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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
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Dec. 31, 2012
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| Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash equivalents consist of investments which are readily convertible into cash and have maturities of three months or less at the time of acquisition.
Receivables
Receivables are reflected net of an allowance for doubtful accounts and sales returns. Such allowance aggregated $36 million and $39 million at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Activity in the periods ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 included $1 million, $9 million and zero of bad debt charged to expense, respectively, and $2 million, $2 million and $3 million of write-offs, respectively.
Program Rights
The cost of program rights for films and television programs exhibited by Starz Networks are generally amortized on a film-by-film basis over the anticipated number of exhibitions. Starz Networks estimates the number of exhibitions based on the number of exhibitions allowed in the agreement and the expected usage of the content. Certain other program rights are amortized to expense using the straight-line method over the respective lives of the agreements. Starz Networks generally has rights to two separate windows under its output agreements. For films with multiple windows, the license fee is allocated between the first and second window based upon the proportionate estimated fair value of each window. Considerable management judgment is necessary to estimate the fair value of each window. Changes in estimates could significantly impact programming costs in the future.
Investment in Films and Television Programs
Investment in films and television programs is included in other assets and generally includes the cost of completed films, television programs and original productions which have been produced by Starz or for which Starz has acquired distribution rights, as well as the cost of films, television programs or original productions in production, pre-production and development. Capitalized costs include production costs, including labor, goods and services, interest and allocable overhead, acquisition of distribution rights, acquisition of story rights and the development of stories less the license fee for original productions, which have aired on the Starz linear channels on demand or on the Internet. Starz allocates the cost of its original productions between the license fee for pay television and the ancillary revenue markets (e.g. home video, digital platforms, international television, etc.) based on the estimated relative fair values of these markets. The license fee associated with original productions is reclassified to program rights when the program is aired. Investment in films and television programs is stated at the lower of unamortized cost or estimated fair value on an individual film basis. Investment in films and television programs are amortized using the individual-film-forecast method, whereby the costs are charged to expense and royalty, participation and residual costs are accrued based on the proportion that current revenue from the films, television programs and original productions bear to an estimate of the remaining unrecognized ultimate revenue. Ultimate revenue estimates do not exceed ten years following the date of initial release or from the date of delivery of the first episode for episodic television series. Estimates of ultimate revenue involve uncertainty and it is therefore possible that reductions in the carrying value of investment in films and television programs may be required as a consequence of changes in management's future revenue estimates.
Investment in films and television programs in development or pre-production is periodically reviewed to determine whether they will ultimately be used in the production of a film or television program. Costs of films, television programs and original productions in development or pre-production are charged to expense when a project is abandoned, or generally if the film, television program or original production has not been set for production within three years from the time of the first capitalized transaction.
Investment in films and television programs is reviewed for impairment on a title-by-title basis when an event or change in circumstances indicates that a film, television program or original production may be impaired. The estimated fair value for each title is determined using the discounted estimated future cash flow of each title. If the estimated fair value of a film, television program or original production is less than its unamortized cost, the excess of unamortized costs over the estimated fair value is charged to expense. Considerable management judgment is necessary to estimate the fair value of investment in films and television programs. Changes in these estimates could significantly impact the impairment analysis in the future.
Investments
All marketable equity and debt securities held by the Company are classified as available-for-sale ("AFS") and are carried at fair value generally based on quoted market prices. U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") permit entities to choose to measure many financial instruments, such as AFS securities, and certain other items at fair value and to recognize the changes in fair value of such instruments in the entity's statement of operations (the "fair value option"). Under other relevant GAAP, entities were required to recognize changes in fair value of AFS securities in the balance sheet in accumulated other comprehensive earnings. Liberty has entered into economic hedges for certain of its non-strategic AFS securities (although such instruments are not accounted for as fair value hedges by the Company). Changes in the fair value of these economic hedges are reflected in Liberty's statement of operations as unrealized gains (losses). In order to better match the changes in fair value of the subject AFS securities and the changes in fair value of the corresponding economic hedges in the Company's financial statements, Liberty has elected the fair value option for those of its AFS securities which it considers to be non-strategic ("Fair Value Option Securities"). Accordingly, changes in the fair value of Fair Value Option Securities, as determined by quoted market prices, are reported in realized and unrealized gain (losses) on financial instruments in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations. The total value of AFS securities for which the Company has elected the fair value option aggregated $1,079 million and $1,435 million as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Other investments in which the Company's ownership interest is less than 20% and are not considered marketable securities are carried at cost.
For those investments in affiliates in which the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence, the equity method of accounting is used. Under this method, the investment, originally recorded at cost, is adjusted to recognize the Company's share of net earnings or losses of the affiliate as they occur rather than as dividends or other distributions are received. Losses are limited to the extent of the Company's investment in, advances to and commitments for the investee. In the event the Company is unable to obtain accurate financial information from an equity affiliate in a timely manner, the Company records its share of earnings or losses of such affiliate on a lag. The Company's share of net earnings or loss of affiliates also includes any other than temporary declines in fair value recognized during the period.
Changes in the Company's proportionate share of the underlying equity of an equity method investee, which result from the issuance of additional equity securities by such equity investee, are recognized in equity.
The Company continually reviews its equity investments and its AFS securities which are not Non-strategic Securities to determine whether a decline in fair value below the cost basis is other than temporary. The primary factors the Company considers in its determination are the length of time that the fair value of the investment is below the Company's carrying value; the severity of the decline; and the financial condition, operating performance and near term prospects of the investee. In addition, the Company considers the reason for the decline in fair value, be it general market conditions, industry specific or investee specific; analysts' ratings and estimates of 12 month share price targets for the investee; changes in stock price or valuation subsequent to the balance sheet date; and the Company's intent and ability to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for a recovery in fair value. If the decline in fair value is deemed to be other than temporary, the cost basis of the security is written down to fair value. In situations where the fair value of an investment is not evident due to a lack of a public market price or other factors, the Company uses its best estimates and assumptions to arrive at the estimated fair value of such investment. The Company's assessment of the foregoing factors involves a high degree of judgment and accordingly, actual results may differ materially from the Company's estimates and judgments. Writedowns for AFS securities which are not Non-strategic Securities are included in the consolidated statements of operations as other than temporary declines in fair values of investments. Writedowns for equity method investments are included in share of earnings (losses) of affiliates.
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
All of the Company's derivatives, whether designated in hedging relationships or not, are recorded on the balance sheet at fair value. If the derivative is designated as a fair value hedge, the changes in the fair value of the derivative and of the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk are recognized in earnings. If the derivative is designated as a cash flow hedge, the effective portions of changes in the fair value of the derivative are recorded in other comprehensive earnings and are recognized in the statement of operations when the hedged item affects earnings. Ineffective portions of changes in the fair value of cash flow hedges are recognized in earnings. If the derivative is not designated as a hedge, changes in the fair value of the derivative are recognized in earnings. The Company has entered into several interest rate swap agreements to mitigate the cash flow risk associated with interest payments related to certain of its variable rate debt. None of the Company's derivatives are currently designated as hedges.
The fair value of certain of the Company's derivative instruments are estimated using the Black-Scholes model. The Black-Scholes model incorporates a number of variables in determining such fair values, including expected volatility of the underlying security and an appropriate discount rate. The Company obtained volatility rates from pricing services based on the expected volatility of the underlying security over the remaining term of the derivative instrument. A discount rate was obtained at the inception of the derivative instrument and updated each reporting period in which equity collars were outstanding, based on the Company's estimate of the discount rate at which it could currently settle the derivative instrument. The Company considered its own credit risk as well as the credit risk of its counterparties in estimating the discount rate. Considerable management judgment was required in estimating the Black-Scholes variables.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment, including significant improvements, is stated at cost. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method using estimated useful lives of 3 to 20 years for support equipment and 10 to 40 years for buildings and improvements.
Intangible Assets
Intangible assets with estimable useful lives are amortized over their respective estimated useful lives to their estimated residual values, and reviewed for impairment upon certain triggering events. Goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite useful lives (collectively, "indefinite lived intangible assets") are not amortized, but instead are tested for impairment at least annually. Equity method goodwill is also not amortized, but is evaluated for impairment upon certain triggering events.
The Company performs at least annually an impairment analysis of goodwill and other intangibles. The Company adopted current accounting guidance, in the prior and current year, relating to the annual assessments of recoverability of goodwill and other intangibles and utilized a qualitative assessment for determining whether step one of the goodwill impairment analysis was necessary. The accounting guidance adopted was issued to simplify how entities test goodwill for impairment by permitting entities to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. In evaluating goodwill on a qualitative basis the Company reviewed the business performance of each reporting unit and evaluated other relevant factors as identified in the relevant accounting guidance to determine whether it was more likely than not that an indicated impairment existed for any of our reporting units. The Company considered whether there was any negative macroenomic conditions, industry specific conditions, market changes, increased competition, increased costs in doing business, management challenges, the legal environments and how these factors might impact company specific performance in future periods. As part of the analysis the Company also considered fair value determinations for certain reporting units that had been made at various points throughout the year for other purposes.
