BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND ORGANIZATION (Block)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements Abstract
Business Description And Basis Of Presentation Text Block	1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT POLICIES The condensed consolidated interim unaudited financial statements included herein have been prepared by Entercom Communications Corp. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) in accordance with: (i) generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information; and (ii) the instructions of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for annual financial statements. In the opinion of management, the financial statements reflect all adjustments considered necessary for a fair statement of the results of operations and financial position for the interim periods presented. All such adjustments are of a normal and recurring nature. The Company’s results are subject to seasonal fluctuations and, therefore, the results shown on an interim basis are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year. This Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and related notes included in the Company’s audited financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2016, and filed with the SEC on February 28, 2017, as part of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. On February 2, 2017, the Company and its newly formed wholly owned subsidiary (“Merger Sub”) entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “CBS Radio Merger Agreement”) with CBS Corporation (“CBS”) and its wholly owned subsidiary CBS Radio, Inc. (“CBS Radio”). Pursuant to the CBS Radio Merger Agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into CBS Radio with CBS Radio surviving as the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary (the “Merger”). The Merger is expected to be tax free to CBS and its shareholders, and will be effected through a stock for stock Reverse Morris Trust transaction. The Merger will make the Company a leading local media and entertainment company with a nationwide footprint of stations including positions in all of the top 10 markets and 23 of the top 25 markets. The transactions contemplated by the CBS Radio Merger Agreement are subject to approval by the Company’s shareholders and customary regulatory approvals. Such approvals will require the divestiture of stations in certain markets due to FCC ownership limitations. There have been no material changes from Note 2, Significant Accounting Policies, as described in the notes to the Company’s financial statements contained in its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, that was filed with the SEC on February 28, 2017. Recent Accounting Pronouncements All new accounting pronouncements that are in effect that may impact the Company’s financial statements have been implemented. The Company does not believe that there are any other new accounting pronouncements that have been issued, other than as noted below or those included in the notes to the Company’s financial statements contained in its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, that was filed with the SEC on February 28, 2017, that might have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Definition of a Business In January 2017, the accounting guidance was amended to modify the definition of a business to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions or disposals of assets or businesses. The guidance is effective for the Company as of January 1, 2018, under a prospective application method. The Company is currently in the process of reviewing the new guidance, but based upon its preliminary assessment, which is subject to change, the impact of this guidance should not be material to the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. The guidance could have an impact in a future period if the Company acquires or disposes of assets that meet the definition of a business under the amended guidance. Goodwill Impairment In January 2017, the accounting guidance was amended to modify the accounting for goodwill impairment by removing the second step of the goodwill impairment test. The guidance is effective for the Company as of January 1, 2020. The Company is currently in the process of reviewing the new guidance, but based upon its preliminary assessment, which is subject to change, the impact of this guidance should not be material to the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Cash Flow Classification In August 2016, the accounting guidance for classifying elements of cash flow was modified. The guidance is effective for the Company as of January 1, 2018, under a retrospective application method. Management does not believe the impact of this guidance will be material to the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Stock-Based Compensation Modification In March 2016, the accounting guidance for stock-based compensation was modified primarily to: (1) record excess tax benefits or deficiencies on stock-based compensation in the statement of operations, regardless of whether the tax benefits reduce taxes payable in the period; (2) allow an employee’s use of shares to satisfy the employer’s statutory income tax withholding obligation up to the maximum statutory tax rates in the applicable jurisdictions; and (3) allow entities to make an accounting policy election to either estimate the number of award forfeitures or to account for forfeitures when they occur. The guidance was effective for the Company on January 1, 2017. As of January 1, 2017, the Company recorded a cumulative-effect adjustment to its accumulated deficit of $4.6 million on a modified retrospective transition basis. This adjustment was comprised of previously unrecognized excess tax benefits of $4.9 million as adjusted for the Company’s effective income tax rate, offset by a change to recognize stock-based compensation forfeitures when they occur of $0.3 million, net of tax. Leasing Transactions In February 2016, the accounting guidance was modified to require that all leases with a term of more than one year, covering leased assets such as real estate, broadcasting towers and equipment, be reflected on the balance sheet as assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by these leases. While the Company is currently reviewing the effects of this guidance, the Company believes that this would result in: (1) an increase in the assets and liabilities reflected on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets; and (2) an increase in the Company’s interest expense and depreciation and amortization expense and a decrease to the Company’s station operating expense reflected on its consolidated statements of operations. This guidance is effective for the Company as of January 1, 2019. Revenue Recognition In May 2014, the accounting guidance for revenue recognition was modified and subsequently updated several times with amendments. Along with these modifications, most industry-specific revenue guidance was eliminated, including a current broadcasting exemption for reporting revenue from network barter programming. The new guidance is based on the principle that revenue is recognized to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The guidance also requires additional disclosures including significant judgments and changes in judgments. The Company expects to adopt the new guidance effective on January 1, 2018, by applying the modified retrospective method at the date of the initial application by recording the cumulative effect on retained earnings as of the date of adoption. The Company has made progress toward completing its evaluation of the impact of the guidance to all of the Company’s revenue streams and expects to complete the contract evaluations during 2017, including an evaluation of the impact on its business processes, controls and systems. While the Company continues to assess all potential impacts of the standard, it currently believes the most significant impact relates to its accounting for network barter programming, which should not have a material impact to the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND ORGANIZATION (Block)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements Abstract

Business Description And Basis Of Presentation Text Block

1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT POLICIES

The condensed consolidated interim unaudited financial statements included herein have been prepared by Entercom Communications Corp. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) in accordance with: (i) generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information; and (ii) the instructions of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for annual financial statements. In the opinion of management, the financial statements reflect all adjustments considered necessary for a fair statement of the results of operations and financial position for the interim periods presented. All such adjustments are of a normal and recurring nature. The Company’s results are subject to seasonal fluctuations and, therefore, the results shown on an interim basis are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year.

This Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and related notes included in the Company’s audited financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2016, and filed with the SEC on February 28, 2017, as part of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations.

On February 2, 2017, the Company and its newly formed wholly owned subsidiary (“Merger Sub”) entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “CBS Radio Merger Agreement”) with CBS Corporation (“CBS”) and its wholly owned subsidiary CBS Radio, Inc. (“CBS Radio”). Pursuant to the CBS Radio Merger Agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into CBS Radio with CBS Radio surviving as the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary (the “Merger”). The Merger is expected to be tax free to CBS and its shareholders, and will be effected through a stock for stock Reverse Morris Trust transaction. The Merger will make the Company a leading local media and entertainment company with a nationwide footprint of stations including positions in all of the top 10 markets and 23 of the top 25 markets. The transactions contemplated by the CBS Radio Merger Agreement are subject to approval by the Company’s shareholders and customary regulatory approvals. Such approvals will require the divestiture of stations in certain markets due to FCC ownership limitations.

There have been no material changes from Note 2, Significant Accounting Policies, as described in the notes to the Company’s financial statements contained in its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, that was filed with the SEC on February 28, 2017.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

All new accounting pronouncements that are in effect that may impact the Company’s financial statements have been implemented. The Company does not believe that there are any other new accounting pronouncements that have been issued, other than as noted below or those included in the notes to the Company’s financial statements contained in its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, that was filed with the SEC on February 28, 2017, that might have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Definition of a Business

In January 2017, the accounting guidance was amended to modify the definition of a business to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions or disposals of assets or businesses. The guidance is effective for the Company as of January 1, 2018, under a prospective application method. The Company is currently in the process of reviewing the new guidance, but based upon its preliminary assessment, which is subject to change, the impact of this guidance should not be material to the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. The guidance could have an impact in a future period if the Company acquires or disposes of assets that meet the definition of a business under the amended guidance.

Goodwill Impairment

In January 2017, the accounting guidance was amended to modify the accounting for goodwill impairment by removing the second step of the goodwill impairment test. The guidance is effective for the Company as of January 1, 2020. The Company is currently in the process of reviewing the new guidance, but based upon its preliminary assessment, which is subject to change, the impact of this guidance should not be material to the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Cash Flow Classification

In August 2016, the accounting guidance for classifying elements of cash flow was modified. The guidance is effective for the Company as of January 1, 2018, under a retrospective application method. Management does not believe the impact of this guidance will be material to the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Stock-Based Compensation Modification

In March 2016, the accounting guidance for stock-based compensation was modified primarily to: (1) record excess tax benefits or deficiencies on stock-based compensation in the statement of operations, regardless of whether the tax benefits reduce taxes payable in the period; (2) allow an employee’s use of shares to satisfy the employer’s statutory income tax withholding obligation up to the maximum statutory tax rates in the applicable jurisdictions; and (3) allow entities to make an accounting policy election to either estimate the number of award forfeitures or to account for forfeitures when they occur. The guidance was effective for the Company on January 1, 2017.

As of January 1, 2017, the Company recorded a cumulative-effect adjustment to its accumulated deficit of $4.6 million on a modified retrospective transition basis. This adjustment was comprised of previously unrecognized excess tax benefits of $4.9 million as adjusted for the Company’s effective income tax rate, offset by a change to recognize stock-based compensation forfeitures when they occur of $0.3 million, net of tax.

Leasing Transactions

In February 2016, the accounting guidance was modified to require that all leases with a term of more than one year, covering leased assets such as real estate, broadcasting towers and equipment, be reflected on the balance sheet as assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by these leases. While the Company is currently reviewing the effects of this guidance, the Company believes that this would result in: (1) an increase in the assets and liabilities reflected on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets; and (2) an increase in the Company’s interest expense and depreciation and amortization expense and a decrease to the Company’s station operating expense reflected on its consolidated statements of operations. This guidance is effective for the Company as of January 1, 2019.

Revenue Recognition

In May 2014, the accounting guidance for revenue recognition was modified and subsequently updated several times with amendments. Along with these modifications, most industry-specific revenue guidance was eliminated, including a current broadcasting exemption for reporting revenue from network barter programming. The new guidance is based on the principle that revenue is recognized to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The guidance also requires additional disclosures including significant judgments and changes in judgments.

The Company expects to adopt the new guidance effective on January 1, 2018, by applying the modified retrospective method at the date of the initial application by recording the cumulative effect on retained earnings as of the date of adoption.

The Company has made progress toward completing its evaluation of the impact of the guidance to all of the Company’s revenue streams and expects to complete the contract evaluations during 2017, including an evaluation of the impact on its business processes, controls and systems.

While the Company continues to assess all potential impacts of the standard, it currently believes the most significant impact relates to its accounting for network barter programming, which should not have a material impact to the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.