Note 7 - Income Taxes (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Notes Tables

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

	Year Ended December 31,
	2015			2014			2013
Current:
Federal	$	-		$	-		$	-
State and local		1,259			996			118
State and local - reserve for uncertain tax positions		(581	)		(198	)		(136	)
Current income tax expense (benefit)		678			798			(18	)
Deferred:
Federal		24,067			28,231			12,218
State and local		1,703			2,707			947
Deferred income tax expense		25,770			30,938			13,165
Total income tax expense	$	26,448		$	31,736		$	13,147

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

	December 31,
	2015			2014
Deferred tax liabilities:
Net book value of property and equipment	$	20,986		$	20,195
Broadcast licenses, goodwill and other intangibles		350,647			341,654
Total deferred tax liabilities		371,633			361,849
Deferred tax assets:
Liability for accrued vacation		2,172			1,900
Liability for accrued bonus		4,786			3,440
Loan acquisition costs		391			447
Allowance for doubtful accounts		700			572
Liability under health and welfare plan		1,108			1,111
Liability for pension plan		14,172			16,900
Federal operating loss carryforwards		38,466			55,425
State and local operating loss carryforwards		5,867			7,102
Alternative minimum tax carryforwards		386			386
Unearned income		73			214
Stock options		163			119
Acquisition costs		1,129			776
Restricted stock		1,875			1,479
Other		172			206
Total deferred tax assets		71,460			90,077
Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets		(1,683	)		(2,052	)
Net deferred tax assets		69,777			88,025
Deferred tax liabilities, net of deferred tax assets	$	301,856		$	273,824

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

	Year Ended December 31,
	2015			2014			2013
Statutory federal rate applied to income before income tax expense	$	23,012		$	27,929		$	11,002
Current year permanent items		1,192			849			669
State and local taxes, net of federal tax benefit		2,831			4,050			1,432
Change in valuation allowance		(369	)		(696	)		(409	)
Reserve for uncertain tax positions		(581	)		(198	)		(136	)
Other items, net		363			(198	)		589
Income tax expense as recorded	$	26,448		$	31,736		$	13,147
Effective income tax rate		40.2	%		39.8	%		41.8	%

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

	Year Ended December 31,
	2015			2014			2013
Balance at beginning of period	$	657		$	782		$	880
Reduction in benefit from lapse in statute of limitations		(303	)		(125	)		(98	)
Balance at end of period	$	354		$	657		$	782