SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:

1.SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include our accounts and those of our wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries and VIEs for which we are the primary beneficiary.  Noncontrolling interests represents a minority owner’s proportionate share of the equity in certain of our consolidated entities.  All intercompany transactions and account balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

Discontinued Operations

In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (FASB) guidance on reporting assets held for sale, we reported the financial position and results of operations of our station in Lansing, Michigan (WLAJ-TV), as assets and liabilities held for sale in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of operations.  Discontinued operations have not been segregated in the consolidated statements of cash flows and, therefore, amounts for certain captions will not agree with the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of operations. WLAJ-TV was recently acquired in the second quarter of 2012 in connection with the acquisition of the television stations from Freedom Communications (Freedom). See Note 2. Acquisitions for more information. The operating results of WLAJ-TV, which is expected to divest in the first quarter of 2013, are not included in our consolidated results of operations from continuing operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012.

Interim Financial Statements

The consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 are unaudited.  In the opinion of management, such financial statements have been presented on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements and include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the consolidated balance sheets, consolidated statements of operations, consolidated statements of comprehensive income and consolidated statements of cash flows for these periods as adjusted for the adoption of recent accounting pronouncements discussed below.

As permitted under the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the consolidated financial statements do not include all disclosures normally included with audited consolidated financial statements and, accordingly, should be read together with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 filed with the SEC.  The consolidated statements of operations presented in the accompanying consolidated financial statements are not necessarily representative of operations for an entire year.

Variable Interest Entities

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.  We consolidate VIEs when we are the primary beneficiary.  The assets of each of our consolidated VIEs can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIE.  All the liabilities including debt held by our VIEs, are non-recourse to us.  However, our senior secured credit facility (Bank Credit Agreement) contains cross-default provisions with the VIE debt of Cunningham Broadcasting Corporation (Cunningham).  See Note 7. Related Person Transactions for more information.

We have entered into Local Marketing Agreements (LMAs) to provide programming, sales and managerial services for television stations of Cunningham, the license owner of seven television stations as of September 30, 2012.  We pay LMA fees to Cunningham and also reimburse all operating expenses.  We also have an acquisition agreement in which we have a purchase option to buy the license assets of the television stations which includes the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) license and certain other assets used to operate the station (License Assets).  Our applications to acquire the FCC licenses are pending approval.  We own the majority of the non-license assets of the Cunningham stations and our Bank Credit Agreement contains certain cross-default provisions with Cunningham whereby a default by Cunningham caused by insolvency would cause an event of default under our Bank Credit Agreement.  We have determined that the Cunningham stations are VIEs and that based on the terms of the agreements, the significance of our investment in the stations and the cross-default provisions with our Bank Credit Agreement, we are the primary beneficiary of the variable interests because we have the power to direct the activities which significantly impact the economic performance of the VIEs through the sales and managerial services we provide and we absorb losses and returns that would be considered significant to Cunningham.  See Note 7. Related Person Transactions for more information on our arrangements with Cunningham.  Included in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 are net broadcast revenues of $25.5 million and $20.9 million, respectively, that relate to LMAs with Cunningham.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, Cunningham’s stations provided us with approximately $73.5 million and $66.8 million, respectively, of net broadcast revenues.

We have outsourcing agreements with certain other license owners, under which we provide certain non-programming related sales, operational and administrative services.  We pay a fee to the license owner based on a percentage of broadcast cash flow and we reimburse all operating expenses.  We also have a purchase option to buy the License Assets.  We have determined that the License Assets of these stations are VIEs, and, based on the terms of the agreements and the significance of our investment in the stations, we are the primary beneficiary of the variable interests because, subject to the ultimate control of the licensees, we have the power to direct the activities which significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE through the sales and managerial services we provide and because we absorb losses and returns that would be considered significant to the VIEs.  Included in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 are net broadcast revenues of $4.1 million and $2.6 million, respectively, that relate to these arrangements. For the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, are net broadcast revenues of $11.9 million and $8.7 million, respectively, that relate to these arrangements.