If a step one test would have been necessary based on the qualitative factors the Company would compare the estimated fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying value. Developing estimates of fair value requires significant judgments, including making assumptions about appropriate discount rates, perpetual growth rates, relevant comparable market multiples, public trading prices and the amount and timing of expected future cash flows. The cash flows employed in Liberty's valuation analysis are based on management's best estimates considering current marketplace factors and risks as well as assumptions of growth rates in future years. There is no assurance that actual results in the future will approximate these forecasts. For those reporting units whose carrying value exceeds the fair value, a second test is required to measure the impairment loss (the "Step 2 Test"). In the Step 2 Test, the fair value of the reporting unit is allocated to all of the assets and liabilities of the reporting unit with any residual value being allocated to goodwill. The difference between such allocated amount and the carrying value of the goodwill is recorded as an impairment charge.
Impairment of Long-lived Assets
The Company periodically reviews the carrying amounts of its property and equipment and its intangible assets (other than goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles) to determine whether current events or circumstances indicate that such carrying amounts may not be recoverable. If the carrying amount of the asset is greater than the expected undiscounted cash flows to be generated by such asset, an impairment adjustment is to be recognized. Such adjustment is measured by the amount that the carrying value of such assets exceeds their fair value. The Company generally measures fair value by considering sale prices for similar assets or by discounting estimated future cash flows using an appropriate discount rate. Considerable management judgment is necessary to estimate the fair value of assets. Accordingly, actual results could vary significantly from such estimates. Assets to be disposed of are carried at the lower of their financial statement carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell.
Noncontrolling Interests
Effective January 1, 2009, the Company adopted guidance which establishes accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary. Among other matters, (a) the previous limitations on allocation of losses to the noncontrolling interests were eliminated, (b) the noncontrolling interest is reported within equity in the balance sheet and (c) the amount of consolidated net income attributable to the parent and to the noncontrolling interest is presented in the statement of income. Also, changes in ownership interests in subsidiaries in which the Company maintains a controlling interest are recorded in equity.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue is recognized as follows:
Accounting guidance was issued to remove from the scope of industry specific revenue accounting guidance for software and software related transactions, tangible products containing software components and non-software components that function together to deliver the product's essential functionality and amended outstanding guidance (1) to provide updated guidance on whether multiple deliverables exist, how the deliverables in an arrangement should be separated, and the consideration allocated; (2) to require an entity to allocate revenue in an arrangement using estimated selling prices of deliverables if a vendor does not have vendor-specific objective evidence or third-party evidence of selling price; and (3) to eliminate the use of the residual method and require an entity to allocate revenue using the relative selling price method. Adoption, at the election of the Company, was either on a prospective basis or by retrospective application.
The Company adopted the revenue guidance on a prospective basis as of January 1, 2011. There was no financial statement impact on that date as a result of the adoption of the accounting guidance. In the first quarter of 2011, TruePosition, a consolidated subsidiary of the Company, entered into an amended contract with AT&T (one of TruePosition's largest customers) that materially changed the terms of the existing contract. The transition provisions of the new accounting guidance require that when a contract is materially modified it is subject to the current accounting requirements. This resulted in TruePosition recognizing revenue for all the delivered elements meeting the separation criteria, previously deferred under the previous accounting guidance. TruePosition recognized approximately $538 million of revenue and $167 million of deferred cost associated with the delivered elements as of the modification date. Previously, TruePosition did not have Vendor Specific Objective Evidence for the undelivered specified upgrade, which changed the timing of revenue recognition for the entire arrangement. Under the current guidance TruePosition utilized the estimated selling price to determine what portion of the overall consideration to allocate to the delivered and undelivered elements. Additionally, TruePosition's contract with T-Mobile expired in mid-2011; however software maintenance services ordered prior to that date continued to be provided through the year ended December 31, 2011. TruePosition had deferred substantially all of the revenue earned from T-Mobile since the inception of the contract due to an obligation to provide specified upgrades which were not delivered and for which no Vendor Specific Objective Evidence existed. Upon expiration of the software maintenance period, this obligation ceased to exist and, accordingly, TruePosition recognized approximately $491 million and $242 million of previously deferred revenue and costs, respectively.
Advertising Costs
Advertising costs generally are expensed as incurred. Advertising expense aggregated $85 million, $114 million and $154 million for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Co-operative marketing costs incurred as part of affiliation agreements with distributors are recognized as advertising expense to the extent an identifiable benefit is received and fair value of the benefit can be reasonably measured. Otherwise, such costs are recorded as a reduction of revenue.
Stock-Based Compensation
As more fully described in note 14, Liberty has granted to its directors, employees and employees of its subsidiaries options, restricted stock and stock appreciation rights ("SARs") to purchase shares of Liberty common stock (collectively, "Awards"). The Company measures the cost of employee services received in exchange for an Award of equity instruments (such as stock options and restricted stock) based on the grant-date fair value of the Award, and recognizes that cost over the period during which the employee is required to provide service (usually the vesting period of the Award). The Company measures the cost of employee services received in exchange for an Award of liability instruments (such as stock appreciation rights that will be settled in cash) based on the current fair value of the Award, and remeasures the fair value of the Award at each reporting date.
