from the incentive component of a consulting agreement is recognized when the amount earned becomes estimable and payment is probable.

Cash received which has not yet been recognized as revenue is presented as deferred revenue. Revenue which has been earned but not yet received is recognized as revenue and presented as a receivable.

Advertising Costs, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Advertising Expense

We recorded advertising expense of $0.9 million, $0.9 million and $0.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. We expense all advertising expenditures as they are incurred.

Loans and Leases Receivable, Allowance for Loan Losses Policy [Policy Text Block]

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Our allowance for doubtful accounts is equal to at least 85% of our receivable balances that are 120 days old or older. We may provide allowances for certain receivable balances that are less than 120 days old when warranted by specific facts and circumstances. We recorded expenses for this allowance of $0.4 million, $0.1 million and $1.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. We generally write-off accounts receivable balances when the customer files for bankruptcy or when all commonly used methods of collection have been exhausted.

Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are carried at cost. Depreciation is computed principally by the straight-line method. Maintenance, repairs and minor replacements are charged to operations as incurred; the purchase of new assets, major replacements and betterments are capitalized. The cost of any assets sold or retired and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts at the time of disposition, and any resulting profit or loss is reflected in income or expense for the period.

The following table lists components of property and equipment by major category (dollars in thousands):

	December 31,						Estimated Useful Lives
	2013			2012			(in years)
Property and equipment:
Land	$	25,656		$	24,383
Buildings and improvements		59,021			55,709		7	to	40
Equipment		323,603			313,761		3	to	20
		408,280			393,853
Accumulated depreciation		(264,659	)		(258,715	)
Total property and equipment, net	$	143,621		$	135,138

For the year ended December 31, 2013, our total property and equipment balance, excluding accumulated depreciation, increased approximately $10.0 million as a result of acquisitions. The remaining change in the balances between December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 was due to routine purchases of equipment, less retirements.

Asset Retirement Obligations, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Asset Retirement Obligations

We own office equipment, broadcasting equipment, leasehold improvements and transmission towers, some of which are located on, or are housed in, leased property or facilities. At the conclusion of several of these leases we are obligated to dismantle, remove and otherwise properly dispose of and remediate the facility or property. We estimate our asset retirement obligations based upon the cash flows of the costs expected to be incurred and the net present value of those estimated amounts. The asset retirement obligation is recognized as a non-current liability and as a component of the cost of the related asset. Changes to our asset retirement obligation resulting from revisions to the timing or the amount of the original undiscounted cash flow estimates are recognized as an increase or decrease to the carrying amount of the asset retirement obligation and the related asset retirement cost capitalized as part of the related property, plant, or equipment. Changes in the asset retirement obligation resulting from accretion of the net present value of the estimated cash flows are recognized as operating expenses. We recognize depreciation expense of the capitalized cost over the estimated life of the lease. Our estimated obligations become due at varying times during the years 2013 through 2059. The liability recognized for our asset retirement obligations was approximately $516,000 and $505,000 as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, we recorded an expense of $17,000, $25,000 and $5,000, respectively, related to our asset retirement obligations.

Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Earnings Per Share

We compute basic earnings per share by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the relevant period. The weighted-average number of common shares outstanding does not include restricted shares. These shares, although classified as issued and outstanding, are considered contingently returnable until the restrictions lapse and, in accordance with GAAP, are not included in the basic earnings per share calculation until the shares vest. Diluted earnings per share is computed by including all potentially dilutive common shares, including restricted stock and shares underlying stock options, in the diluted weighted-average shares outstanding calculation, unless their inclusion would be antidilutive.

The following table reconciles basic weighted-average shares outstanding to diluted weighted-average shares outstanding for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):

	Year Ended December 31,
	2013		2012		2011
Weighted-average shares outstanding – basic		57,630		57,170		57,117
Weighted-average shares underlying stock options and restricted shares		342		92		1
Weighted-average shares outstanding - diluted		57,972		57,262		57,118

Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, Including Intangible Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Annual Impairment Testing of Intangible Assets

We test for impairment of our intangible assets on an annual basis on the last day of each fiscal year. However, if certain triggering events occur, we will test for impairment during the relevant reporting period.

For purposes of testing goodwill for impairment, each of our individual television stations is considered a separate reporting unit. We review each television station for possible goodwill impairment by comparing the estimated fair value of each respective reporting unit to the recorded value of that reporting unit’s net assets. If the estimated fair value exceeds the recorded net asset value, no goodwill impairment is deemed to exist. If the estimated fair value of the reporting unit does not exceed the recorded value of that reporting unit’s net assets, we then perform, on a notional basis, a purchase price allocation by allocating the reporting unit’s fair value to the fair value of all tangible and identifiable intangible assets with residual fair value representing the implied fair value of goodwill of that reporting unit. The recorded value of goodwill for the reporting unit is written down to this implied value.

To estimate the fair value of our reporting units, we utilize a discounted cash flow model supported by a market multiple approach. We believe that a discounted cash flow analysis is the most appropriate methodology to test the recorded value of long-term assets with a demonstrated long-lived / enduring franchise value. We believe the results of the discounted cash flow and market multiple approaches provide reasonable estimates of the fair value of our reporting units because these approaches are based on our actual results and reasonable estimates of future performance, and also take into consideration a number of other factors deemed relevant by us, including but not limited to, expected future market revenue growth, market revenue shares and operating profit margins. We have historically used these approaches in determining the value of our goodwill. We also consider a market multiple approach utilizing market multiples to corroborate our discounted cash flow analysis. We believe that this methodology is consistent with the approach that a strategic market participant would utilize if they were to value one of our television stations.

For testing of our broadcast licenses and other intangible assets for potential impairment of their recorded asset values, we compare their estimated fair value to the respective asset’s recorded value. If the fair value is greater than the asset’s recorded value, no impairment expense is recorded. If the fair value does not exceed the asset’s recorded value, we record an impairment expense equal to the amount that the asset’s recorded value exceeded the asset’s fair value. We use the income method to estimate the fair value of all broadcast licenses irrespective of whether they were initially recorded using the residual or income methods.

For further discussion of our goodwill, broadcast licenses and other intangible assets, see Note 11 “Goodwill and Intangible Assets”.

Comprehensive Income, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

Our accumulated other comprehensive loss balances as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 consist of adjustments to our pension liabilities net of related income tax benefits as follows (in thousands):

	December 31,
	2013			2012
Accumulated balances of items included in accumulated other comprehensive loss:
Increase in pension liability	$	(17,064	)	$	(33,065	)
Income tax benefit		(6,655	)		(12,895	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	$	(10,409	)	$	(20,170	)

Reclassification, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made in the current liability and the long-term liability sections of our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2012 in order to conform to the presentation as of December 31, 2013. The reclassifications did not change our total current liabilities or total long-term liabilities as of December 31, 2012.