Note 8 - Income Taxes (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Table Text Block]

	Year Ended December 31,
	2012			2011			2010
Current:
Federal	$	-		$	-		$	(504	)
State and local		974			359			554
State and local - reserve for uncertain tax positions		(1,015	)		(905	)		(513	)
Current income tax benefit		(41	)		(546	)		(463	)
Deferred:
Federal		16,854			4,860			13,869
State and local		2,375			225			41
Deferred income tax expense		19,229			5,085			13,910
Total income tax expense	$	19,188		$	4,539		$	13,447

Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities [Table Text Block]

	December 31,
	2012			2011
Deferred tax liabilities:
Net book value of property and equipment	$	10,656		$	11,303
Broadcast licenses, goodwill and other intangibles		277,939			269,818
Loan acquisition costs		-			295
Liability for accrued bonus 481(a) adjustment		-			101
Restricted stock		-			2
Total deferred tax liabilities		288,595			281,519
Deferred tax assets:
Liability for accrued consulting		118			-
Liability for accrued vacation		850			825
Liability for accrued bonus		347			1,308
Loan acquisition costs		1,902			-
Allowance for doubtful accounts		309			406
Liability under health and welfare plan		636			425
Capital loss carryforwards		-			280
Liability for pension plan		15,228			13,417
Federal operating loss carryforwards		87,585			97,880
State and local operating loss carryforwards		10,886			13,662
Alternative minimum tax carryforwards		386			386
Unearned income		613			798
Network compensation		414			658
Stock options		508			566
Other		80			458
Total deferred tax assets		119,862			131,069
Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets		(3,157	)		(4,620	)
Net deferred tax assets		116,705			126,449
Deferred tax liabilities, net of deferred tax assets	$	171,890		$	155,070

Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Table Text Block]

	Year Ended December 31,
	2012			2011			2010
Statutory federal rate applied to income before income tax expense	$	16,561		$	4,751		$	12,814
Current year permanent items		825			229			618
State and local taxes, net of federal tax benefit		4,191			710			1,993
Change in valuation allowance		(1,463	)		(252	)		(1,591	)
Reserve for uncertain tax positions		(1,015	)		(905	)		(513	)
Other items, net		89			6			126
Income tax expense as recorded	$	19,188		$	4,539		$	13,447
Effective income tax rate		40.6	%		33.4	%		36.7	%

Schedule of Unrecognized Tax Benefits Roll Forward [Table Text Block]

	Year Ended December 31,
	2012			2011			2010
Balance at beginning of period	$	1,597		$	2,342		$	2,828
Reduction in benefit from lapse in statute of limitations		(717	)		(745	)		(486	)
Balance at end of period	$	880		$	1,597		$	2,342