Quarterly report [Sections 13 or 15(d)]

Basis of Presentation

v3.25.1
Basis of Presentation
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2025
Basis of Presentation  
Basis of Presentation

(1)   Basis of Presentation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include all the accounts of Liberty Media Corporation and its controlled subsidiaries (“Liberty,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our” unless the context otherwise requires). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Liberty, through its ownership of interests in subsidiaries and other companies, is primarily engaged in the media and entertainment industries primarily in North America and the United Kingdom. Liberty’s most significant subsidiary is Delta Topco Limited (the parent company of Formula 1). Our most significant investment accounted for under the equity method is Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. (“Live Nation”).  

Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (“Sirius XM Holdings”) was a subsidiary of the Company until the Liberty Sirius XM Holdings Split-Off (as defined in note 2) on September 9, 2024. Liberty Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (“Liberty Sirius XM Holdings”), which included Sirius XM Holdings, is presented as a discontinued operation in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements. See note 2 for details of the Liberty Sirius XM Holdings Split-Off.

The accompanying (a) condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2024, which has been derived from audited financial statements, and (b) the interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X as promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the results for such periods have been included. The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year. Additionally, certain prior period amounts have been reclassified for comparability with current period presentation. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in Liberty's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024.

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) fair value measurement of non-financial instruments and (ii) accounting for income taxes to be its most significant estimates.

Liberty holds investments that are accounted for using the equity method. Liberty does not control the decision making process or business management practices of these affiliates. Accordingly, Liberty 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, Liberty 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 Liberty's condensed consolidated financial statements.

On March 29, 2024, the Company agreed, subject to certain conditions, to acquire approximately 86% of the equity interests in Dorna Sports, S.L., (“Dorna”) for a purchase price of approximately €3.0 billion, to be funded with cash. The Company entered into foreign currency forward contracts for close to the full purchase price. In December 2024, the European Commission notified the Company that a Phase II investigation would occur, extending regulatory review beyond December 31, 2024. The Company agreed to pay €126 million to the sellers to extend the longstop date to June 30, 2025 in order to accommodate the Phase II investigation. The €126 million is considered prepaid purchase consideration and is included in other assets in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of March 31,

2025 and December 31, 2024. During the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Company extended a portion of the foreign currency forward contracts through the extended longstop date. 

Liberty has entered into certain agreements with QVC Group, Inc., formerly known as Qurate Retail, Inc. (“QVC Group”), Liberty TripAdvisor Holdings, Inc. (“TripCo”), Liberty Broadband Corporation (“Liberty Broadband”) and Atlanta Braves Holdings, Inc. (“Atlanta Braves Holdings”), all of which are separate publicly traded companies, in order to govern relationships between the companies. None of these entities has any stock ownership, beneficial or otherwise, in any of the others. These agreements include Reorganization Agreements (in the case of QVC Group, Liberty Broadband and Atlanta Braves Holdings only), Services Agreements, Facilities Sharing Agreements, Tax Sharing Agreements (in the case of Liberty Broadband and Atlanta Braves Holdings only) and an Aircraft Time Sharing Agreement (in the case of Liberty Broadband only). In addition, as a result of certain corporate transactions, Liberty and QVC Group may have obligations to each other for certain tax related matters. Effective August 31, 2024, the Facilities Sharing Agreement and the Aircraft Time Sharing Agreement with Atlanta Braves Holdings were terminated and members of Liberty management that served as officers of Atlanta Braves Holdings stepped down from their positions with Atlanta Braves Holdings (with limited exceptions), even though they may continue to provide services on an as-needed basis for a de minimis expense.

The Reorganization Agreements provide for, among other things, provisions governing the relationships between Liberty and each of QVC Group, Liberty Broadband and Atlanta Braves Holdings, including certain cross-indemnities. Under the Facilities Sharing Agreements, Liberty shares office space and related amenities at its corporate headquarters with QVC Group, TripCo, Liberty Broadband and, until August 31, 2024, Atlanta Braves Holdings. Pursuant to the Services Agreements, Liberty provides QVC Group, TripCo, Liberty Broadband and Atlanta Braves Holdings with general and administrative services including legal, tax, accounting, treasury, information technology, cybersecurity and investor relations support. QVC Group, TripCo, Liberty Broadband and Atlanta Braves Holdings reimburse Liberty for direct, out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Liberty in providing these services and, in the case of QVC Group, QVC Group’s allocable portion of costs associated with any shared services or personnel based on an estimated percentage of time spent providing services to QVC Group. TripCo, Liberty Broadband and Atlanta Braves Holdings reimburse Liberty for shared services and personnel based on a flat fee. Liberty and QVC Group intend to transition various general and administrative services currently provided to QVC Group under the Services Agreement to members of the QVC, Inc. management team. As part of the transition, effective March 31, 2025, members of Liberty management that served as officers of QVC Group stepped down from their positions with QVC Group (with limited exceptions). Under these various agreements, approximately $5 million and $6 million of these allocated expenses were reimbursed to Liberty during the three months ended March 31, 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively.

TripCo became a wholly owned subsidiary of Tripadvisor, Inc. effective April 29, 2025, and the Services Agreement and Facilities Sharing Agreement between Liberty and TripCo were terminated as of such date.

Seasonality

Formula 1 recognizes the majority of its revenue and expenses in connection with World Championship race events (“Events”) that take place in different countries around the world throughout the year. The Events in the past have generally taken place between March and December each year. As a result, the revenue and expenses recognized by Formula 1 are generally lower during the first quarter as compared to the rest of the quarters throughout the year.

QuintEvents, LLC’s (“QuintEvents”) revenue is seasonal around its largest events, which are generally during the second and fourth quarters.