Included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations are the following amounts of stock-based compensation (amounts in millions):
As of December 31, 2012, the total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested Liberty equity Awards was approximately $150 million. Such amount will be recognized in the Company's consolidated statements of operations over a weighted average period of approximately 1.8 years.
Income Taxes
The Company was included in the consolidated tax return of Liberty Interactive through the date of the Split-Off. Following the Split-Off the Company files its own consolidated tax return. The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying value amounts and income tax bases of assets and liabilities and the expected benefits of utilizing net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. The deferred tax assets and liabilities are calculated using enacted tax rates in effect for each taxing jurisdiction in which the company operates for the year in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Net deferred tax assets are then reduced by a valuation allowance if the Company believes it more likely than not such net deferred tax assets will not be realized. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of an enacted change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.
When the tax law requires interest to be paid on an underpayment of income taxes, the Company recognizes interest expense from the first period the interest would begin accruing according to the relevant tax law. Such interest expense is included in interest expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. Any accrual of penalties related to underpayment of income taxes on uncertain tax positions is included in other income (expense) in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
Earnings attributable to Liberty Stockholders Per Common Share
Basic earnings (loss) per common share ("EPS") is computed by dividing net earnings (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares that were outstanding for the period at the Company. Diluted EPS presents the dilutive effect on a per share basis of potential common shares as if they had been converted at the beginning of the periods presented.
Series A and Series B Liberty Capital Common Stock
The basic and diluted EPS calculation is based on the following weighted average outstanding shares (WASO) of Liberty Capital common stock, based on the conversion ratio of 1 to 1 utilized in the Split-Off, prior to the Split-Off, and the actual Liberty Capital common stock after the Split-Off. Excluded from diluted EPS for the years ended December 31, 2011 are less than a million potential common shares because their inclusion would be anti-dilutive.
Series A and Series B Liberty Starz Common Stock
The basic and diluted EPS calculation is based on the following WASO of Liberty Starz common stock, based on the conversion ratio of 1 to 1 utilized in the Split-Off, prior to the Split-Off, and the actual Liberty Starz common stock immediately after the Split-Off. As discussed in note 2, on November 28, 2011 the Company converted each share of Liberty Starz for .88129 of a share of the corresponding series of Liberty Capital common stock (plus cash in lieu of fractional shares) to eliminate the tracking stock structure. Therefore, as of December 31, 2011, there were zero shares of Liberty Starz Common stock outstanding and the Basic and Diluted EPS calculations are through the Conversion date.
Reclasses and adjustments
Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified for comparability with the current year presentation. Additionally, the Company added cash flow statement line items (Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation and Taxes paid in lieu of shares issued for stock-based compensation) to reflect certain tax impacts from option exercises for the current and prior year periods presented.
Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Company considers (i) recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements, (ii) accounting for income taxes, (iii) assessments of other-than-temporary declines in fair value of its investments and (iv) amortization of program rights to be its most significant estimates.
The Company holds investments that are accounted for using the equity method. The Company does not control the decision making process or business management practices of these affiliates. Accordingly, the Company relies on management of these affiliates to provide it with accurate financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP that the Company uses in the application of the equity method. In addition, the Company relies on audit reports that are provided by the affiliates' independent auditors on the financial statements of such affiliates. The Company is not aware, however, of any errors in or possible misstatements of the financial information provided by its equity affiliates that would have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
Changes in Accounting Principle
In prior periods the Company elected to record its share of earnings (loss) for SIRIUS XM and Live Nation on a three-month lag due to timeliness considerations. As of December 31, 2012, the Company was able to obtain financial information for both of these equity method affiliates on a more timely basis and determined it was preferable to record the investment in these affiliates on a current basis as opposed to the previous three-month lag. In accordance with the applicable accounting literature this change in accounting requires retrospective application of the accounting treatment, unless it is considered impracticable. As the Company has all the appropriate information to apply the change on a retrospective basis these financial statements have been adjusted to reflect the investments in SIRIUS XM and Live Nation comparatively for prior periods. The balance of investments in affiliates, accounted for using the equity method was less by $4 million and the deferred taxes were more by $2 million, than previously reported, as a result of the retrospective application as of December 31, 2011. Additionally, opening retained earnings (deficit) as of January 1, 2010 is less by $5 million than previously reported.
The following table presents the changes to the respective statement of operations captions in the prior periods as a result of the application of the change in accounting principle on a retrospective basis:
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