As of the dates indicated, the carrying amounts and classification of the assets and liabilities of the VIEs mentioned above which have been included in our consolidated balance sheets for the periods presented (in thousands):

	As of September 30,2012		As of December  31, 2011
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	3,598	$	2,739
Accounts receivable	103		—
Income taxes receivable	158		142
Current portion of program contract costs	1,179		413
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	127		99
Total current asset	5,165		3,393
PROGRAM CONTRACT COSTS, less current portion	332		271
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net	6,114		6,658
GOODWILL	6,357		6,357
BROADCAST LICENSES	6,788		4,208
DEFINITE-LIVED INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net	8,545		6,601
OTHER ASSETS	11,175		5,980
Total assets	$	44,476	$	33,468
LIABILITIES
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	$	15	$	37
Accrued liabilities	103		315
Current portion of notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing	2,864		11,074
Current portion of program contracts payable	2,792		373
Total current liabilities	5,774		11,799
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
Notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing, less current portion	2,317		2,411
Program contracts payable, less current portion	434		173
Total liabilities	$	8,525	$	14,383

The amounts above represent the consolidated assets and liabilities of the VIEs related to our LMAs with Cunningham and certain outsourcing agreements, for which we are the primary beneficiary, and have been aggregated as they all relate to our broadcast business.  Excluded from the amounts above are payments made to Cunningham under the LMA which are treated as a prepayment of the purchase price of the stations and capital leases between us and Cunningham which are eliminated in consolidation.  The total payments made under the LMA as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 which are excluded from liabilities above were $29.8 million and $22.7 million, respectively.  The total capital lease assets excluded from above were $11.7 million and $11.8 million as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.  The risk and reward characteristics of the VIEs are similar.

In the fourth quarter of 2011, we began providing sales, programming and management services to the eight stations owned by Freedom pursuant to an LMA.  Effective April 1, 2012, we completed the acquisition of these stations and the LMA was terminated.  We determined that the Freedom stations were VIEs during the period of the LMA based on the terms of the agreement.  We were not the primary beneficiary because the owner of the stations had the power to direct the activities of the VIEs that most significantly impacted the economic performance of the VIEs.  In the consolidated statements of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 are net broadcast revenues of $10.0 million and station production expenses of $7.8 million related to the Freedom LMAs, during the period prior to the acquisition.

We have investments in other real estate ventures and investment companies which are considered VIEs.  However, we do not participate in the management of these entities including the day-to-day operating decisions or other decisions which would allow us to control the entity, and therefore, we are not considered the primary beneficiary of these VIEs.  We account for these entities using the equity or cost method of accounting.

The carrying amounts of our investments in these VIEs for which we are not the primary beneficiary for the periods presented (in thousands):

	As of September 30, 2012				As of December  31, 2011
	Carrying amount		Maximum exposure		Carrying amount		Maximum exposure
Investments in real estate ventures	$	3,752	$	3,752	$	8,009	$	8,009
Investments in investment companies	25,370		25,370		26,276		26,276
Total	$	29,122	$	29,122	$	34,285	$	34,285

The carrying amounts above are included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets.  The income and loss related to these investments are recorded in income from equity and cost method investments in the consolidated statement of operations.  We recorded income of $0.3 million and $1.3 million in the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.  We recorded income of $7.0 million and $2.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Our maximum exposure is equal to the carrying value of our investments.  As of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, our unfunded commitments related to private equity investment funds totaled $10.9 million for each of the periods.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2011, the FASB issued new guidance for fair value measurements.  The purpose of the new guidance is to have a consistent definition of fair value between U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).  Many of the amendments to GAAP are not expected to have a significant impact on practice; however, the new guidance does require new and enhanced disclosure about fair value measurements.  The amendments are effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011 and should be applied prospectively. This guidance did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements but we have included the additional quantitative and qualitative disclosures required for our Level 3 fair value measurements beginning with the quarter ended March 31, 2012.

