GOODWILL, BROADCAST LICENSES AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS: (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

GOODWILL, BROADCAST LICENSES AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS:

Schedule of change in the carrying amount of goodwill related to continuing operations

The change in the carrying amount of goodwill related to continuing operations was as follows (in thousands):

	Broadcast			Other Operating Divisions			Consolidated
Balance at December 31, 2012
Goodwill	$	1,484,117		$	3,488		$	1,487,605
Accumulated impairment losses	(413,573		)	—			(413,573		)
	1,070,544			3,488			1,074,032
Acquisition of television stations (a)	330,309			—			330,309
Sale of broadcast assets (d)	(14,724		)	—			(14,724		)
Measurement period adjustments related to 2012 acquisitions (e)	(9,535		)	—			(9,535		)
Balance at December 31, 2013 (c)
Goodwill (a)	1,790,167			3,488			1,793,655
Accumulated impairment losses	(413,573		)	—			(413,573		)
	1,376,594			3,488			1,380,082
Acquisition of television stations (a)	701,854			—			701,854
Sale of broadcast assets (d)	(26,731		)	—			(26,731		)
Deconsolidation of variable interest entities (b)	(21,357		)	—			(21,357		)
Measurement period adjustments related to 2013 acquisitions (e)	(66,320		)	—			(66,320		)
Assets held for sale	—			(2,975		)	(2,975		)
Balance at December 31, 2014 (c)
Goodwill	2,377,613			513			2,378,126
Accumulated impairment losses	(413,573		)	—			(413,573		)
	$	1,964,040		$	513		$	1,964,553

(a)

In 2014 and 2013, we acquired goodwill as a result of acquisitions as discussed in Note 2. Acquisitions.

(b)

In 2014, we deconsolidated certain variable interest entities and the amounts relate to WYZZ in Peoria, IL and WTAT in Charleston, SC, as discussed in Variable Interest Entities within Note 1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.

(c)

Approximately $0.8 million and $6.4 million of goodwill relates to consolidated VIEs as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

(d)

Amounts relate to the 2013 sale of WSYT (including certain assets of WNYS, which we performed service to under an LMA) in Syracuse, NY, in connection with the acquisition of stations from Barrington, and to the 2014 sale of WTTA in Tampa, FL and KXRM/KXTU in Colorado Springs, CO. See Note 3. Disposition of Assets and Discontinued Operations for further discussion on the sale of these stations.

(e)

Amounts relate to immaterial measurement period adjustments related to 2013 acquisitions.

Schedule of carrying amount of broadcast licenses related to continuing operations

As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the carrying amount of our broadcast licenses related to continuing operations was as follows (in thousands):

	2014			2013
Beginning balance	$	101,029		$	85,122
Acquisition of television stations (a)	18,027			15,514
Sale of broadcast assets (d)	(45		)	(25		)
Impairment charge	(3,240		)	—
Measurement period adjustments related to 2013 acquisitions (a)	19,355			418
Deconsolidation of variable interest entities (b)	(51		)	—
Ending balance (c)	$	135,075		$	101,029

(a)

See Note 2. Acquisitions.

(b)

(c)

Approximately $16.9 million and $16.8 million of broadcast licenses relate to consolidated VIEs as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

(d)

Amounts relate to the 2013 sale of WSYT, in Syracuse, NY, in connection with the acquisition of stations from Barrington, and to the 2014 sale of WTTA in Tamp, FL and KXRM/KXTU in Colorado Springs, CO. See Note 3. Disposition of Assets and Discontinued Operations for further discussion on the sale of these stations.

Schedule of gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization of definite-lived intangible assets related to continuing operations

The following table shows the gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization of definite-lived intangibles related to continuing operations (in thousands):

	As of December 31, 2014
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net

Amortized intangible assets:
Network affiliation (a)	$	1,396,792	$	(257,526	)	$	1,139,266
Decaying advertiser base (b)	324,262		(148,878		)	175,384
Other (c)	599,472		(95,859		)	503,613
Total	$	2,320,526	$	(502,263	)	$	1,818,263

	As of December 31, 2013
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net

Amortized intangible assets:
Network affiliation (a)	$	869,535	$	(195,037	)	$	674,498
Decaying advertiser base (b)	260,454		(135,978		)	124,476
Other (c)	389,769		(60,988		)	328,781
Total	$	1,519,758	$	(392,003	)	$	1,127,755

(a)

The increase in network affiliation assets includes amounts from acquisitions of $506.8 million and $321.0 million in 2014 and 2013, respectively. See Note 2. Acquisitions for the purchase price allocation of stations acquired during 2014, and measurement period adjustments recorded during 2014 related to 2013 acquisitions.

(b)

The increase in decaying advertiser base includes amounts from acquisitions of $69.0 million and $80.0 million in 2014 and 2013, respectively. See Note 2. Acquisitions for the purchase price allocation of stations acquired during 2014, and measurement period adjustments related to 2013 acquisitions.

(c)

The increase in other intangible assets includes the amounts from acquisitions of $214.2 million and $155.5 million in 2014 and 2013, respectively. See Note 2. Acquisitions for the purchase price allocation of stations acquired during 2014, and measurement period adjustments related to 2013 acquisitions. The increase also includes the purchase of additional alarm monitoring contracts of $27.7 million, which is included in Other Operating Divisions.

Schedule of estimated amortization expense of the definite-lived intangible assets

The following table shows the estimated amortization expense of the definite-lived intangible assets for the next five years (in thousands):

For the year ended December 31, 2015	$	147,831
For the year ended December 31, 2016	146,877
For the year ended December 31, 2017	144,887
For the year ended December 31, 2018	143,923
For the year ended December 31, 2019	143,834
Thereafter	1,090,911
	$	1,818,263