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	1,314
Amounts charged off, net	(855)
Balance as of December 31, 2017	1,949
Charged to costs and expenses	3,378
Amounts charged off, net	(1,106)
Balance as of December 31, 2018	4,221
Charged to costs and expenses	1,823
Amounts charged off, net	(2,698)
Balance as of December 31, 2019	$	3,346

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	$	(1,913)	$	69,889	$	(10,178)
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	—		632		1,511
Less income allocated to RSUs	—		(1,129)		—
Numerator for basic and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations attributable to the shareholders of The E.W. Scripps Company	$	(1,913)	$	69,392	$	(8,667)
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