In July 2012, the FASB issued new guidance for testing indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment.  The new guidance allows companies to perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether further impairment testing of indefinite-lived intangible assets is necessary, similar to the approach now applied to goodwill.  Companies can first determine based on certain qualitative factors whether it is “more likely than not” (a likelihood of more than 50 percent) that an indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired.  The new standard is intended to reduce the cost and complexity of testing indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment.  The revised standard is effective for annual and interim impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after September 30, 2012 and early adoption is permitted. We plan to adopt this new guidance in the fourth quarter of 2012 when completing our annual impairment analysis.  This guidance will impact how we perform our annual impairment testing for indefinite-lived intangible assets and may change our related disclosures; however, we do not believe it will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses in the consolidated financial statements and in the disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Restricted Cash

In July 2012, we entered into a definitive agreement to purchase the assets of Newport Television (Newport) for $412.5 million. Newport owns and operates six stations in five markets. The transaction is expected to close no earlier than December 2012, subject to the approval of the FCC. Pursuant to the asset purchase agreement, we deposited 10% of the purchase price into an escrow account. As of September 30, 2012, $41.3 million in restricted cash classified as noncurrent relates to the acquisition of Newport. See Pending Acquisitions and Divestments under Note 4. Commitments and Contingencies for more information.

In August, we entered into a definitive agreement to purchase the assets of KBTV located in Port Arthur, TX, for $14.0 million. Pursuant to the asset purchase agreement, we deposited 10% of the purchase price into an escrow account.  As of September 30, 2012, $1.4 million in restricted cash classified as noncurrent relates to the acquisition of KBTV. See Pending Acquisitions and Divestments under Note 4. Commitments and Contingencies for more information.

Additionally, under the terms of certain lease agreements, as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, we were required to hold $0.2 million of restricted cash related to the removal of analog equipment from some of our leased towers.

Revenue Recognition

Total revenues include: (i) cash and barter advertising revenues, net of agency commissions; (ii) retransmission consent fees; (iii) network compensation; (iv) other broadcast revenues and (v) revenues from our other operating divisions.

Advertising revenues, net of agency commissions, are recognized in the period during which time spots are aired.

Our retransmission consent agreements contain both advertising and retransmission consent elements.  We have determined that our retransmission consent agreements are revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables.  Advertising and retransmission consent deliverables sold under our agreements are separated into different units of accounting at fair value.   Revenue applicable to the advertising element of the arrangement is recognized similar to the advertising revenue policy noted above.  Revenue applicable to the retransmission consent element of the arrangement is recognized over the life of the agreement.

Income Taxes

Our income tax provision for all periods consists of federal and state income taxes.  The tax provision for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 is based on the estimated effective tax rate applicable for the full year after taking into account discrete tax items and the effects of the noncontrolling interests. We provide a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets if we determine that it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.  In evaluating our ability to realize net deferred tax assets, we consider all available evidence, both positive and negative, including our past operating results, tax planning strategies and forecasts of future taxable income.  In considering these sources of taxable income, we must make certain judgments that are based on the plans and estimates used to manage our underlying businesses on a long-term basis.  A valuation allowance has been provided for deferred tax assets related to a substantial portion of our available state net operating loss carryforwards, based on past operating results, expected timing of the reversals of existing temporary book/tax basis differences, alternative tax strategies and projected future taxable income.

Our effective income tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 was greater than the statutory rate primarily due to state taxes. Our effective income tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2012 was greater than the statutory rate primarily due to an increase in the income tax reserves related to a state audit settlement reached during the quarter.  Our effective income tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 was lower than the statutory rate primarily due to: 1) a release of valuation allowance in the first quarter of $7.7 million related to certain deferred tax assets of Cunningham, one of our consolidated VIEs, as the weight of all available evidence supports realization of the deferred tax assets, which was partially offset by 2) an increase in the income tax reserves related to a state audit settlement reached during the third quarter.  The valuation allowance release determination, in the first quarter of 2012, was based primarily on the sufficiency of forecasted taxable income necessary to utilize NOLs expiring in years 2022 — 2029.  This VIE files separate income tax returns.  Any resulting tax liabilities are nonrecourse to us and we are not entitled to any benefit resulting from the deferred tax assets of the VIE.

We believe it is reasonably possible that our liability for unrecognized tax benefits related to certain discontinued operations will be reduced by $5.0 million in the next twelve months as a result of expected statute of limitations expirations, the application of limits under available state administrative practice exceptions, and the resolution of examination issues and settlements with certain state tax authorities.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made to prior years’ consolidated financial statements to conform to the current year’s presentation.