Goodwill and Intangible Assets

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Goodwill And Intangible Assets [Line Items]

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Note 12: Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill
			NBCUniversal
(in millions)	Cable Communications		Cable Networks			Broadcast Television		Filmed Entertainment			Theme Parks		Sky			Corporate and Other			Total
Balance, December 31, 2017	$	12,784	$	13,427		$	806	$	3,212		$	6,544	$	—		$	7		$	36,780
Acquisitions(a)	—		—			36		—			—		29,889			—			29,925
Dispositions	—		—			—		(8		)	—		—			(5		)	(13		)
Adjustments	—		(13		)	1		(9		)	—		—			—			(21		)
Foreign currency translation	—		(7		)	—		(11		)	140		(639		)	—			(517		)
Balance, December 31, 2018	12,784		13,407			843		3,184			6,684		29,250			2			66,154
Acquisitions	86		162			14		—			—		17			—			279
Dispositions	—		—			—		—			—		(12		)	—			(12		)
Adjustments(b)	2,166		490			199		138			—		(1,616		)	2			1,379
Foreign currency translation	38		8			3		(1		)	55		822			—			925
Balance, December 31, 2019	$	15,074	$	14,067		$	1,059	$	3,321		$	6,739	$	28,461		$	4		$	68,725

(a) Acquisitions in 2018 primarily included the Sky acquisition. As of December 31, 2018, the goodwill resulting from the Sky acquisition was presented in the Sky segment. See Note 8 for further information on the Sky acquisition.

(b) Adjustments in 2019 primarily included 1) measurement period adjustments resulting from finalization of acquisition accounting for Sky and 2) the final assignment of goodwill resulting from the Sky transaction to our reporting units.

Goodwill is calculated as the excess of the consideration transferred over the identifiable net assets acquired in a business combination and represents the future economic benefits expected to arise from anticipated synergies and intangible assets acquired that do not qualify for separate recognition, including increased footprint, assembled workforce, noncontractual relationships and other agreements. We assess the recoverability of our goodwill annually, or more frequently whenever events or substantive changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of a reporting unit may exceed its fair value. We test goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level. To determine our reporting units, we evaluate the components one level below the segment level and we aggregate the components if they have similar economic characteristics. As a result of this assessment, our reporting units are generally the same as our reportable segments. We evaluate the determination of our reporting units used to test for impairment periodically or whenever events or substantive changes in circumstances occur. The assessment of recoverability may first consider qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. A quantitative assessment is performed if the qualitative assessment results in a more-likely-than-not determination or if a qualitative assessment is not performed. The quantitative assessment considers whether the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, in which case an impairment charge is recorded to the extent the reporting unit’s carrying value exceeds its fair value. Unless presented separately, the impairment charge is included as a component of amortization expense. We did not recognize any impairment charges in any of the periods presented.

Intangible Assets
		2019					2018
December 31 (in millions)	Weighted-Average Original Useful Life as of December 31, 2019	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets:
Franchise rights	N/A	$	59,365				$	59,365
Trade names	N/A	8,809					9,633
FCC licenses	N/A	2,337					2,333
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets:
Customer relationships	14 years	22,884		$	(8,295	)	25,046		$	(6,682	)
Software	5 years	15,357		(7,287		)	11,395		(5,990		)
Other agreements and rights	23 years	3,958		(1,635		)	4,145		(1,522		)
Total		$	112,710	$	(17,217	)	$	111,917	$	(14,194	)

Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets

Indefinite-lived intangible assets consist primarily of our cable franchise rights. Our cable franchise rights represent the values we attributed to agreements with state and local authorities that allow access to homes and businesses in cable service areas acquired in business combinations. We do not amortize our cable franchise rights because we have determined that they meet the definition of indefinite-lived intangible assets since there are no legal, regulatory, contractual, competitive, economic or other factors which limit the period over which these rights will contribute to our cash flows. We reassess this determination periodically or whenever events or substantive changes in circumstances occur.

We assess the recoverability of our cable franchise rights and other indefinite-lived intangible assets annually, or more frequently whenever events or substantive changes in circumstances indicate that the assets might be impaired. Our three Cable Communications divisions represent the unit of account we use to test for impairment of our cable franchise rights. We evaluate the unit of account used to test for impairment of our cable franchise rights and other indefinite-lived intangible assets periodically or whenever events or substantive changes in circumstances occur to ensure impairment testing is performed at an appropriate level. The assessment of recoverability may first consider qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset is less than its carrying amount. A quantitative assessment is performed if the qualitative assessment results in a more-likely-than-not determination or if a qualitative assessment is not performed. When performing a quantitative assessment, we estimate the fair value of our cable franchise rights and other indefinite-lived intangible assets primarily based on a discounted cash flow analysis that involves significant judgment. When analyzing the fair values indicated under the discounted cash flow models, we also consider multiples of Adjusted EBITDA generated by the underlying assets, current market transactions and profitability information. If the fair value of our cable franchise rights or other indefinite-lived intangible assets were less than the carrying amount, we would recognize an impairment charge for the difference between the estimated fair value and the carrying value of the assets. Unless presented separately, the impairment charge is included as a component of amortization expense. We did not recognize any material impairment charges in any of the periods presented. 

Finite-Lived Intangible Assets

Estimated Amortization Expense of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
(in millions)
2020	$	4,113
2021	$	3,649
2022	$	3,090
2023	$	2,589
2024	$	2,184

Finite-lived intangible assets are subject to amortization and consist primarily of customer relationships acquired in business combinations, software and intellectual property rights. Our finite-lived intangible assets are amortized primarily on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful life or the term of the associated agreement.

We capitalize direct development costs associated with internal-use software, including external direct costs of material and services and payroll costs for employees devoting time to these software projects. We also capitalize costs associated with the purchase of software licenses. We generally amortize them on a straight-line basis over a period not to exceed five years. We expense maintenance and training costs, as well as costs incurred during the preliminary stage of a project, as they are incurred. We capitalize initial operating system software costs and amortize them over the life of the associated hardware.

We evaluate the recoverability of our finite-lived intangible assets whenever events or substantive changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. The evaluation is based on the cash flows generated by the underlying asset groups, including estimated future operating results, trends or other determinants of fair value. If the total of the expected future undiscounted cash flows were less than the carrying amount of the asset group, we would recognize an impairment charge to the extent the carrying amount of the asset group exceeded its estimated fair value. Unless presented separately, the impairment charge is included as a component of amortization expense.

NBCUniversal Media LLC [Member]

Goodwill And Intangible Assets [Line Items]

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Note 11: Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill
(in millions)	Cable Networks			Broadcast Television		Filmed Entertainment			Theme Parks		Total
Balance, December 31, 2017	$	13,427		$	806	$	3,212		$	6,544	$	23,989
Acquisitions	—			36		—			—		36
Dispositions	—			—		(8		)	—		(8		)
Adjustments	(13		)	1		(9		)	—		(21		)
Foreign currency translation	(7		)	—		(11		)	140		122
Balance, December 31, 2018	13,407			843		3,184			6,684		24,118
Acquisitions	162			14		—			—		176
Dispositions	—			—		—			—		—
Adjustments	(105		)	—		1			—		(104		)
Foreign currency translation	(2		)	—		(3		)	55		50
Balance, December 31, 2019	$	13,462		$	857	$	3,182		$	6,739	$	24,240

Goodwill is calculated as the excess of the consideration transferred over the identifiable net assets acquired in a business combination and represents the future economic benefits expected to arise from anticipated synergies and intangible assets acquired that do not qualify for separate recognition, including assembled workforce, noncontractual relationships and other agreements. We assess the recoverability of our goodwill annually, or more frequently whenever events or substantive changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of a reporting unit may exceed its fair value. We test goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level. To determine our reporting units, we evaluate the components one level below the segment level and we aggregate the components if they have similar economic characteristics. As a result of this assessment, our reporting units are generally the same as our four reportable segments. We evaluate the determination of our reporting units used to test for impairment periodically or whenever events or substantive changes in circumstances occur. The assessment of recoverability may first consider qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. A quantitative assessment is performed if the qualitative assessment results in a more-likely-than-not determination or if a qualitative assessment is not performed. The quantitative assessment considers whether the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, in which case an impairment charge is recorded to the extent the reporting unit’s carrying value exceeds its fair value. Unless presented separately, the impairment charge is included as a component of amortization expense. We did not recognize any impairment charges in any of the periods presented.

Intangible Assets
		2019					2018
December 31 (in millions)	Weighted-Average Original Useful Life as of December 31, 2019	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets:
Customer relationships	19 years	$	13,261	$	(6,929	)	$	13,269	$	(6,283	)
Software	5 years	2,088		(1,205		)	1,779		(932		)
Other	19 years	3,711		(1,525		)	3,619		(1,375		)
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets:
Trade names	N/A	2,927					2,981
FCC licenses	N/A	612					608
Total		$	22,599	$	(9,659	)	$	22,256	$	(8,590	)

Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets

Indefinite-lived intangible assets consist of trade names and FCC licenses. We assess the recoverability of our indefinite-lived intangible assets annually, or more frequently whenever events or substantive changes in circumstances indicate that the assets might be impaired. We evaluate the unit of account used to test for impairment of our indefinite-lived intangible assets periodically or whenever events or substantive changes in circumstances occur to ensure impairment testing is performed at an appropriate level. The assessment of recoverability may first consider qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset is less than its carrying amount. A quantitative assessment is performed if the qualitative assessment results in a more-likely-than-not determination or if a qualitative assessment is not performed. When performing a quantitative assessment, we estimate the fair value of our indefinite-lived intangible assets primarily based on a discounted cash flow analysis that involves significant judgment. When analyzing the fair values indicated under the discounted cash flow models, we also consider multiples of Adjusted EBITDA generated by the underlying assets, current market transactions and profitability information. If the fair value of our indefinite-lived intangible assets were less than the carrying amount, we would recognize an impairment charge for the difference between the estimated fair value and the carrying value of the assets. Unless presented separately, the impairment charge is included as a component of amortization expense. We did not recognize any material impairment charges in any of the periods presented.

Finite-Lived Intangible Assets

Estimated Amortization Expense of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
(in millions)
2020	$	1,099
2021	$	1,006
2022	$	914
2023	$	876
2024	$	847

Finite-lived intangible assets are subject to amortization and consist primarily of customer relationships acquired in business combinations, software and intellectual property rights. Our finite-lived intangible assets are amortized primarily on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful life or the term of the associated agreement.

We capitalize direct development costs associated with internal-use software, including external direct costs of material and services and payroll costs for employees devoting time to these software projects. We also capitalize costs associated with the purchase of software licenses. We generally amortize them on a straight-line basis over a period not to exceed five years. We expense maintenance and training costs, as well as costs incurred during the preliminary stage of a project, as they are incurred. We capitalize initial operating system software costs and amortize them over the life of the associated hardware.

We evaluate the recoverability of our finite-lived intangible assets whenever events or substantive changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. The evaluation is based on the cash flows generated by the underlying asset groups, including estimated future operating results, trends or other determinants of fair value. If the total of the expected future undiscounted cash flows were less than the carrying amount of the asset group, we would recognize an impairment charge to the extent the carrying amount of the asset group exceeded its estimated fair value. Unless presented separately, the impairment charge is included as a component of amortization expense.