Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Business And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Note 1: Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

We are a global media and technology company with three primary businesses, Comcast Cable, NBCUniversal and Sky. We were incorporated under the laws of Pennsylvania in December 2001. Through our predecessors, we have developed, managed and operated cable systems since 1963.

In the fourth quarter of 2018, we acquired a 100% interest in Sky through a series of transactions, for total cash consideration of £30.2 billion (approximately $39.4 billion using the exchange rates on the purchase dates).

We present our operations for (1) Comcast Cable in one reportable business segment, referred to as Cable Communications; (2) NBCUniversal in four reportable business segments: Cable Networks, Broadcast Television, Filmed Entertainment and Theme Parks (collectively, the “NBCUniversal segments”); and (3) Sky in one reportable business segment. See Note 2 for additional information on our reportable business segments.

Basis of Presentation

We translate assets and liabilities of our foreign operations where the functional currency is the local currency, primarily the British pound, euro, Japanese yen and Chinese renminbi, into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate as of the balance sheet date and translate revenue and expenses using average monthly exchange rates. The related translation adjustments are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in our consolidated balance sheet. Any foreign currency transaction gains or losses are included in our consolidated statement of income.

Reclassifications

Reclassifications have been made to our consolidated financial statements for the prior periods to conform to classifications used in 2018. See Note 9 for a discussion of the effects of the adoption of new accounting pronouncements on our consolidated financial statements.

Accounting Policies

Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP, which require us to select accounting policies, including in certain cases industry-specific policies, and make estimates that affect the reported amount of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and the related disclosure of contingent assets and contingent liabilities. Actual results could differ from these estimates. We believe that the judgments and related estimates for the following items are critical in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements:


•	valuation and impairment testing of cable franchise rights (see Note 12)


•	film and television costs (see Note 4)


•	fair value of acquisition-related assets and liabilities (see Note 8)

In addition, the following accounting policies are specific to the industries in which we operate:


•	capitalization and amortization of film and television costs (see Note 4)


•	costs for connecting customers to our cable systems (see Note 11)

Information on other accounting policies and methods that we use in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements are included, where applicable, in their respective footnotes that follow. Below is a discussion of accounting policies and methods used in our consolidated financial statements that are not presented within other footnotes.

Advertising Expenses

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred.

Cash Equivalents

The carrying amounts of our cash equivalents approximate their fair values. Our cash equivalents consist primarily of money market funds and U.S. government obligations, as well as commercial paper and certificates of deposit with maturities of three months or less when purchased.

Derivative Financial Instruments

We use derivative financial instruments to manage our exposure to the risks associated with fluctuations in interest rates, foreign exchange rates and equity prices. Our objective is to manage the financial and operational exposure arising from these risks by offsetting gains and losses on the underlying exposures with gains and losses on the derivatives used to economically hedge them.

Our derivative financial instruments are recorded in our consolidated balance sheet at fair value. Refer to Note 7 for further information on foreign exchange derivatives related to debt. The impact of our remaining derivative financial instruments on our consolidated financial statements was not material in any of the periods presented.

Fair Value Measurements

The accounting guidance related to fair value measurements establishes a hierarchy based on the types of inputs used for the various valuation techniques (market approach, income approach and cost approach). The levels of the hierarchy are described below.


•	Level 1: Values are determined using quoted market prices for identical financial instruments in an active market


•	Level 2: Values are determined using quoted prices for similar financial instruments and valuation models whose inputs are observable


•	Level 3: Values are determined using pricing models that use significant inputs that are primarily unobservable, discounted cash flow methodologies or similar techniques, as well as instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation

We use these levels of hierarchy to measure the fair value of certain financial instruments on a recurring basis, such as for investments; on a non-recurring basis, such as for acquisitions and impairment testing; for disclosure purposes, such as for long-term debt; and for other applications, as discussed in their respective footnotes. Our assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment and may affect the valuation and classification within the fair value hierarchy.

Asset Retirement Obligations

Certain of our cable franchise agreements and lease agreements contain provisions requiring us to restore facilities or remove property in the event that the franchise or lease agreement is not renewed. We expect to continually renew our cable franchise agreements and therefore cannot reasonably estimate liabilities associated with such agreements. A remote possibility exists that franchise agreements could be terminated unexpectedly, which could result in us incurring significant expense in complying with restoration or removal provisions. We do not have any material liabilities related to asset retirements recorded in our consolidated financial statements.

NBCUniversal Media LLC [Member]

Business And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Note 1: Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Unless indicated otherwise, throughout these notes to the consolidated financial statements, we refer to NBCUniversal and its consolidated subsidiaries as “we,” “us” and “our.” We are one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies that develops, produces and distributes entertainment, news and information, sports, and other content for global audiences, and owns and operates theme parks worldwide.

We present our operations as the following four reportable business segments: Cable Networks, Broadcast Television, Filmed Entertainment and Theme Parks. See Note 2 for additional information on our reportable business segments.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include all entities in which we have a controlling voting interest and variable interest entities (“VIEs”) required to be consolidated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). Transactions between NBCUniversal and both Comcast and Comcast’s consolidated subsidiaries are reflected in these consolidated financial statements and disclosed as related party transactions when material.

We translate assets and liabilities of our foreign operations where the functional currency is the local currency, primarily the Japanese yen, euro, British pound and Chinese renminbi, into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate as of the balance sheet date and translate revenue and expenses using average monthly exchange rates. The related translation adjustments are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in our consolidated balance sheet. Any foreign currency transaction gains or losses are included in our consolidated statement of income.

Accounting Policies


•	film and television costs (see Note 4)


•	goodwill and intangible assets (see Note 11)

In addition, the following accounting policy is specific to the industries in which we operate:


•	capitalization and amortization of film and television costs (see Note 4)

Advertising Expenses

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred.

Cash Equivalents

Derivative Financial Instruments

We use derivative financial instruments to manage our exposure to the risks associated with fluctuations in foreign exchange rates and interest rates. Our objective is to manage the financial and operational exposure arising from these risks by offsetting gains and losses on the underlying exposures with gains and losses on the derivatives used to economically hedge them.

Our derivative financial instruments are recorded in our consolidated balance sheet at fair value. The impact of our derivative financial instruments on our consolidated financial statements was not material in any of the periods presented.

Fair Value Measurements


•	Level 1: Values are determined using quoted market prices for identical financial instruments in an active market


•	Level 2: Values are determined using quoted prices for similar financial instruments and valuation models whose inputs are observable


•	Level 3: Values are determined using pricing models that use significant inputs that are primarily unobservable, discounted cash flow methodologies or similar techniques, as well as instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation

We use these levels of hierarchy to measure the fair value of certain financial instruments on a recurring basis, such as for investments; on a non-recurring basis, such as for acquisitions and impairment testing; for disclosure purposes, such as long-term debt; and for other applications, as discussed in their respective footnotes. Our assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment and may affect the valuation and classification within the fair value hierarchy.