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GOODWILL, BROADCAST LICENSES AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Tables)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]  
Schedule of Goodwill
The change in the carrying amount of goodwill related to continuing operations was as follows (in thousands):
 
 
Broadcast
 
Other
 
Consolidated
Balance at December 31, 2013
 

 
 

 
 

Goodwill
$
1,790,167

 
$
3,488

 
$
1,793,655

Accumulated impairment losses
(413,573
)
 
—

 
(413,573
)
 
1,376,594

 
3,488

 
1,380,082

Acquisition of television stations (a)
701,854

 
—

 
701,854

Sale of broadcast assets (d)
(26,731
)
 
—

 
(26,731
)
Deconsolidation of variable interest entities (b)
(21,357
)
 
—

 
(21,357
)
Measurement period adjustments related to 2013 acquisitions
(66,320
)
 
—

 
(66,320
)
Assets held for sale (e)
—

 
(2,975
)
 
(2,975
)
Balance at December 31, 2014 (c)
 

 
 

 
 

Goodwill (a)
2,377,613

 
513

 
2,378,126

Accumulated impairment losses
(413,573
)
 
—

 
(413,573
)
 
1,964,040

 
513

 
1,964,553

Acquisition of television stations (a)
5,802

 
—

 
5,802

Measurement period adjustments related to 2014 acquisitions
(42,237
)
 
—

 
(42,237
)
Change in assets held for sale (e)
—

 
2,975

 
2,975

Balance at December 31, 2015 (c)
 

 
 

 
 

Goodwill
2,341,178

 
3,488

 
2,344,666

Accumulated impairment losses
(413,573
)
 
—

 
(413,573
)
 
$
1,927,605

 
$
3,488

 
$
1,931,093

_______________________________________________________

(a)
In 2015 and 2014, we acquired goodwill as a result of acquisitions as discussed in Note 2. Acquisitions.
(b)
In 2014, we deconsolidated certain variable interest entities and the amounts relate to WYZZ in Peoria, IL and WTAT in Charleston, SC, as discussed in Variable Interest Entities within Note 1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.
(c)
Approximately $0.8 million of goodwill relates to consolidated VIEs as of December 31, 2015 and 2014.
(d)
Amounts relate to the 2014 sale of WTTA in Tampa, FL and KXRM/KXTU in Colorado Springs, CO.  See Note 3. Disposition of Assets and Discontinued Operations for further discussion on the sale of these stations.
(e)
We concluded that the assets of Triangle were no longer classified as assets held for sale. See Note 3. Disposition of Assets and Discontinued Operations for further discussion.
Schedule of Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets
As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the carrying amount of our broadcast licenses related to continuing operations was as follows (in thousands):
 
 
2015
 
2014
Beginning balance
135,075

 
101,029

Acquisition of television stations (a)
992

 
18,027

Sale of broadcast assets
(175
)
 
(45
)
Impairment charge
—

 
(3,240
)
Measurement period adjustments related to 2014 acquisitions
(3,427
)
 
19,355

Deconsolidation of variable interest entities (b)
—

 
(51
)
Ending balance (c)
132,465

 
135,075

_______________________________________________________

(a)
In 2015 and 2014, we acquired broadcast licenses as a result of acquisitions as discussed in Note 2. Acquisitions.
(b)
In 2014, we deconsolidated certain variable interest entities and the amounts relate to WYZZ in Peoria, IL and WTAT in Charleston, SC, as discussed in Variable Interest Entities within Note 1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.
(c)
Approximately $17.6 million and $16.9 million of broadcast licenses relate to consolidated VIEs as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets Amortization
The following table shows the gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization of definite-lived intangibles related to continuing operations (in thousands):
 
 As of December 31, 2015
 
Gross Carrying Value
 
Accumulated Amortization
 
Net
Amortized intangible assets:
 
 
 
 
 
   Network affiliation (a)
1,378,425

 
(343,729
)
 
1,034,696

   Customer Relationships (a)
806,727

 
(225,176
)
 
581,551

   Other (b)
193,594

 
(58,271
)
 
135,323

Total
2,378,746

 
(627,176
)
 
1,751,570

 
 
As of December 31, 2014
 
Gross Carrying Value
 
Accumulated Amortization
 
Net
Amortized intangible assets:
 
 
 
 
 
   Network affiliation (a)
1,396,792

 
(257,526
)
 
1,139,266

   Customer Relationships (a)
749,292

 
(177,453
)
 
571,839

   Other (b)
174,442

 
(67,284
)
 
107,158

Total
2,320,526

 
(502,263
)
 
1,818,263

_______________________________________________________

(a)
Changes between the gross carrying value from December 31, 2014 to December 31, 2015, relate to the acquisition of stations in 2015 and measurement period adjustments related to 2014 acquisitions as discussed in Note 2. Acquisitions.
(b)
The increase in other intangible assets is primarily due to the purchase of additional alarm monitoring contracts of $39.2 million
Schedule of estimated amortization expense of the definite-lived intangible assets
The following table shows the estimated amortization expense of the definite-lived intangible assets for the next five years (in thousands):
 
For the year ended December 31, 2016
152,011

For the year ended December 31, 2017
149,683

For the year ended December 31, 2018
148,350

For the year ended December 31, 2019
148,201

For the year ended December 31, 2020
147,890

Thereafter
1,005,435

 
1,751,570