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INCOME TAXES (Tables)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Schedule of provision (benefit) for income taxes
The provision (benefit) for income taxes consisted of the following for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 (in thousands):
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Provision for income taxes - continuing operations
$
57,694

 
$
97,432

 
$
41,249

Benefit for income taxes - discontinued operations
—

 
—

 
(10,806
)
 
$
57,694

 
$
97,432

 
$
30,443

Current:
 

 
 

 
 

Federal
$
80,420

 
$
92,609

 
$
16,229

State
5,720

 
5,641

 
(8,305
)
 
86,140

 
98,250

 
7,924

Deferred:
 

 
 

 
 

Federal
(26,637
)
 
3,170

 
20,214

State
(1,809
)
 
(3,988
)
 
2,305

 
(28,446
)
 
(818
)
 
22,519

 
$
57,694

 
$
97,432

 
$
30,443
Schedule of reconciliation of federal income taxes at the applicable statutory rate to the recorded provision from continuing operations
The following is a reconciliation of federal income taxes at the applicable statutory rate to the recorded provision from continuing operations:
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Federal statutory rate
35.0
 %
 
35.0
 %
 
35.0
 %
Adjustments:
 

 
 

 
 

State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit (1)
0.6
 %
 
(0.1
)%
 
8.3
 %
Non-deductible items (2)
1.2
 %
 
3.4
 %
 
1.4
 %
Domestic Production Activities Deduction
(3.9
)%
 
(3.2
)%
 
(3.8
)%
Effect of consolidated VIEs (3)
1.4
 %
 
0.8
 %
 
3.7
 %
Change in state tax laws and rates
(0.3
)%
 
(0.1
)%
 
(5.5
)%
Changes in unrecognized tax benefits (4) 
(1.9
)%
 
(3.4
)%
 
0.8
 %
Basis in stock of subsidiaries (5)
(5.5
)%
 
—
 %
 
—
 %
Federal R&D Credit
(1.1
)%
 
—
 %
 
—
 %
Other
(0.3
)%
 
(0.9
)%
 
0.1
 %
Effective income tax rate
25.2
 %
 
31.5
 %
 
40.0
 %
_______________________________________________________

(1)
Included in state income taxes are deferred income tax effects related to certain acquisitions and/or intercompany mergers.
(2)
Included in 2014 is the current income taxes related to the taxable gain on sale of WHTM’s assets in Harrisburg, PA, which we acquired with the stock purchase of the Allbritton Companies in the same year.  There was no book gain on this sale.  Since a deferred tax liability was not established for the excess of book basis over tax basis of goodwill, a deferred tax benefit does not offset the current tax expense.
(3)
Certain of our consolidated VIEs incur expenses that are not attributable to non-controlling interests because we absorb certain related losses of the VIEs.  These expenses are not tax-deductible by us, and since these VIEs are treated as pass-through entities for income tax purposes, deferred income tax benefits are not recognized. 
(4)
During the year ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, we recorded a $5.7 million and $10.8 million benefit, respectively, related to the release of liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits as a result of expiration of the applicable statute of limitations.  See table below which summarizes the activity related to our accrued unrecognized tax benefits.
(5)
During the year ended December 31, 2015, we recorded a $12.6 million benefit related to the realization of a capital loss upon the sale of the stock of a subsidiary.
Schedule of total deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities
Total deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 were as follows (in thousands):
 
 
2015
 
2014
Deferred Tax Assets:
 

 
 

Net operating and capital losses:
 

 
 

Federal
$
14,884

 
$
2,384

State
65,822

 
67,430

Goodwill and intangible assets
33,979

 
44,175

Other
37,812

 
27,677

 
152,497

 
141,666

Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets
(58,333
)
 
(58,896
)
Total deferred tax assets
$
94,164

 
$
82,770

Deferred Tax Liabilities:
 

 
 

Goodwill and intangible assets
$
(561,812
)
 
$
(543,628
)
Property & equipment, net
(76,106
)
 
(72,819
)
Contingent interest obligations
(30,575
)
 
(40,941
)
Other
(10,743
)
 
(34,314
)
Total deferred tax liabilities
(679,236
)
 
(691,702
)
Net deferred tax liabilities
$
(585,072
)
 
$
(608,932
)
Schedule of activity related to accrued unrecognized tax benefits
The following table summarizes the activity related to our accrued unrecognized tax benefits (in thousands):
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Balance at January 1,
$
7,138

 
$
16,883

 
$
25,965

Additions (reductions) related to prior year tax positions
1,458

 
—

 
(8,928
)
Additions related to current year tax positions
472

 
1,450

 
693

Reductions related to settlements with taxing authorities
(1,517
)
 
(2,910
)
 
(847
)
Reductions related to expiration of the applicable statute of limitations
(4,294
)
 
(8,285
)
 
—

Balance at December 31,
$
3,257

 
$
7,138

 
$
16,883