Turner and Home Box Office
Subscription revenues are recognized as programming services are provided to cable system operators, satellite distribution services, telephone companies and other distributors (collectively, “affiliates”) based on negotiated contractual programming rates. When a distribution contract with an affiliate has expired and a new distribution contract has not been executed, revenues are based on estimated rates, giving consideration to factors including the previous contractual rates, inflation, current payments by the affiliate and the status of the negotiations on a new contract. When the new distribution contract terms are finalized, an adjustment to Subscription revenues is recorded, if necessary, to reflect the new terms. Such adjustments historically have not been significant.
For the Company's advertising-supported networks, Advertising revenues are recognized, net of agency commissions, in the period that the advertisements are aired. If there is a targeted audience guarantee, revenues are recognized for the actual audience delivery and revenues are deferred for any shortfall until the guaranteed audience delivery is met, typically by providing additional air time. Advertising revenues from websites are recognized as impressions are delivered or the services are performed.
Revenues from home video sales are recognized at the later of the delivery date or the date that the DVDs or Blu-ray Discs are made widely available for sale or rental by retailers based on gross sales less a provision for estimated returns.
Warner Bros.
Feature films typically are produced or acquired for initial exhibition in theaters, followed by distribution, generally commencing within three years of such initial exhibition, through home video, electronic sell-through, video-on-demand, subscription video-on-demand services, premium cable, basic cable and broadcast networks. Theatrical revenues are recognized as the films are exhibited. Revenues from home video sales are recognized at the later of the delivery date or the date that the DVDs or Blu-ray Discs are made widely available for sale or rental by retailers based on gross sales less a provision for estimated returns. Revenues from the distribution of theatrical product through premium cable, basic cable and broadcast networks are recognized when the films are available to telecast.
Television films and series are initially produced for broadcast networks, cable networks or first-run television syndication and may be subsequently licensed for foreign or domestic cable, syndicated television and subscription video-on-demand services, as well as sold on home video. Revenues from the distribution of television programming are recognized when the films or series are available to telecast, except for advertising barter agreements, where the revenue is valued and recognized when the related advertisements are exhibited. In certain circumstances, pursuant to the terms of the applicable contractual arrangements, the availability dates granted to customers may precede the date the Company may bill the customers for these sales. Unbilled accounts receivable, which primarily relate to the distribution of television product at Warner Bros., totaled $3.418 billion and $3.210 billion at December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. Included in the unbilled accounts receivable at December 31, 2013 was $2.073 billion that is to be billed in the next twelve months. Similar to theatrical home video sales, revenues from home video sales of television films and series are recognized at the later of the delivery date or the date that the DVDs or Blu-ray Discs are made widely available for sale or rental by retailers based on gross sales less a provision for estimated returns.
Revenues from the sales of videogames are recognized at the later of the delivery date or the date that the videogames are made available for sale or rental by retailers based on gross sales less a provision for estimated returns.
Upfront or guaranteed payments for the licensing of intellectual property are recognized as revenue when (i) an arrangement has been signed with a customer, (ii) the customer's right to use or otherwise exploit the intellectual property has commenced and there is no requirement for significant continued performance by the Company, (iii) licensing fees are either fixed or determinable and (iv) collectability of the fees is reasonably assured. In the event any significant continued performance is required in these arrangements, revenue is allocated to each applicable element and recognized when the related services are performed.
Time Inc.
Magazine Subscription and Advertising revenues are recognized at the magazine cover date. The unearned portion of magazine subscriptions is deferred until the magazine cover date, at which time a proportionate share of the gross subscription price is recognized in revenues, net of any commissions paid to subscription agents. Also included in Subscription revenues are revenues generated from single-copy sales of magazines through retail outlets such as newsstands, supermarkets, convenience stores and drugstores and on certain digital devices and platforms, which may or may not result in future subscription sales. Revenues from retail outlet sales are recognized based on gross sales less a provision for estimated returns. Advertising revenues from websites are recognized as impressions are delivered or the services are performed.
Barter Transactions
Time Warner enters into transactions that involve the exchange of advertising, in part, for other products and services, such as a license for programming. Such transactions are recognized by the programming licensee (e.g., a television network) as programming inventory and deferred advertising revenue at the estimated fair value when the product is available for telecast. Barter programming inventory is amortized in the same manner as the non-barter component of the licensed programming, and Advertising revenue is recognized when advertising spots are delivered. From the perspective of the programming licensor (e.g., a film studio), incremental licensing revenue is recognized when the barter advertising spots received are either used or sold to third parties.
Multiple-Element Transactions
In the normal course of business, the Company enters into multiple-element transactions that involve making judgments about allocating the consideration to the various elements of the transactions. While the more common type of multiple-element transactions encountered by the Company involve the sale or purchase of multiple products or services (e.g., licensing multiple film titles in a single arrangement), multiple-element transactions can also involve contemporaneous purchase and sales transactions, the settlement of an outstanding dispute contemporaneous with the purchase of a product or service, as well as investing in an investee while at the same time entering into an operating agreement. In accounting for multiple-element transactions, judgment must be exercised in identifying the separate elements in a bundled transaction as well as determining the values of these elements. These judgments can impact the amount of revenues, expenses and net income recognized over the term of the contract, as well as the period in which they are recognized.
In determining the value of the respective elements, the Company refers to quoted market prices (where available), independent appraisals (where available), historical and comparable cash transactions or its best estimate of selling price. Other indicators of value include the existence of price protection in the form of “most-favored-nation” clauses or similar contractual provisions and individual elements whose values are dependent on future performance (and based on independent factors). Further, in such transactions, evidence of value for one element of a transaction may provide support that value was not transferred from one element in a transaction to another element in a transaction.
Gross versus Net Revenue Recognition
In the normal course of business, the Company acts as or uses an intermediary or agent in executing transactions with third parties. In connection with these arrangements, the Company must determine whether to report revenue based on the gross amount billed to the ultimate customer or on the net amount received from the customer after commissions and other payments to third parties. To the extent revenues are recorded on a gross basis, any commissions or other payments to third parties are recorded as expense so that the net amount (gross revenues less expense) is reflected in Operating Income. Accordingly, the impact on Operating Income is the same whether the Company records revenue on a gross or net basis.
The determination of whether revenue should be reported on a gross or net basis is based on an assessment of whether the Company is acting as the principal or an agent in the transaction. If the Company is acting as a principal in a transaction, the Company reports revenue on a gross basis. If the Company is acting as an agent in a transaction, the Company reports revenue on a net basis. The determination of whether the Company is acting as a principal or an agent in a transaction involves judgment and is based on an evaluation of the terms of an arrangement. The Company serves as the principal in transactions in which it has substantial risks and rewards of ownership.
The following are examples of arrangements where the Company is an intermediary or uses an intermediary: