E.W. SCRIPPS Co - Quarter Report: 2017 September (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q



þ		QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2017



o		TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



		For the transition period from to

Commission File Number 0-16914

THE E.W. SCRIPPS COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



Ohio (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		31-1223339 (IRS Employer Identification Number)

312 Walnut Street Cincinnati, Ohio (Address of principal executive offices)		45202 (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (513) 977-3000
Not applicable (Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report.)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes þ No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company “in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.



Large accelerated filer þ	Accelerated filer o	Emerging growth company o
Non-accelerated filer o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	Smaller reporting company o

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes o No þ

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date. As of September 30, 2017, there were 69,967,489 of the registrant’s Class A Common shares, $0.01 par value per share, outstanding and 11,932,722 of the registrant’s Common Voting shares,$0.01 par value per share, outstanding.

Index to The E.W. Scripps Company Quarterly Report

on Form 10-Q for the Quarter Ended September 30, 2017



Item No.		Page

PART I - Financial Information

1. Financial Statements		3

2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations		3

3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk		3

4. Controls and Procedures		3

PART II - Other Information

1. Legal Proceedings		3

1A. Risk Factors		3

2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds		3

3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities		4

4. Mine Safety Disclosures		4

5. Other Information		4

6. Exhibits		4

Signatures		5

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PART I

As used in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the terms “Scripps,” “Company,” “we,” “our,” or “us” may, depending on the context, refer to The E.W. Scripps Company, to one or more of its consolidated subsidiary companies, or to all of them taken as a whole.

Item 1. Financial Statements

The information required by this item is filed as part of this Form 10-Q. See Index to Financial Information at page F-1 of this Form 10-Q.

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The information required by this item is filed as part of this Form 10-Q. See Index to Financial Information at page F-1 of this Form 10-Q.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The information required by this item is filed as part of this Form 10-Q. See Index to Financial Information at page F-1 of this Form 10-Q.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

The information required by this item is filed as part of this Form 10-Q. See Index to Financial Information at page F-1 of this Form 10-Q.

PART II

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

We are involved in litigation arising in the ordinary course of business, such as defamation actions, and governmental proceedings primarily relating to renewal of broadcast licenses, none of which is expected to result in material loss.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in Item 1A. Risk Factors in our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as updated in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2017.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

There were no sales of unregistered equity securities during the quarter ended September 30, 2017.

The following table provides information about Company purchases of Class A Common shares during the quarter ended September 30, 2017, and the remaining amount that may still be purchased under the program.



Period	Total number of shares purchased	Average price paid per share		Total market value of shares purchased		Maximum value that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs

7/1/17-7/31/17	91,832	$	18.40	$	1,689,808	$	92,545,901
8/1/17-8/31/17	101,700	18.50		1,881,365		$	90,664,536
9/1/17-9/30/17	105,028	17.87		1,876,693		$	88,787,843
Total	298,560	$	18.25	$	5,447,866

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In November 2016, our Board of Directors authorized a repurchase program of up to $100 million of our Class A Common shares through December 2018. At September 30, 2017, $88.8 million remained under the authorization.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

There were no defaults upon senior securities during the quarter ended September 30, 2017.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

None.

Item 5. Other Information

None.

Item 6. Exhibits



Exhibit Number		Exhibit Description
10.02		Amendment No. 1 to The E.W. Scripps Company 2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan
10.10		Scripps Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (as Amended and Restated effective February 23, 2015)
10.14		Scripps Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, Amended and Restated as of February 23, 2015
10.15		The E.W. Scripps Company Restricted Share Unit Agreement (Non-Employee Directors)
10.16		Employee Restricted Share Unit Agreement
31(a)		Section 302 Certifications
31(b)		Section 302 Certifications
32(a)		Section 906 Certifications
32(b)		Section 906 Certifications
101.INS		XBRL Instance Document (furnished herewith)
101.SCH		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document (furnished herewith)
101.CAL		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document (furnished herewith)
101.DEF		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document (furnished herewith)
101.LAB		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document (furnished herewith)
101.PRE		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document (furnished herewith)

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Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.



	THE E.W. SCRIPPS COMPANY

Dated: November 3, 2017	By:	/s/ Douglas F. Lyons
		Douglas F. Lyons
		Vice President, Controller and Treasurer
		(Principal Accounting Officer)

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The E.W. Scripps Company

Index to Financial Information (Unaudited)



Item		Page

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets		F-2

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations		F-3

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)		F-4

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows		F-5

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity		F-6

Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements		F-7

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations		F-19

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk		F-31

Controls and Procedures		F-32

F-1

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The E.W. Scripps Company

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)



(in thousands, except share data)	As of September 30, 2017			As of December 31, 2016

Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	126,535		$	134,352
Accounts and notes receivable (less allowances—$2,035 and $1,632)	197,152			192,531
Miscellaneous	31,245			19,012
Total current assets	354,932			345,895
Investments	14,137			14,221
Property and equipment	247,156			260,731
Goodwill	587,377			616,780
Other intangible assets	456,398			467,896
Deferred income taxes	10,488			9,075
Miscellaneous	16,122			13,775
Total Assets	$	1,686,610		$	1,728,373

Liabilities and Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	28,708		$	26,670
Customer deposits and unearned revenue	7,088			7,122
Current portion of long-term debt	2,656			6,571
Accrued liabilities:
Employee compensation and benefits	30,533			32,636
Accrued interest	8,656			—
Miscellaneous	21,595			18,986
Other current liabilities	9,442			12,146
Total current liabilities	108,678			104,131
Long-term debt (less current portion)	393,179			386,614
Deferred income taxes	3,889			17,740
Other liabilities (less current portion)	251,890			273,953
Equity:
Preferred stock, $.01 par — authorized: 25,000,000 shares; none outstanding	—			—
Common stock, $.01 par:
Class A — authorized: 240,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding: 69,967,489 and 70,042,300 shares	700			700
Voting — authorized: 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding: 11,932,722 and 11,932,722 shares	119			119
Total	819			819
Additional paid-in capital	1,133,484			1,132,540
Accumulated deficit	(116,202		)	(94,077		)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of income taxes	(91,270		)	(93,347		)
Total The E.W. Scripps Company shareholders' equity	926,831			945,935
Noncontrolling interest	2,143			—
Total equity	928,974			945,935
Total Liabilities and Equity	$	1,686,610		$	1,728,373

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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The E.W. Scripps Company

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)



	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands, except per share data)	2017			2016			2017			2016

Operating Revenues:
Advertising	$	142,741		$	170,169		$	432,094		$	479,932
Retransmission	63,733			53,134			196,003			160,181
Other	9,976			9,737			31,174			30,242
Total operating revenues	216,450			233,040			659,271			670,355
Costs and Expenses:
Employee compensation and benefits	96,290			91,568			294,394			279,916
Programs and program licenses	52,543			45,833			146,755			129,904
Other expenses	51,654			49,791			150,093			145,822
Acquisition and related integration costs	—			—			—			578
Restructuring costs	2,407			—			2,407			—
Total costs and expenses	202,894			187,192			593,649			556,220
Depreciation, Amortization, and (Gains) Losses:
Depreciation	9,162			8,407			27,304			25,991
Amortization of intangible assets	5,493			6,485			16,724			18,098
Impairment of goodwill and intangibles	35,732			—			35,732			—
Losses (gains), net on disposal of property and equipment	124			26			435			44
Net depreciation, amortization, and (gains) losses	50,511			14,918			80,195			44,133
Operating income (loss)	(36,955		)	30,930			(14,573		)	70,002
Interest expense	(5,720		)	(4,592		)	(18,163		)	(13,603		)
Defined benefit pension plan expense	(3,551		)	(3,605		)	(10,485		)	(10,504		)
Miscellaneous, net	1,187			(596		)	5,411			(1,245		)
Income (loss) from operations before income taxes	(45,039		)	22,137			(37,810		)	44,650
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(18,355		)	9,615			(17,732		)	15,752
Net income (loss)	(26,684		)	12,522			(20,078		)	28,898
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	—			—			—			—
Net income (loss) attributable to the shareholders of The E.W. Scripps Company	$	(26,684	)	$	12,522		$	(20,078	)	$	28,898
Net income (loss) per share of common stock attributable to the shareholders of The E.W. Scripps Company	$	(0.32	)	$	0.15		$	(0.24	)	$	0.34
Net income (loss) per diluted share of common stock attributable to the shareholders of The E.W. Scripps Company	$	(0.32	)	$	0.15		$	(0.24	)	$	0.34

