Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

A rollforward of the allowance for doubtful accounts is as follows:



(in thousands)

January 1, 2017	$	1,490
Charged to costs and expenses	1,407
Amounts charged off, net	(948		)
Balance as of December 31, 2017	1,949
Charged to costs and expenses	3,767
Amounts charged off, net	(1,345		)
Balance as of December 31, 2018	4,371
Charged to costs and expenses	1,886
Amounts charged off, net	(2,711		)
Balance as of December 31, 2019	$	3,546

We compute depreciation using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives as follows:



Buildings and improvements	15 to 45 years
Leasehold improvements	Shorter of term of lease or useful life
Broadcast transmission towers and related equipment	15 to 35 years
Other broadcast and program production equipment	3 to 15 years
Computer hardware	3 to 5 years
Office and other equipment	3 to 10 years

Property and equipment consisted of the following:

The following table presents information about basic and diluted weighted-average shares outstanding:



	For the years ended December 31,
(in thousands)	2019			2018			2017

Numerator (for basic and diluted earnings per share)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	$	(18,378	)	$	56,077		$	(12,022	)
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			632			1,511
Less income allocated to RSUs	—			(908		)	—
Numerator for basic and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations attributable to the shareholders of The E.W. Scripps Company	$	(18,378	)	$	55,801		$	(10,511	)
Denominator
Basic weighted-average shares outstanding	80,826			81,369			82,052
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options and restricted stock units	—			558			—
Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding	80,826			81,927			82,052