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Related Party Transactions
9 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011
Related Party Transactions Disclosure [Abstract]  
Related Party Transactions

NOTE 8. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

National Amusements, Inc. (“NAI”), directly and through a wholly-owned subsidiary, is the controlling stockholder of both Viacom and CBS Corporation (“CBS”). Sumner M. Redstone, the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and controlling shareholder of NAI, is the Executive Chairman of the Board and Founder of both Viacom and CBS. In addition, Shari Redstone, who is Sumner Redstone's daughter, is the President of NAI, and the Vice Chair of the Board of both Viacom and CBS. George Abrams, one of the Company's directors, serves on the boards of both NAI and Viacom, and Frederic Salerno, another of the Company's directors, serves on the boards of both Viacom and CBS. Philippe Dauman, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, also serves on the boards of both NAI and Viacom. Transactions between Viacom and related parties are overseen by the Company's Governance and Nominating Committee.

 

Viacom and NAI Related Party Transactions

NAI licenses films in the ordinary course of business for its motion picture theaters from all major studios, including Paramount. During the nine months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, Paramount earned revenues from NAI in connection with these licenses in the aggregate amounts of approximately $20 million and $17 million, respectively.

 

Viacom and CBS Corporation Related Party Transactions

In the ordinary course of business, the Company is involved in transactions with CBS and its various businesses that result in the recognition of revenues and expenses by Viacom. Transactions with CBS are settled in cash.

Paramount earns revenues and recognizes expenses associated with the distribution of certain television products into the home entertainment market on behalf of CBS. Under the terms of the agreement, Paramount is entitled to retain a fee based on a percentage of gross receipts and is generally responsible for all out-of-pocket costs, which are recoupable together with any advance amounts paid. Paramount made advance payments of $50 million and $100 million to CBS in the quarters ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Paramount also earns revenues from CBS through leasing of studio space and licensing of certain film products. Additionally, the Media Networks segment recognizes advertising revenues from CBS.

The Media Networks segment purchases television programming from CBS. The cost of such purchases is initially recorded as acquired program rights inventory and amortized over the estimated period that revenues will be generated. Both of the Company's segments recognize advertising expenses related to the placement of advertisements with CBS.

The following table summarizes the transactions with CBS as included in the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements:

 

 Quarter Ended Nine Months Ended
CBS Related Party TransactionsJune 30, June 30,
(in millions)2011 2010 2011 2010
            
Consolidated Statements of Earnings           
Revenues$ 54 $ 66 $ 241 $ 281
Operating expenses$ 87 $ 93 $ 313 $ 346
            
       June 30, September 30,
       2011 2010
Consolidated Balance Sheets           
Accounts receivable      $ 5 $ 9
Other assets        1   1
            
Total due from CBS      $ 6 $ 10
            
Accounts payable      $ 3 $ 4
Participants' share and residuals, current        143   227
Program rights obligations, current        76   100
Program rights obligations, noncurrent        209   263
Other liabilities        37   39
            
Total due to CBS       $ 468 $ 633
            

Other Related Party Transactions

In the ordinary course of business, the Company is involved in related party transactions with equity investees, principally related to investments in unconsolidated variable interest entities (“VIEs”) as more fully described in Note 11. These related party transactions primarily relate to the provision of advertising services, licensing of film and programming content, distribution of films and provision of certain administrative support services for which the impact on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements is as follows:

 

 Quarter Ended Nine Months Ended
Other Related Party TransactionsJune 30, June 30,
(in millions)2011 2010 2011 2010
            
Consolidated Statements of Earnings           
Revenues$ 49 $ 72 $ 135 $ 222
Operating expenses$ 17 $ 26 $ 48 $ 98
Selling, general and administrative$ (4) $ (8) $ (12) $ (8)
            
       June 30, September 30,
       2011 2010
Consolidated Balance Sheets           
Accounts receivable      $ 86 $ 88
Other assets        3   9
            
Total due from other related parties      $ 89 $ 97
            
Accounts payable      $ 28 $ 26
Other liabilities        16   29
            
Total due to other related parties      $ 44 $ 55
            

All other related party transactions are not material to the periods presented.