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

F-3

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The E.W. Scripps Company

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Unaudited)



	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)	2017			2016			2017			2016

Net income (loss)	$	(26,684	)	$	12,522		$	(20,078	)	$	28,898
Changes in fair value of derivative, net of tax of $37 and $111	—			59			—			177
Changes in defined benefit pension plans, net of tax of $459, $440, $1,325 and $1,241	734			706			2,124			1,988
Other	(15		)	(7		)	(47		)	(21		)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	(25,965		)	13,280			(18,001		)	31,042
Less comprehensive net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—			—			—
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the shareholders of The E.W. Scripps Company	$	(25,965	)	$	13,280		$	(18,001	)	$	31,042

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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The E.W. Scripps Company

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)



	Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)	2017			2016

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	$	(20,078	)	$	28,898
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	44,028			44,089
Impairment of goodwill and intangibles	35,732			—
Deferred income taxes	(16,559		)	16,517
Stock and deferred compensation plans	14,717			9,120
Pension expense, net of contributions	(8,875		)	2,046
Other changes in certain working capital accounts, net	(10,616		)	(21,612		)
Miscellaneous, net	(5,515		)	1,930
Net cash provided by operating activities	32,834			80,988
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	—			(43,500		)
Acquisition of intangibles	(11,554		)	—
Additions to property and equipment	(14,056		)	(21,590		)
Purchase of investments	(1,533		)	(1,728		)
Miscellaneous, net	3,657			216
Net cash used in investing activities	(23,486		)	(66,602		)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	400,000			—
Payments on long-term debt	(392,198		)	(3,000		)
Payments of financing costs	(7,558		)	—
Repurchase of Class A Common shares	(11,704		)	(29,673		)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	1,461			4,641
Tax payments related to shares withheld for RSU vesting	(3,371		)	(2,652		)
Miscellaneous, net	(3,795		)	(4,485		)
Net cash used in financing activities	(17,165		)	(35,169		)
Decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(7,817		)	(20,783		)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash:
Beginning of year	134,352			114,621
End of period	$	126,535		$	93,838

Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures
Interest paid	$	4,917		$	12,092
Income taxes paid	$	1,068		$	393

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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The E.W. Scripps Company

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity (Unaudited)



(in thousands)	Common Stock			Additional Paid-in Capital			Accumulated Deficit			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss			Noncontrolling Interests		Total Equity

As of December 31, 2015, as originally reported	$	838		$	1,163,985		$	(174,038	)	$	(89,802	)	$	—	$	900,983
Adoption of new accounting guidance	—			(58		)	14,808			—			—		14,750
As of January 1, 2016, as adjusted	838			1,163,927			(159,230		)	(89,802		)	—		915,733
Net income	—			—			28,898			—			—		28,898
Changes in defined benefit pension plans	—			—			—			1,988			—		1,988
Changes in fair value of derivative	—			—			—			177			—		177
Repurchase of 1,769,824 Class A Common shares	(18		)	(27,601		)	(2,054		)	—			—		(29,673		)
Compensation plans: 848,313 net shares issued *	9			9,362			—			—			—		9,371
Other	—			—			—			(21		)	—		(21		)
As of September 30, 2016	$	829		$	1,145,688		$	(132,386	)	$	(87,658	)	$	—	$	926,473

As of December 31, 2016	$	819		$	1,132,540		$	(94,077	)	$	(93,347	)	$	—	$	945,935
Net loss	—			—			(20,078		)	—			—		(20,078		)
Changes in defined benefit pension plans	—			—			—			2,124			—		2,124
Repurchase of 620,451 Class A Common shares	(6		)	(9,652		)	(2,047		)	—			—		(11,705		)
Compensation plans: 545,640 net shares issued *	6			10,596			—			—			—		10,602
Minority interest contribution to venture	—			—			—			—			2,143		2,143
Other	—			—			—			(47		)	—		(47		)
As of September 30, 2017	$	819		$	1,133,484		$	(116,202	)	$	(91,270	)	$	2,143	$	928,974

* Net of tax payments related to shares withheld for vested RSUs of $3,371 in 2017 and $2,652 in 2016.

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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The E.W. Scripps Company

Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

As used in the Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, the terms “Scripps,” “Company,” “we,” “our,” or “us” may, depending on the context, refer to The E.W. Scripps Company, to one or more of its consolidated subsidiary companies or to all of them taken as a whole.

Basis of Presentation — The condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. The interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto included in our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K. In management's opinion, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) necessary for a fair presentation of the interim periods have been made.

Results of operations are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for future interim periods or for the full year.

Nature of Operations — We are a media enterprise with a portfolio of television, radio and national media brands. All of our media businesses provide content and advertising services via digital platforms, including the Internet, smartphones and tablets. Our media businesses are organized into the following reportable business segments: television, radio, digital, and other. Additional information for our business segments is presented in the Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Use of Estimates — Preparing financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires us to make a variety of decisions that affect the reported amounts and the related disclosures. Such decisions include the selection of accounting principles that reflect the economic substance of the underlying transactions and the assumptions on which to base accounting estimates. In reaching such decisions, we apply judgment based on our understanding and analysis of the relevant circumstances, including our historical experience, actuarial studies and other assumptions.

Our financial statements include estimates and assumptions used in accounting for our defined benefit pension plans; the periods over which long-lived assets are depreciated or amortized; the fair value of long-lived assets, goodwill and indefinite lived assets; the liability for uncertain tax positions and valuation allowances against deferred income tax assets; the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations; and self-insured risks.

While we re-evaluate our estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis, actual results could differ from those estimated at the time of preparation of the financial statements.

Revenue Recognition — We recognize revenue when persuasive evidence of a sales arrangement exists, delivery occurs or services are rendered, the sales price is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. When a sales arrangement contains multiple elements, such as the sale of advertising and other services, we allocate revenue to each element based upon its relative fair value. We report revenue net of sales and other taxes collected from our customers.

Our primary sources of revenue are from the sale of broadcast and digital advertising, as well as retransmission fees received from cable operators, telecommunications companies and satellite carriers.

The revenue recognition policies for each source of revenue are described in our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Share-Based Compensation — We have a Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) which is described more fully in our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Plan provides for the award of incentive and nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units (RSUs), restricted and unrestricted Class A Common shares and performance units to key employees and non-employee directors.

Share-based compensation costs totaled $2.6 million and $(0.5) million for the third quarter of 2017 and 2016, respectively. Year-to-date share-based compensation costs totaled $11.7 million and $6.7 million in 2017 and 2016, respectively. The credit balance for the third quarter of 2016 is due to an adjustment of our performance based share expense due to changes in our estimate of the number of shares that will vest.

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Earnings Per Share (“EPS”) — Unvested awards of share-based payments with rights to receive dividends or dividend equivalents, such as our RSUs, are considered participating securities for purposes of calculating EPS. Under the two-class method, we allocate a portion of net income to these participating securities and, therefore, exclude that income from the calculation of EPS for common stock. We do not allocate losses to the participating securities.

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



	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)	2017			2016			2017			2016

Numerator (for basic and diluted earnings per share)
Net income (loss)	$	(26,684	)	$	12,522		$	(20,078	)	$	28,898
Less income allocated to RSUs	—			(174		)	—			(373		)
Numerator for basic and diluted earnings per share	$	(26,684	)	$	12,348		$	(20,078	)	$	28,525
Denominator
Basic weighted-average shares outstanding	82,039			83,230			82,140			83,654
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options held by directors	—			288			—			306
Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding	82,039			83,518			82,140			83,960

Anti-dilutive securities ⁽¹⁾	1,373			—			1,373			—


⁽¹⁾	Amount outstanding at Balance Sheet date, before application of the treasury stock method and not weighted for period outstanding.

For the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2017, we incurred a net loss and the inclusion of RSUs and

stock options would have been anti-dilutive, and accordingly the diluted EPS calculation for the period excludes those common share equivalents.

2. Recently Adopted and Issued Accounting Standards

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards — In March 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued new guidance on the presentation of net periodic benefit cost in the statement of operations. It requires entities to disaggregate the current service cost component from the other components of net benefit cost. The total for service cost is to be presented with other current compensation costs in the statement of operations, while the total of the other components is to be presented outside of income from operations. We elected to early adopt this guidance as of January 1, 2017. We do not have a service cost associated with our net benefit cost, as such, the impact of adopting this new guidance was to reclassify our defined benefit pension plan expense out of operating costs and expenses and to classify it as a non-operating expense below operating income.

In January 2017, the FASB issued new guidance to simplify the measurement of goodwill impairments by eliminating Step 2 from the impairment test, which requires a hypothetical purchase price allocation to measure the impairment loss. Instead, if the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess, limited to the total amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. We have elected to early adopt this guidance as of January 1, 2017.

In November 2016, the FASB issued new guidance to clarify the classification and presentation of restricted cash in the statement of cash flows. Under the new guidance, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents are included in the cash and cash equivalent balances in the statement of cash flows. Additionally, changes in restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents are no longer presented as an investing cash flow within the statement of cash flows. We elected to early adopt this guidance as of December 31, 2016, and retrospectively applied the guidance to prior periods. The impact of adopting the new guidance was to increase cash and cash equivalents by $5.5 million and $6.6 million at September 30, 2016, and December 31, 2015, respectively, the amount reclassified from restricted cash.

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benefits, increasing deferred tax assets and retained earnings as of December 31, 2015. Additionally, we elected to adopt a policy of recording actual forfeitures, the impact of which was not material to current or prior periods.

In January 2017, the FASB issued new guidance to clarify the definition of a business for acquisitions, with the intent to make application of the guidance more consistent and cost-efficient. We elected to early adopt this guidance as of June 30, 2017, for acquisitions subsequent to our adoption date. We do not expect the adoption of this guidance to affect the treatment of future acquisitions or dispositions.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards — In August 2016, the FASB issued new guidance related to classification of certain cash receipts and payments in the statement of cash flows. This new guidance was issued with the objective of reducing diversity in practice around eight specific types of cash flows. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on our consolidated statements of cash flows.

In June 2016, the FASB issued new guidance that changes the impairment model for most financial assets and certain other instruments. For trade and other receivables, held-to-maturity debt securities, loans and other instruments, entities will be required to use a new forward-looking “expected loss” model that will replace today’s “incurred loss” model and generally will result in the earlier recognition of allowances for losses. For available-for-sale debt securities with unrealized losses, entities will measure credit losses in a manner similar to current practice, except that the losses will be recognized as an allowance. The guidance is effective in 2020 with early adoption permitted in 2019. We are currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements and the timing of adoption.

In February 2016, the FASB issued new guidance on the accounting for leases. Under this guidance, lessees will be required to recognize a lease liability and a right-of-use asset for all leases (with the exception of short-term leases) at the commencement date. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2018. We are currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements.

In January 2016, the FASB issued new guidance on the recognition and measurement of financial instruments. This guidance primarily affects the accounting for equity method investments, financial liabilities under the fair value option and the presentation and disclosure requirements for financial instruments. The standard is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017. We are currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued new guidance on revenue recognition. Under this new standard, an entity shall recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The standard creates a five-step process that requires entities to exercise judgment when considering the terms of the contract(s) and all relevant facts and circumstances. This standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method and will be effective for us beginning in 2018. We are currently assessing the impact this new guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements. We are progressing in our process of adopting the new guidance and are working to identify all performance obligations and changes, if any, that the new guidance will have on the timing and amounts of revenue recorded. To date we are evaluating the impact, if any, that the new guidance might have on the revenue recognition for our retransmission consent agreements as well as our broadcast advertising arrangements. We are also evaluating the impact the new guidance has on our programming barter arrangements. We expect that we will apply the new guidance using the modified retrospective approach. We expect that the adoption of the new standard will not change the amount and timing of our revenue recognition. We expect that the adoption of the new standard will require expanded footnote disclosure.

3. Acquisitions

Stitcher

On June 6, 2016, we completed the acquisition of Stitcher for a cash purchase price of $4.5 million. Stitcher is a podcast listening service which facilitates discovery and streaming for more than 65,000 podcasts. Stitcher now operates as part of Midroll Media, which broadens Midroll's consumer base and technological capabilities. Of the $4.5 million purchase price, $2.9 million was allocated to intangible assets, the majority of which was technological software with an estimated amortization period of 3 years. The remainder of the purchase price was allocated to goodwill.

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Cracked

On April 12, 2016, we acquired the multi-platform humor and satire brand, Cracked, which informs and entertains millennial audiences with a website, original digital video, social media and a popular podcast. The purchase price was $39 million in cash.

The fair values of the assets acquired were $9.6 million of intangibles and $29.4 million of goodwill. Of the $9.6 million allocated to intangible assets, $7.6 million was for trade names with an estimated amortization period of 20 years. The remaining balance of $2.0 million was allocated to content library with an estimated amortization period of 3 years.

The goodwill of $29 million arising from the transaction consists largely of the benefit we derive from being able to expand our presence and digital brands on the web, in over-the-top video and audio and on other emerging platforms. We allocated the goodwill to our digital segment. We treated the transaction as an asset acquisition for income tax purposes, with a step-up in the assets acquired. The goodwill is deductible for income tax purposes.

Pro forma results of operations

Individually or in the aggregate, the impact of the Cracked and Stitcher acquisitions is not material to prior year results of operations and, therefore, no pro forma information has been provided.

4. Asset Write-Downs and Other Charges and Credits

Income from operations includes the following:

2017 — In the second quarter, we sold our newspaper syndication business, resulting in a gain of $3.0 million.

Restructuring includes $1.9 million of severance associated with a change in senior management as well as outside consulting fees associated with changes in our management and operating structure.

There was $0.8 million and $3.3 million, in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, for a reduction to the Midroll earn out accrual.

2016 — Acquisition costs of $0.6 million include costs associated with acquisitions, such as legal and accounting fees, as well as costs to integrate acquired operations.

5. Income Taxes

We file a consolidated federal income tax return, consolidated unitary tax returns in certain states and other separate state income tax returns for our subsidiary companies.

The income tax provision for interim periods is generally determined based upon the expected effective income tax rate for the full year and the tax rate applicable to certain discrete transactions in the interim period. To determine the annual effective income tax rate, we must estimate both the total income (loss) before income tax for the full year and the jurisdictions in which that income (loss) is subject to tax. The actual effective income tax rate for the full year may differ from these estimates if income (loss) before income tax is greater than or less than what was estimated or if the allocation of income (loss) to jurisdictions in which it is taxed is different from the estimated allocations. We review and adjust our estimated effective income tax rate for the full year each quarter based upon our most recent estimates of income (loss) before income tax for the full year and the jurisdictions in which we expect that income will be taxed.

Small changes in our estimated pretax income for the 2017 year significantly impacts our estimated effective tax rate for the year. Differences between pretax book and taxable earnings, such as non-deductible expenses and state income taxes, causes the effective income tax rate to vary significantly. Accordingly, for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, we do not believe we can reasonably estimate with sufficient precision our full year effective income tax rate, and as permitted by US GAAP, we have determined our tax benefit for 2017 based upon year-to-date pretax loss and the effect of differences between book and taxable loss.

The effective income tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, was 47% and 35%, respectively. The primary reasons for the difference between these rates and the U.S. federal statutory rate of 35% are the impact of state

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taxes, non-deductible expenses, release of reserves for uncertain tax positions ($1.1 million in 2017) and excess tax benefits on share-based compensation ($2.4 million and $1.9 million in 2017 and 2016, respectively).

Deferred tax assets relating to our state jurisdictions totaled $10.5 million at September 30, 2017, which includes the tax effect of state net operating loss carryforwards. We recognize state net operating loss carryforwards as deferred tax assets, subject to valuation allowances. At each balance sheet date, we estimate the amount of carryforwards that are not expected to be used prior to expiration of the carryforward period. The tax effect of the carryforwards that are not expected to be used prior to their expiration is included in the valuation allowance.

6. Restricted Cash

At September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, our cash and cash equivalents included $5.1 million and $5.5 million, respectively, held in a restricted cash account on deposit with our insurance carrier. This account serves as collateral, in place of an irrevocable stand-by letter of credit, to provide financial assurance that we will fulfill our obligations with respect to cash requirements associated with our workers' compensation self-insurance. This cash is to remain on deposit with the carrier until all claims have been paid or we provide a letter of credit in lieu of the cash deposit.

7. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill consisted of the following:



(in thousands)	Television			Radio		Digital			Total

Gross balance as of December 31, 2016	$	681,535		$	41,000	$	132,159		$	854,694
Accumulated impairment losses	(215,414		)	—		(22,500		)	(237,914		)
Net balance as of December 31, 2016	$	466,121		$	41,000	$	109,659		$	616,780

Gross balance as of September 30, 2017	$	681,535		$	41,000	$	132,159		$	854,694
Accumulated impairment losses	(215,414		)	—		(51,903		)	(267,317		)
Net balance as of September 30, 2017	$	466,121		$	41,000	$	80,256		$	587,377

Other intangible assets consisted of the following:



(in thousands)	As of September 30, 2017			As of December 31, 2016

Amortizable intangible assets:
Carrying amount:
Television network affiliation relationships	$	248,444		$	248,444
Customer lists and advertiser relationships	56,100			56,100
Other	30,577			26,923
Total carrying amount	335,121			331,467
Accumulated amortization:
Television network affiliation relationships	(46,544		)	(37,019		)
Customer lists and advertiser relationships	(28,040		)	(24,380		)
Other	(7,954		)	(5,987		)
Total accumulated amortization	(82,538		)	(67,386		)
Net amortizable intangible assets	252,583			264,081
Indefinite-lived intangible assets — FCC licenses	203,815			203,815
Total other intangible assets	$	456,398		$	467,896

In 2017 we paid $11.6 million to acquire cable and satellite carriage rights for the launch of our Newsy cable network. These rights will be amortized over the life of the respective MVPD agreement. Additional amounts may be owed to the seller if certain conditions are met.

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Goodwill and other indefinite-lived assets are tested for impairment annually and any time events occur or conditions change that would indicate it is more likely than not the fair value of a reporting unit is below its carrying value. Such indicators of impairment include, but are not limited to, changes in business climate or other factors resulting in low cash flow related to such assets. The first step is the estimation of the fair value of each of the reporting units, which is then compared to their carrying values. If the fair value is less than the carrying value of the reporting unit then an impairment of goodwill exists. The amount of impairment is the difference between the fair value of the reporting unit and its carrying value.

The slower development of our original revenue model and revised operating model which will result in a smaller business for Cracked, created indications of impairment of goodwill as of September 30, 2017.

Under the process required by GAAP, we estimated the fair value of Cracked. Fair values were determined using a combination of discounted cash flow approach, which estimated fair value based upon future revenues, expenses and cash flows discounted to their present value, and a market approach, which estimated fair value using market multiples of various financial measures compared to a set of comparable public companies. The discounted cash flow approach utilized unobservable factors, such as projected revenues and expenses and a discount rate applied to the estimated cash flows. The determination of the discount rate was based on a cost of capital model, using a risk-free rate, adjusted by a stock-beta adjusted risk premium and a size premium. The inputs to the nonrecurring fair value determination of our reporting units are classified as Level 3 fair value measurements under GAAP.

The valuation methodology and underlying financial information used to determine fair value requires significant judgments to be made by management. These judgments include, but are not limited to, long-term projections of future financial performance and the selection of appropriate discount rates used to determine the present value of future cash flows. Changes in such estimates or the application of alternative assumptions could produce significantly different results.

We concluded that the fair value of Cracked did not exceed its carrying value as of September 30, 2017. Based upon our valuations, we recorded a $29 million non-cash charge in the three months ended September 30, 2017 to reduce the carrying value of goodwill and $6.3 million to reduce the value of intangible assets.

8. Long-Term Debt

Long-term debt consisted of the following:



(in thousands)	As of September 30, 2017			As of December 31, 2016

Variable rate credit facility	$	—		$	—
Senior unsecured notes	400,000			—
Term loan B	—			390,521
Unsecured subordinated notes	2,656			5,312
Total outstanding principal	402,656			395,833
Less: Debt issuance costs	(6,821		)	(2,648		)
Less: Current portion	(2,656		)	(6,571		)
Net carrying value of long-term debt	$	393,179		$	386,614
Fair value of long-term debt *	$	412,529		$	395,514

* Fair value of the Senior Notes and the term loan B were estimated based on quoted private market transactions and is classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value of the unsecured subordinated notes is determined based on a discounted cash flow analysis using current market interest rates of comparable instruments and is classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

Senior Unsecured Notes

On April 28, 2017, we issued $400 million of senior unsecured notes ("the Senior Notes"), which bear interest at a rate of 5.125% per annum and mature on May 15, 2025. The proceeds of the Senior Notes were used to repay our term loan B, for the payment of the related issuance costs and for general corporate purposes. The Senior Notes were priced at 100% of par value and interest is payable semi-annually on May 15 and November 15. Prior to May 15, 2020, we may redeem the Senior Notes, in whole or in part, at any time, or from time to time, at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Senior Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption, plus a “make-whole” premium, as set forth in the Senior Notes indenture. In addition, on or prior to May 15, 2020, we may redeem up to 40% of the Senior Notes, using proceeds of equity offerings. If we sell certain of our assets or have a change of control, the holders of the Senior Notes may require us to repurchase some or all of the notes. The Senior Notes are also guaranteed by us and the majority of our subsidiaries. The Senior Notes contain covenants with which we must comply that are typical for borrowing transactions of this nature. We incurred approximately $7.0 million of deferred financing costs in connection with the issuance of the Senior Notes, which will be amortized over the life of the Senior Notes.

In connection with the new financing we wrote off $2.4 million of deferred financing cost associated with the term loan B to interest expense.

Revolving Credit Facility

On April 28, 2017, we amended and restated our $100 million revolving credit facility ("Revolving Credit Facility"), increasing its capacity to $125 million and extending the maturity to April 2022. Interest is payable on the Revolving Credit Facility at rates based on LIBOR, plus a margin based on our leverage ratio, ranging from 1.75% to 2.50%.

The Revolving Credit Facility includes maintaining a net leverage ratio when we have outstanding borrowings on the facility, as well as other restrictions on payments (dividends and share repurchases). Additionally, we can make acquisitions as long as the pro forma net leverage ratio is less than 5.5 to 1.0.

We granted the lenders pledges of our equity interests in our subsidiaries and security interests in substantially all other personal property including cash, accounts receivables, and equipment.

Commitment fees of 0.30% to 0.50% per annum, based on our leverage ratio, of the total unused commitment are payable under the Revolving Credit Facility.

As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we had $0.1 million and $0.8 million, respectively, of outstanding letters of credit.

Financing Agreement

Until April 28, 2017, we had a $500 million revolving credit and term loan agreement ("Financing Agreement"). Under the Financing Agreement, we had a $400 million term loan B that matured in November 2020 and a $100 million revolving credit facility that matured in November 2018. We repaid the term loan B with the proceeds of our Senior Notes. The Revolving Credit Facility was amended as described above.

Interest was payable on the term loan B at rates based on LIBOR, plus a fixed margin of 2.5%. Prior to December 2016, interest was payable at rates based on LIBOR, with a 0.75% floor, plus a fixed margin of 2.75%. As of December 31, 2016, the interest rate was 3.27% on the term loan B. The weighted-average interest rate on the term loan B was 3.50% for the nine months ended September 30, 2016.

Unsecured Subordinated Notes

The unsecured subordinated promissory notes bear interest at a rate of 7.25% per annum payable quarterly. The notes are payable in annual installments of $2.7 million through 2018, with no prepayment right.

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9. Other Liabilities

Other liabilities consisted of the following:



(in thousands)	As of September 30, 2017		As of December 31, 2016

Employee compensation and benefits	$	19,010	$	18,356
Liability for pension benefits	217,390		232,788
Liabilities for uncertain tax positions	808		2,416
Other	14,682		20,393
Other liabilities (less current portion)	$	251,890	$	273,953

10. Supplemental Cash Flow Information

The following table presents additional information about the change in certain working capital accounts:



	Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)	2017			2016

Accounts and notes receivable	$	(4,621	)	$	(12,586	)
Income taxes receivable/payable, net	(626		)	3,437
Other current assets	(10,090		)	(1,218		)
Accounts payable	1,953			(768		)
Accrued employee compensation and benefits	(6,054		)	(10,918		)
Accrued interest	8,656			—
Other accrued liabilities	1,999			(4,475		)
Other, net	(1,833		)	4,916
Total	$	(10,616	)	$	(21,612	)

11. Employee Benefit Plans

We sponsor two noncontributory defined benefit pension plans as well as two non-qualified Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans ("SERPs"). Both of the defined benefit plans and the SERPs have frozen the accrual of future benefits.

We sponsor a defined contribution plan covering substantially all non-union and certain union employees. We match a portion of employees' voluntary contributions to this plan.

The components of the expense consisted of the following:



	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)	2017			2016			2017			2016

Interest cost	$	6,504		$	6,839		$	19,475		$	20,379
Expected return on plan assets, net of expenses	(4,360		)	(4,616		)	(13,079		)	(13,812		)
Amortization of actuarial loss	1,150			1,102			3,318			3,097
Total for defined benefit plans	3,294			3,325			9,714			9,664
Multi-employer plans	58			42			191			127
SERPs	257			280			771			840
Defined contribution plan	2,300			2,073			7,161			6,347
Net periodic benefit cost	$	5,909		$	5,720		$	17,837		$	16,978

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We contributed $1.3 million to fund current benefit payments for our SERPs and $18.0 million for our defined benefit pension plans during the nine months ended September 30, 2017. During the remainder of 2017, we anticipate contributing an additional $0.3 million to fund the SERPs' benefit payments and an additional $1.3 million to fund our qualified defined benefit pension plans.

12. Segment Information

We determine our business segments based upon our management and internal reporting structures. Our reportable segments are strategic businesses that offer different products and services.

Our television segment includes 15 ABC affiliates, five NBC affiliates, two FOX affiliates and two CBS affiliates. We also have three MyTV affiliates, one CW affiliate, one independent station and three Azteca America Spanish-language affiliates. Our television stations reach approximately 18% of the nation’s television households based on audience reach. Television stations earn revenue primarily from the sale of advertising time to local, national and political advertisers and retransmission fees received from cable operators, telecommunications companies and satellite carriers.

Our radio segment consists of 34 radio stations in eight markets. We operate 28 FM stations and six AM stations. Our radio stations earn revenue primarily from the sale of advertising to local advertisers.

Our digital segment includes the digital operations of our local television and radio businesses. It also includes the operations of our national digital businesses of Midroll, a podcast industry leader, Newsy, the national news network and Cracked, a multi-platform humor and satire brand. Our digital operations earn revenue primarily through the sale of advertising, marketing services and agency commissions.

We allocate a portion of certain corporate costs and expenses, including information technology, certain employee benefits and shared services, to our business segments. The allocations are generally amounts agreed upon by management, which may differ from an arms-length amount. Corporate assets are primarily cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, property and equipment primarily used for corporate purposes, and deferred income taxes.

Our chief operating decision maker evaluates the operating performance of our business segments and makes decisions about the allocation of resources to our business segments using a measure called segment profit. Segment profit excludes interest, defined benefit pension plan expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, impairment charges, divested operating units, restructuring activities, investment results and certain other items that are included in net income (loss) determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

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Information regarding our business segments is as follows:



	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)	2017			2016			2017			2016

Segment operating revenues:
Television	$	179,920		$	197,283		$	553,022		$	568,932
Radio	17,870			19,301			49,112			52,087
Digital	17,846			15,754			52,552			43,287
Other	814			702			4,585			6,049
Total operating revenues	$	216,450		$	233,040		$	659,271		$	670,355
Segment profit (loss):
Television	$	32,083		$	58,305		$	116,583		$	153,290
Radio	1,510			2,528			6,027			8,574
Digital	(5,685		)	(5,633		)	(16,061		)	(13,481		)
Other	(897		)	(832		)	(2,342		)	(984		)
Shared services and corporate	(11,048		)	(8,520		)	(36,178		)	(32,686		)
Acquisition and related integration costs	—			—			—			(578		)
Restructuring costs	(2,407		)	—			(2,407		)	—
Depreciation and amortization of intangibles	(14,655		)	(14,892		)	(44,028		)	(44,089		)
Impairment of goodwill and intangibles	(35,732		)	—			(35,732		)	—
(Losses) gains, net on disposal of property and equipment	(124		)	(26		)	(435		)	(44		)
Interest expense	(5,720		)	(4,592		)	(18,163		)	(13,603		)
Defined benefit pension plan expense	(3,551		)	(3,605		)	(10,485		)	(10,504		)
Miscellaneous, net	1,187			(596		)	5,411			(1,245		)
Income (loss) from operations before income taxes	$	(45,039	)	$	22,137		$	(37,810	)	$	44,650
Depreciation:
Television	$	8,018		$	7,120		$	23,846		$	22,517
Radio	615			653			1,816			1,733
Digital	18			40			49			148
Other	43			67			169			196
Shared services and corporate	468			527			1,424			1,397
Total depreciation	$	9,162		$	8,407		$	27,304		$	25,991
Amortization of intangibles:
Television	$	3,633		$	4,239		$	11,138		$	12,718
Radio	265			265			795			795
Digital	1,257			1,643			3,776			3,570
Shared services and corporate	338			338			1,015			1,015
Total amortization of intangibles	$	5,493		$	6,485		$	16,724		$	18,098
Additions to property and equipment:
Television	$	3,610		$	6,618		$	12,412		$	16,248
Radio	581			628			1,135			944
Digital	122			34			319			51
Other	—			74			—			115
Shared services and corporate	155			643			276			967
Total additions to property and equipment	$	4,468		$	7,997		$	14,142		$	18,325

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13. Capital Stock

Capital Stock — We have two classes of common shares, Common Voting shares and Class A Common shares. The Class A Common shares are only entitled to vote on the election of the greater of three or one-third of the directors and other matters as required by Ohio law.

Share Repurchase Plan — Shares may be repurchased from time to time at management's discretion, either in the open market, through pre-arranged trading plans or in privately negotiated block transactions. In May 2014, our Board of Directors authorized a repurchase program of up to $100 million of our Class A Common shares through December 2016. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, we repurchased $29.7 million of shares at prices ranging from $14.71 to $19.51 per share under this authorization. Before this authorization expired at the end of 2016, $0.5 million of shares were repurchased but not settled until 2017. No additional shares may be repurchased under this program.

In November 2016, our Board of Directors authorized a repurchase program of up to $100 million of our Class A Common shares through December 2018. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, we repurchased $11.2 million of shares at prices ranging from $16.82 to $23.01 per share under this authorization. At September 30, 2017, $88.8 million remained under this authorization.

14. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) ("AOCL") by component, including items reclassified out of AOCL, were as follows:



	Three Months Ended September 30, 2017
(in thousands)	Gains and Losses on Derivatives		Defined Benefit Pension Items			Other			Total

Beginning balance, June 30, 2017	$	—	$	(92,286	)	$	297		$	(91,989	)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	—		—			—			—
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss:
Actuarial gain (loss), net of tax of $449 ^(b)	—		734			(15		)	719
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)	—		734			(15		)	719
Ending balance, September 30, 2017	$	—	$	(91,552	)	$	282		$	(91,270	)



	Three Months Ended September 30, 2016
(in thousands)	Gains and Losses on Derivatives			Defined Benefit Pension Items			Other			Total

Beginning balance, June 30, 2016	$	(124	)	$	(88,458	)	$	166		$	(88,416	)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	—			—			—			—
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss:
Interest rate swap, net of tax of $37 ^(a)	59			—			—			59
Actuarial gain (loss), net of tax of $436 ^(b)	—			706			(7		)	699
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)	59			706			(7		)	758
Ending balance, September 30, 2016	$	(65	)	$	(87,752	)	$	159		$	(87,658	)

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	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
(in thousands)	Gains and Losses on Derivatives		Defined Benefit Pension Items			Other			Total

Beginning balance, December 31, 2016	$	—	$	(93,676	)	$	329		$	(93,347	)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	—		—			—			—
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss:
Actuarial gain (loss), net of tax of $1,295 ^(b)	—		2,124			(47		)	2,077
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)	—		2,124			(47		)	2,077
Ending balance, September 30, 2017	$	—	$	(91,552	)	$	282		$	(91,270	)



	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
(in thousands)	Gains and Losses on Derivatives			Defined Benefit Pension Items			Other			Total

Beginning balance, December 31, 2015	$	(242	)	$	(89,740	)	$	180		$	(89,802	)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	—			—			—			—
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss:
Interest rate swap, net of tax of $111 ^(a)	177			—			—			177
Actuarial gain (loss), net of tax of $1,299 ^(b)	—			1,988			(21		)	1,967
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)	177			1,988			(21		)	2,144
Ending balance, September 30, 2016	$	(65	)	$	(87,752	)	$	159		$	(87,658	)

^(a) Interest rate swap amortization is included in interest expense in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

^(b) Actuarial gain (loss) is included in defined benefit pension plan expense in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

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15. Noncontrolling Interest

A noncontrolling owner holds a 30% interest in our venture to develop, produce and air our lifestyle daytime talk show. In April 2017, on the formation of the venture, the noncontrolling owner made a $2.1 million non-cash contribution to the venture. The contribution included the rights to the show concept, contractual rights with the show's talent, as well as other pre-production items.

16. Subsequent Events

On October 2, 2017 we acquired the Katz Broadcasting networks for $292 million, which is net of a 5% minority interest we owned. Katz owns and operates four national television networks, Bounce, Grit, Escape and Laff. We financed the acquisition with a $300 million term loan B. The term loan B matures in 2024 with interest payable at rates based on LIBOR, plus a fixed margin of 2.25%. The term loan B also requires annual principal payments of $3 million.

Due to the limited time since we completed the acquisition, we have not yet completed the initial acquisition accounting for the transaction, including the determination of the fair values of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed. We will complete the preliminary purchase price allocation in the fourth quarter and it will be reflected in our December 31, 2017 financial statements. The results of operations of the acquired business will be included in our results from October 2, 2017, the date of the closing of the acquisition.

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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

This discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based upon the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. You should read this discussion in conjunction with those financial statements.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain forward-looking statements related to our businesses are included in this discussion. Those forward-looking statements reflect our current expectations. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements. A detailed discussion of principal risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results and events to differ materially from such forward-looking statements is included in the section titled "Risk Factors" in our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K and as may be described in subsequently filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. You should evaluate our forward-looking statements, which are as of the date of this filing, with the understanding of their inherent uncertainty. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date the statement is made.

Executive Overview

The E.W. Scripps Company ("Scripps") is a media enterprise, serving audiences and businesses through a portfolio of television, radio and national media brands. Scripps is one of the nation’s largest independent TV station ownership groups, with 33 television stations in 24 markets and a reach of nearly one in five U.S. television households. We have affiliations with all of the "Big Four" television networks. We also own 34 radio stations in eight markets. We operate an expanding collection of local and national journalism and information businesses including our podcast business, Midroll, national news network, Newsy, and the multi-platform humor and satire brand, Cracked. We also produce television programming, run an award-winning investigative reporting newsroom in Washington, D.C., and serve as the longtime steward of the nation's largest, most successful and longest-running educational programs, the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Our national news network focused on millennial audiences, Newsy, launched a major expansion into the cable and satellite marketplace, kicked off by Scripps’ acquisition of carriage contracts from the Retirement Living Television cable network.

Scripps began restructuring work to realign its businesses around the new management team announced on August 23. The reorganization, effective Jan. 1, will include merging local television and digital operations into a new Local Media division and the national content brands into a National Media division. More changes are expected in the next several quarters. The company also appointed Chief Strategy Officer Lisa Knutson as interim chief financial officer. In the third quarter, we began a deep analysis of our operating division and corporate cost structure, our non-core assets and the opportunities for our national content brands. We are committed to improving operating performance in our core assets, supporting the growth ahead with our national businesses and serving our audiences with news and information across all media platforms.

Results of Operations

The trends and underlying economic conditions affecting the operating performance and future prospects differ for each of our business segments. Accordingly, you should read the following discussion of our consolidated results of operations in conjunction with the discussion of the operating performance of our business segments that follows.

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Consolidated Results of Operations

Consolidated results of operations were as follows:



	Three Months Ended September 30,								Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)	2017			Change		2016			2017			Change		2016

Operating revenues	$	216,450		(7.1	)%	$	233,040		$	659,271		(1.7	)%	$	670,355
Employee compensation and benefits	(96,290		)	5.2	%	(91,568		)	(294,394		)	5.2	%	(279,916		)
Programs and program licenses	(52,543		)	14.6	%	(45,833		)	(146,755		)	13.0	%	(129,904		)
Other expenses	(51,654		)	3.7	%	(49,791		)	(150,093		)	2.9	%	(145,822		)
Acquisition and related integration costs	—					—			—					(578		)
Restructuring costs	(2,407		)			—			(2,407		)			—
Depreciation and amortization of intangibles	(14,655		)			(14,892		)	(44,028		)			(44,089		)
Impairment of goodwill and intangibles	(35,732		)			—			(35,732		)			—
(Losses) gains, net on disposal of property and equipment	(124		)			(26		)	(435		)			(44		)
Operating income (loss)	(36,955		)			30,930			(14,573		)			70,002
Interest expense	(5,720		)			(4,592		)	(18,163		)			(13,603		)
Defined benefit pension plan expense	(3,551		)			(3,605		)	(10,485		)			(10,504		)
Miscellaneous, net	1,187					(596		)	5,411					(1,245		)
Income (loss) from operations before income taxes	(45,039		)			22,137			(37,810		)			44,650
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	18,355					(9,615		)	17,732					(15,752		)
Net income (loss)	(26,684		)			12,522			(20,078		)			28,898
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	—					—			—					—
Net income (loss) attributable to the shareholders of The E.W. Scripps Company	$	(26,684	)			$	12,522		$	(20,078	)			$	28,898

Operating revenues decreased 7.1% in the third quarter of 2017 and 1.7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. We had higher retransmission revenues of $11 and increased revenues from Newsy and Midroll. These increases were offset by lower political revenues of $25 million and $39 million for the quarterly and year-to-date periods from our television segment in a non-political year and lower local and national television revenues.

Employee compensation and benefits increased 5.2% in the third quarter of 2017 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, primarily driven by the expansion of our national digital brands, Newsy and Midroll.

Programs and program licenses expense increased 14.6% for the third quarter of 2017 and 13.0% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, primarily due to higher network affiliation fees. Network affiliation fees increased from contractual rate increases.

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Other expenses include the following:



	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)	2017		Change		2016		2017		Change		2016

Facilities rent and maintenance	$	9,841	(1.4	)%	$	9,980	$	29,122	1.3	%	$	28,758
Ratings and consumer research services	5,854		9.7	%	5,335		17,346		6.3	%	16,324
Purchased news and content	2,933		(18.9	)%	3,617		9,006		(0.6	)%	9,064
Marketing and promotion	4,431		68.5	%	2,629		14,900		41.1	%	10,557
Miscellaneous costs	28,595		1.3	%	28,230		79,719		(1.7	)%	81,119
Total other expenses	$	51,654	3.7	%	$	49,791	$	150,093	2.9	%	$	145,822

Other expenses were up 3.7% and 2.9% for the third quarter of 2017 and the nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, primarily due to increases in marketing and promotion of our national digital brands, Newsy and Midroll.

Restructuring of $2.4 million includes $1.9 million of severance associated with a change in senior management as well as outside consulting fees associated with the changes in management and operating structure.

The slower development of our original revenue model, created indications of impairment of goodwill as of September 30, 2017 for Cracked. We concluded that the fair value of Cracked did not exceed its carrying value as of September 30, 2017. We recorded a $29 million non-cash charge in the three months ended September 30, 2017 to reduce the carrying value of goodwill and $6 million to reduce the value of intangible assets.

Interest expense increased for the third quarter of 2017 and nine months ended September 30, 2017, primarily due to the $2.4 million write-off of loan fees associated with our term loan B which was refinanced in the second quarter of 2017 and the higher interest rate on the new debt.

Miscellaneous, net increased for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 due to a $3.0 million gain from the sale of our newspaper syndication business and a $3.3 million adjustment to the purchase price earn out for Midroll.

The effective income tax rate was 47% and 35% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. State taxes and non-deductible expenses impacted our effective rate. In addition, the provision for the 2017 and 2016 periods included $2.4 million and $1.9 million, respectively, of excess tax benefits from the exercise and vesting of share-based compensation awards and 2017 included $1.1 million of benefit from the release of uncertain tax positions.

Business Segment Results — As discussed in the Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, our chief operating decision maker evaluates the operating performance of our business segments using a measure called segment profit. Segment profit excludes interest, defined benefit pension plan expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, impairment charges, divested operating units, restructuring activities, investment results and certain other items that are included in net income (loss) determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Items excluded from segment profit generally result from decisions made in prior periods or from decisions made by corporate executives rather than the managers of the business segments. Depreciation and amortization charges are the result of decisions made in prior periods regarding the allocation of resources and are, therefore, excluded from the measure. Generally, our corporate executives make financing, tax structure and divestiture decisions. Excluding these items from measurement of our business segment performance enables us to evaluate business segment operating performance based upon current economic conditions and decisions made by the managers of those business segments in the current period.

We allocate a portion of certain corporate costs and expenses, including information technology, certain employee benefits and shared services to our business segments. The allocations are generally amounts agreed upon by management, which may differ from an arms-length amount. Corporate assets are primarily cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, property and equipment primarily used for corporate purposes and deferred income taxes.

