Note 7 - Income Taxes (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Notes Tables

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

	Year Ended December 31,
	2016			2015			2014
Current:
Federal	$	-		$	-		$	-
State and local		2,730			1,259			996
State and local - reserve for uncertain tax positions		(698	)		(581	)		(198	)
Current income tax expense (benefit)		2,032			678			798
Deferred:
Federal		38,214			24,067			28,231
State and local		3,172			1,703			2,707
Deferred income tax expense		41,386			25,770			30,938
Total income tax expense	$	43,418		$	26,448		$	31,736

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

	December 31,
	2016			2015
Deferred tax liabilities:
Net book value of property and equipment	$	26,620		$	20,986
Broadcast licenses, goodwill and other intangibles		369,275			350,647
Total deferred tax liabilities		395,895			371,633
Deferred tax assets:
Liability for accrued vacation		2,232			2,172
Liability for accrued bonus		5,483			4,786
Loan acquisition costs		336			391
Allowance for doubtful accounts		1,168			700
Liability under health and welfare plan		1,201			1,108
Liability for pension plan		13,278			14,172
Federal operating loss carryforwards		20,401			38,466
State and local operating loss carryforwards		4,555			5,867
Alternative minimum tax carryforwards		386			386
Unearned income		3			73
Stock options		174			163
Acquisition costs		3,140			1,129
Restricted stock		1,950			1,875
Other		109			172
Total deferred tax assets		54,416			71,460
Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets		(1,532	)		(1,683	)
Net deferred tax assets		52,884			69,777
Deferred tax liabilities, net of deferred tax assets	$	343,011		$	301,856

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

	Year Ended December 31,
	2016			2015			2014
Statutory federal rate applied to income before income tax expense	$	36,992		$	23,012		$	27,929
Current year permanent items		1,830			1,192			849
State and local taxes, net of federal tax benefit		5,056			2,831			4,050
Change in valuation allowance		(151	)		(369	)		(696	)
Reserve for uncertain tax positions		(698	)		(581	)		(198	)
Other items, net		389			363			(198	)
Income tax expense as recorded	$	43,418		$	26,448		$	31,736
Effective income tax rate		41.1	%		40.2	%		39.8	%