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Organization and Nature of Operations
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Organization and Nature of Operations
ORGANIZATION AND NATURE OF OPERATIONS
Graham Holdings Company (the Company), is a diversified education and media company. The Company’s Kaplan subsidiary provides a wide variety of educational services, both domestically and outside the United States. The Company’s media operations comprise the ownership and operation of cable systems and television broadcasting (through the ownership and operation of five television broadcast stations).
On June 30, 2014, the Company completed the exchange of WPLG, its Miami-based television station (see Note 7). The operating results of WPLG have been presented in income from discontinued operations, net of tax, for all periods presented.
In November 2014, the Company announced that the Board of Directors authorized management to proceed with plans for the complete legal and structural separation of Cable ONE, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary, from the Company. Following the proposed transaction, Cable ONE will be an independent, publicly traded company. The Company intends to complete the proposed transaction later in 2015. The proposed transaction will be structured as a tax-free spin-off of Cable ONE to the stockholders of the Company. The transaction is contingent on the satisfaction of a number of conditions, including completion of the review process by the Securities and Exchange Commission of required filings under applicable securities regulations, other applicable regulatory approvals and the final approval of transaction terms by the Company’s Board of Directors.
On February 12, 2015, Kaplan entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement with Education Corporation of America (ECA) to sell substantially all of the assets of its KHE Campuses business, consisting of 38 nationally accredited ground campuses and certain related assets, in exchange for a preferred equity interest in ECA. The transaction is contingent upon certain regulatory and accrediting agency approvals and is expected to close in the second or third quarter of 2015.
Education—Kaplan, Inc. provides an extensive range of educational services for students and professionals. Kaplan’s various businesses comprise three categories: Higher Education (KHE), Test Preparation (KTP) and Kaplan International.
Media—The Company’s diversified media operations comprise cable operations, television broadcasting, several websites and print publications, and a marketing solutions provider.
Cable. Cable ONE provides cable services that include video, high-speed data and voice service in the midwestern, western and southern states of the United States.
Television broadcasting. The Company owns five VHF television stations located in Houston, TX; Detroit, MI; Orlando, FL; San Antonio, TX; and Jacksonville, FL. Other than the Company’s Jacksonville station, WJXT, the Company’s television stations are affiliated with one of the major national networks.
Other—The Company’s other business operations include home health and hospice services and manufacturing.