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Information regarding the operating performance of our business segments and a reconciliation of such information to the consolidated financial statements is as follows:



	Three Months Ended September 30,								Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)	2017			Change		2016			2017			Change		2016

Segment operating revenues:
Television	$	179,920		(8.8	)%	$	197,283		$	553,022		(2.8	)%	$	568,932
Radio	17,870			(7.4	)%	19,301			49,112			(5.7	)%	52,087
Digital	17,846			13.3	%	15,754			52,552			21.4	%	43,287
Other	814			16.0	%	702			4,585			(24.2	)%	6,049
Total operating revenues	$	216,450		(7.1	)%	$	233,040		$	659,271		(1.7	)%	$	670,355
Segment profit (loss):
Television	$	32,083		(45.0	)%	$	58,305		$	116,583		(23.9	)%	$	153,290
Radio	1,510			(40.3	)%	2,528			6,027			(29.7	)%	8,574
Digital	(5,685		)	0.9	%	(5,633		)	(16,061		)	19.1	%	(13,481		)
Other	(897		)	7.8	%	(832		)	(2,342		)	138.0	%	(984		)
Shared services and corporate	(11,048		)	29.7	%	(8,520		)	(36,178		)	10.7	%	(32,686		)
Acquisition and related integration costs	—					—			—					(578		)
Restructuring costs	(2,407		)			—			(2,407		)			—
Depreciation and amortization of intangibles	(14,655		)			(14,892		)	(44,028		)			(44,089		)
Impairment of goodwill and intangibles	(35,732		)			—			(35,732		)			—
(Losses) gains, net on disposal of property and equipment	(124		)			(26		)	(435		)			(44		)
Interest expense	(5,720		)			(4,592		)	(18,163		)			(13,603		)
Defined benefit pension plan expense	(3,551		)			(3,605		)	(10,485		)			(10,504		)
Miscellaneous, net	1,187					(596		)	5,411					(1,245		)
Income (loss) from operations before income taxes	$	(45,039	)			$	22,137		$	(37,810	)			$	44,650

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Television — Our television segment includes fifteen ABC affiliates, five NBC affiliates, two FOX affiliates and two CBS affiliates. We also have three MyTV affiliates, one CW affiliate, one independent station and three Azteca America Spanish-language affiliates. Our television stations reach approximately 18% of the nation’s television households based on audience reach.

Our television stations earn revenue primarily from the sale of advertising time to local, national and political advertisers and retransmission fees received from cable operators, telecommunications companies and satellite carriers.

National television networks offer affiliates a variety of programs and sell the majority of advertising within those programs. In addition to network programs, we broadcast internally produced local and national programs, syndicated programs, sporting events and other programs of interest in each station's market. News is the primary focus of our locally-produced programming.

The operating performance of our television group is most affected by local and national economic conditions, particularly conditions within the automotive, services and retail categories and by the volume of advertising time purchased by campaigns for elective office and political issues. The demand for political advertising is significantly higher in the third and fourth quarters of even-numbered years.

Operating results for our television segment were as follows:



	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)	2017		Change		2016		2017		Change		2016

Segment operating revenues:
Local	$	76,344	(2.0	)%	$	77,882	$	239,347	(3.1	)%	$	246,951
National	33,915		(4.5	)%	35,524		100,639		(5.8	)%	106,873
Political	1,689				26,892		5,255				44,601
Retransmission	63,733		19.9	%	53,134		196,003		22.4	%	160,181
Other	4,239		10.1	%	3,851		11,778		14.1	%	10,326
Total operating revenues	179,920		(8.8	)%	197,283		553,022		(2.8	)%	568,932
Segment costs and expenses:
Employee compensation and benefits	65,649		2.7	%	63,936		197,291		2.1	%	193,296
Programs and program licenses	47,808		15.8	%	41,292		137,791		13.6	%	121,344
Other expenses	34,380		1.9	%	33,750		101,357		0.4	%	101,002
Total costs and expenses	147,837		6.4	%	138,978		436,439		5.0	%	415,642
Segment profit	$	32,083	(45.0	)%	$	58,305	$	116,583	(23.9	)%	$	153,290

Revenues

Total television revenues decreased 8.8% and 2.8% for the third quarter of 2017 and the nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively. Core advertising revenues (local and national) decreased by $3.1 million and $13.8 million for the quarter and year-to-date periods. The decline in our local and national advertising revenues was due to weakness in our retail, food stores and auto categories offset by improvement in communications, home improvement and services. Political revenues decreased year-over-year in a non-presidential election year. Retransmission revenues increased more than $11 million as a result of contractual rate increases, more than offsetting a slight decline in subscribers. Retransmission contracts with cable and satellite television systems with 3 million subscribers were renewed in the fourth quarter of 2016. Third quarter retransmission revenues were down more than $2 million from second quarter of this year. While we had not previously seen any significant declines in subscribers reported to us by cable and satellite television operators, we began to see declines as second quarter subscriber counts were reported to us in the third quarter. Retransmission revenues in the third quarter was affected by more than $1 million in adjustments of prior months' revenues and lower monthly revenues in the quarter from the lower subscriber counts.

Costs and expenses

Employee compensation and benefits increased 2.7% for the third quarter of 2017 and 2.1% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, primarily from merit increases and higher benefit costs.

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Programs and program licenses expense increased 16% for the third quarter of 2017 and 14% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, due to higher network affiliation fees, which increased primarily due to contractual rate increases.

Radio — Our radio segment consists of thirty-four radio stations in eight markets. We operate twenty-eight FM stations and six AM stations. Radio stations earn revenue primarily from the sale of advertising to local advertisers.

Our radio stations focus on providing targeted and relevant local programming that is responsive to the interest of the communities in which we serve, strengthening our brand identity and allowing us to provide effective marketing solutions for advertisers by reaching their targeted audiences.

Operating results for our radio segment were as follows:



	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)	2017		Change		2016		2017		Change		2016

Segment operating revenues:
Advertising	$	16,795	(8.3	)%	$	18,320	$	46,806	(6.4	)%	$	50,010
Other	1,075		9.6	%	981		2,306		11.0	%	2,077
Total operating revenues	17,870		(7.4	)%	19,301		49,112		(5.7	)%	52,087
Segment costs and expenses:
Employee compensation and benefits	7,350		0.5	%	7,310		21,896		1.1	%	21,660
Programs	4,736		4.3	%	4,539		8,965		4.8	%	8,558
Other expenses	4,274		(13.2	)%	4,924		12,224		(8.1	)%	13,295
Total costs and expenses	16,360		(2.5	)%	16,773		43,085		(1.0	)%	43,513
Segment profit	$	1,510	(40.3	)%	$	2,528	$	6,027	(29.7	)%	$	8,574

Revenues

Total radio revenues decreased 7.4% in the 2017 third quarter and 5.7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, due to weakness in our largest market and several smaller markets, as well as the absence of political revenues in a non-political year.

Costs and expenses

Total costs and expenses were lower year-over-year by 2.5% and 1.0% for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively. Other expenses decreased in 2017; the 2016 quarter included $0.5 million of costs associated with a flood cleanup at our Wichita operations.

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Digital — Our digital segment includes the digital operations of our local television and radio businesses, as well as the operations of our national businesses of Midroll, Newsy and Cracked.

Our digital operations earn revenue primarily through the sale of advertising, marketing services and agency commissions.

Operating results for our digital segment were as follows:



	Three Months Ended September 30,								Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)	2017			Change		2016			2017			Change		2016

Total operating revenues	$	17,846		13.3	%	$	15,754		$	52,552		21.4	%	$	43,287
Segment costs and expenses:
Employee compensation and benefits	12,429			(0.3	)%	12,470			38,784			13.7	%	34,104
Other expenses	11,102			24.5	%	8,917			29,829			31.6	%	22,664
Total costs and expenses	23,531			10.0	%	21,387			68,613			20.9	%	56,768
Segment loss	$	(5,685	)	0.9	%	$	(5,633	)	$	(16,061	)	19.1	%	$	(13,481	)

Cracked was acquired on April 12, 2016 and the inclusion of operating results from this business for the period subsequent to the acquisition impacts the comparability of our year-to-date digital segment operating results.

Revenues

Digital revenues increased 13%, or $2.1 million, in the third quarter of 2017 and 21% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. Excluding the results of Cracked, revenues increased 13% for the year-to-date period, primarily driven by increased revenues from Midroll and Newsy.

Cost and Expenses

Digital costs and expenses increased 10% in the third quarter of 2017 and 21% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. Excluding the results of Cracked, expenses increased 9.4% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, mainly due to promotion and other costs for our national digital brands.

Shared services and corporate

We centrally provide certain services to our business segments. Such services include accounting, tax, cash management, procurement, human resources, employee benefits and information technology. The business segments are allocated costs for such services at amounts agreed upon by management. Such allocated costs may differ from amounts that might be negotiated at arms-length. Costs for such services that are not allocated to the business segments are included in shared services and corporate costs. Shared services and corporate also includes unallocated corporate costs, such as costs associated with being a public company.

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our primary source of liquidity is our available cash and borrowing capacity under our revolving credit facility.

Operating activities

Cash flows from operating activities for the nine months ended September 30 are as follows:



	Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)	2017			2016

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	$	(20,078	)	$	28,898
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	44,028			44,089
Impairment of goodwill and intangibles	35,732			—
Deferred income taxes	(16,559		)	16,517
Stock and deferred compensation plans	14,717			9,120
Pension expense, net of contributions	(8,875		)	2,046
Other changes in certain working capital accounts, net	(10,616		)	(21,612		)
Miscellaneous, net	(5,515		)	1,930
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	32,834		$	80,988

The $48 million decrease in cash provided by operating activities was primarily attributable the $47 million year-over-year decrease in segment profit, $11 million of additional pension contributions year-over-year, as well as to changes in working capital in 2017 compared to 2016. We made $6 million of advance payments for production cost for our new lifestyle show which began airing at the end of the 2017 third quarter.

Investing activities

Cash flows from investing activities for the nine months ended September 30 are as follows:



	Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)	2017			2016

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	$	—		$	(43,500	)
Acquisition of intangibles	(11,554		)	—
Additions to property and equipment	(14,056		)	(21,590		)
Purchase of investments	(1,533		)	(1,728		)
Miscellaneous, net	3,657			216
Net cash used in investing activities	$	(23,486	)	$	(66,602	)

In 2017 and 2016, we used $23 million and $67 million, respectively, in cash for investing activities.


•	In 2017 we paid $11.6 million to acquire to acquire cable and satellite carriage rights for the launch of our Newsy cable network.


•	In 2016, we acquired Cracked for $39 million and Stitcher for $4.5 million.


•	In the second quarter of 2017, we received $3 million in proceeds from the sale of our newspaper syndication business.

We expect to begin to incur capital expenditures in the end of 2017 related to the repacking process. Congress authorized the FCC to conduct so-called “incentive auctions” to auction and re-purpose broadcast television spectrum for mobile broadband use. In the repacking process associated with the auction, the FCC has reassigned some stations to new post-auction channels. We do not expect reassignment to new channels to have a material impact on our stations' broadcast signals to be viewed in their markets. We received letters from the FCC in February 2017, notifying us that 17 of our stations have been

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assigned to new channels. The legislation authorizing the incentive auction provides the FCC with a $1.75 billion fund to reimburse reasonable costs incurred by stations that are reassigned to new channels in the repack. While we expect much of the costs of the repack to be covered by the fund, we can not predict if the fund will be sufficient to cover all, or if Congress will appropriate additional funds.

Financing activities

Cash flows from financing activities for the nine months ended September 30 are as follows:



	Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)	2017			2016

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	$	400,000		$	—
Payments on long-term debt	(392,198		)	(3,000		)
Payments of financing costs	(7,558		)	—
Repurchase of Class A Common shares	(11,704		)	(29,673		)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	1,461			4,641
Tax payments related to shares withheld for RSU vesting	(3,371		)	(2,652		)
Miscellaneous, net	(3,795		)	(4,485		)
Net cash used in financing activities	$	(17,165	)	$	(35,169	)

In 2017 and 2016 we used $17 million and $35 million in cash for financing activities. The primary items impacting our financing activities are described below.

Our current share repurchase program allows the purchase of up to $100 million of our Class A Common shares through December 2018. Shares may be repurchased from time to time at management's discretion, either in the open market, through pre-arranged trading plans or in privately negotiated block transactions. Under the current and prior authorizations, we repurchased $11.7 million of shares during the first nine months of 2017 and $29.7 million of shares during the first nine months of 2016. At September 30, 2017, we had $88.8 million remaining for share repurchases under our current authorization.

In 2017, we received $1.5 million of proceeds from the exercise of employee stock options compared to $4.6 million in 2016. We have not issued any stock options since 2008.

On April 28, 2017, we also amended and restated our $100 million revolving credit facility ("Revolving Credit Facility"), increasing its capacity to $125 million and extending the maturity to April 2022. Interest will be payable on the Revolving Credit Facility at rates based on LIBOR plus a margin based on our leverage ratio ranging from 1.75% to 2.50%. There were no borrowings under the revolving credit agreement in any of the periods presented. The revolving credit agreement includes certain financial covenants which we were in compliance with at September 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016.

Other

We have met our funding requirements for our defined benefit pension plans under the provisions of the Pension Funding Equity Act of 2004 and the Pension Protection Act of 2006. We expect to contribute approximately $1.6 million during the remainder of 2017 to fund our defined benefit pension plans and our SERPs.

We expect that our cash, cash from operating activities and available borrowing capacity will be sufficient to meet our operating and capital needs over the next 12 months.

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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

There have been no material changes to the off-balance sheet arrangements disclosed in our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires us to make a variety of decisions that affect reported amounts and related disclosures, including the selection of appropriate accounting principles and the assumptions on which to base accounting estimates. In reaching such decisions, we apply judgment based on our understanding and analysis of the relevant circumstances, including our historical experience, actuarial studies and other assumptions. We are committed to incorporating accounting principles, assumptions and estimates that promote the representational faithfulness, verifiability, neutrality and transparency of the accounting information included in the financial statements.

Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K describes the significant accounting policies we have selected for use in the preparation of our financial statements and related disclosures. An accounting policy is deemed to be critical if it requires an accounting estimate to be made based on assumptions about matters that are highly uncertain at the time the estimate is made and if different estimates that reasonably could have been used or changes in estimates that are likely to occur could materially change the financial statements. We believe the accounting for acquisitions, goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, income taxes and pension plans to be our most critical accounting policies and estimates. A detailed description of these accounting policies is included in the Critical Accounting Policies section of Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Recently Adopted Standards and Issued Accounting Standards

In March 2016, the FASB issued new guidance which simplifies the accounting for share-based compensation arrangements, including the related income tax consequences and classification in the statement of cash flows. We elected to early adopt this guidance effective January 1, 2016. The adoption used the modified retrospective transition method which had no impact on prior years. The impact of adopting this guidance was to record $14.7 million of previously unrecognized tax benefits, increasing deferred tax assets and retained earnings as of December 31, 2015. Additionally, we elected to adopt a policy of recording actual forfeitures, the impact of which was not material to current or prior periods.

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Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Earnings and cash flow can be affected by, among other things, economic conditions and interest rate changes. We are also exposed to changes in the market value of our investments.

Our objectives in managing interest rate risk are to limit the impact of interest rate changes on our earnings and cash flows and to reduce overall borrowing costs.

The following table presents additional information about market-risk-sensitive financial instruments:



	As of September 30, 2017				As of December 31, 2016
(in thousands)	Cost Basis		Fair Value		Cost Basis		Fair Value

Financial instruments subject to interest rate risk:
Variable rate credit facility	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—
Senior unsecured notes	400,000		410,000		—		—
Term loan B	—		—		390,521		390,521
Unsecured subordinated notes payable	2,656		2,529		5,312		4,993
Long-term debt, including current portion	$	402,656	$	412,529	$	395,833	$	395,514

Financial instruments subject to market value risk:
Investments held at cost	$	10,999	(a)		$	10,774	(a)

(a) Includes securities that do not trade in public markets so the securities do not have readily determinable fair values. We estimate the fair value of these securities approximates their carrying value. There can be no assurance that we would realize the carrying value upon sale of the securities.

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Table of Contents

Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Scripps management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal controls designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The Company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:



1.	pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company;



2.	provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and the directors of the Company; and



3.	provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations, including the possibility of human error, collusion and the improper overriding of controls by management. Accordingly, even effective internal control can only provide reasonable but not absolute assurance with respect to financial statement preparation. Further, because of changes in conditions, the effectiveness of internal control may vary over time.

The effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) was evaluated as of the date of the financial statements. This evaluation was carried out under the supervision of and with the participation of management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer concluded that the design and operation of these disclosure controls and procedures are effective. There were no changes to the Company's internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f)) during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

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