BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of presentation and principles of consolidation

Basis of Presentation

        The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been recorded. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2012.

        The condensed consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2011 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for the complete financial statements.

        For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K as of and for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Principles of Consolidation

        Wholly owned subsidiaries and majority owned ventures where the Company has operating and financial control, as well as variable interest entities where the Company has been deemed the primary beneficiary with power and ability to control, are consolidated. Those ventures where the Company exercises significant influence, but does not exercise operating and financial control, are accounted for under the equity method. The Company uses the purchase method of accounting for all business combinations. Results of subsidiaries acquired and accounted for under the purchase method are included in operations from the date of acquisition. Noncontrolling interests represent a noncontrolling shareholder's proportionate share of the equity in certain of the Company's consolidated entities. Intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated upon consolidation. Disposals are reflected at the time risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred.

        The Company is the primary beneficiary of the Channel 31 Group, a variable interest entity consisting of a 20% participation interest in Teleradiokompaniya 31st Kanal LLP ("Channel 31"), and a 70% and 60% interest in Prim LLP and Advertising and Marketing LLP, respectively, which provide programming content and the advertising sales function to Channel 31 (together, the "Channel 31 Group"). These interests provide the Company with a right to 60% of the economic interest of the Channel 31 Group. The Company consolidates the Channel 31 Group. As of March 31, 2012, the Channel 31 Group had assets (excluding intercompany assets) totaling $23,080 and liabilities (excluding intercompany liabilities) totaling $10,848. These assets and liabilities primarily relate to broadcasting licenses, and the related deferred tax liabilities and tax contingencies assumed at acquisition of the Channel 31 Group. The Company finances the Channel 31 Group's operations during the ordinary course of business. As of March 31, 2012 the amount of intercompany payables of the Channel 31 Group totaled $5,104. Channel 31 Group's net loss attributable to CTC Media, Inc. stockholders totaled $189 for the three months ended March 31, 2012. This amount includes intercompany expenses of $149.

Use of Estimates

• Use of Estimates

        The preparation of financial statements in conformity with the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates in the financial statements include, among others, the estimate of fair values in business combinations, estimates of the fair value of the Company's common stock in determining stock- based compensation, the amortization method and periods for programming rights and sublicensing rights, useful lives of tangible and intangible assets, impairment of goodwill, valuation of intangible assets and long-lived assets, estimates of contingencies, and the determination of valuation allowances for deferred tax assets. Consequently, actual results may differ from those estimates.

Revenue Recognition

• Revenue Recognition

        Revenue is recognized when there is persuasive evidence of an arrangement, services have been rendered, the price is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. An allowance for doubtful accounts is maintained for estimated losses resulting from the customers' inability to make payments. The Company recognizes advertising revenues at the moment when the advertising is broadcast and net of Value Added Taxes ("VAT").

        The Company's own sales house serves as the exclusive advertising sales agent for all of its networks in Russia, and the advertising is placed with advertisers and their agencies under direct sales arrangements with them. The sales house is primarily responsible for all of national and regional advertising sales, with the exception of advertising sales to several local clients of regional stations, which is made through Video International. The Company recognizes its Russian advertising revenues, excluding regional advertising revenues from local clients, based on the gross amounts billed to the advertisers and their agencies under direct sales arrangements. Advertising sales to local clients of regional stations under the Company's agency agreements with Video International are recognized net of agency commissions. Compensation expenses payable to Video International for the use of advertising software, related maintenance and analytical support and consulting services are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the Company's consolidated statement of income.

        Sublicensing, own production and other revenue primarily represent revenue the Company earns from sublicensing its rights to programming and from licensing of internally-produced programming. Sublicensing and own production revenue is recognized at such time as there is persuasive evidence that a sale or arrangement with a customer exists, the underlying programming is complete and has been transferred to the customer, the licensing period has commenced and the customer can begin use, the arrangement fee is fixed or determinable, and collection of the arrangement fee is reasonably assured.

        Payments received in advance for advertising and other revenue are recorded as deferred revenue until earned.

Fair Value Measurements

• Fair Value Measurements

        Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The fair value hierarchy prescribed by the standard contains three levels as follows:

        Level 1—Unadjusted quoted prices that are available in active markets for the identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date.

        Level 2—Other observable inputs available at the measurement date, other than quoted prices included in Level 1, either directly or indirectly, including: (1) quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; (2) quoted prices for identical or similar assets in non-active markets; (3) inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; and (4) inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by other observable market data.

        Level 3—Unobservable inputs that cannot be corroborated by observable market data and reflect the use of significant management judgment. These values are generally determined using pricing models for which the assumptions utilize management's estimates of market participant assumptions.

        There were no transfers between categories during the periods presented.

        The fair values of the Company's derivative assets of $1,258 and derivative liabilities of $2,150 have been classified as Level 2. The fair value of the Company's foreign exchange forward contracts is determined based on the present value of future cash flows using market-based observable inputs such as forward rates, discounts rates and foreign currency exchange rates. Counterparty credit risk did not have a material impact on derivative fair value estimates. The Company's derivative instruments are short-term in nature, primarily one month to one year in duration. See also Note 10.

        The carrying amounts of the Company's financial instruments, which include cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate their fair value as of December 31, 2011 and March 31, 2012, respectively.

Goodwill and Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets Impairment Tests

• Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets Impairment Tests

        The Company evaluates goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives for impairment annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that such carrying value may not be recoverable. Other than its annual review, factors the Company considers important that could trigger an impairment review are under-performance of operating segments or changes in projected results, changes in the manner of utilization of the asset, and negative market conditions or economic trends. Therefore, the Company's use of its assets and its judgment as to the future prospects of each of its businesses can have a significant impact on the Company's reported results and financial condition.

        As the result of impairment reviews performed in 2011, the Company recorded non-cash impairment losses totaling $23.6 million related to several regional broadcasting licenses and $71.7 million related to Peretz goodwill. The decline in fair values of these assets was due to revised estimates of future cash flows during the third and fourth quarters of 2011 primarily to reflect the revised expectations of the total advertising market, following reduced advertising demand and increased uncertainty in the medium-term. In addition, of the total impairment losses, $11.1 million related to impairment of the DTV trade name as a result of the re-branding of the channel.

        During the first quarter of 2012, internal and external estimates of the TV advertising markets in which the Company operates indicated there were no downward revisions to the Company's internal cash flow projections. There were no indicators of additional impairment for the Company's goodwill or long-lived assets, and the Company was not required to record any additional impairment charges. See also Note 10.

Programming Rights

• Programming rights

        Programming rights are stated at the lower of their amortized cost or net realizable value. The Company reports an asset and liability for the rights acquired and obligations incurred at the commencement of the licensing period when the cost of the programming is known or reasonably determinable, the program material has been accepted and the programming is available for airing.

        The Company's programming rights also include internally produced programming. The cost of such programming includes expenses related to the acquisition of format rights, direct costs associated with production and capitalized overhead. The Company capitalizes production costs, including costs of individuals or departments with exclusive or significant responsibility for the production of programming that can be allocated to such particular programming, as a component of film costs. Internally-produced programming is reported at the lower of amortized cost or fair value.

        Purchased program rights are classified as current or non-current assets based on anticipated usage. Internally produced programming is classified as non-current.

        The Company amortizes programming based on expected revenue generation patterns, based on the proportion that current estimated revenues bear to the estimated remaining total lifetime revenues. If the initial airing of content allowed by a license is expected to provide more value than subsequent airings, the Company applies an accelerated method of amortization. These accelerated methods of amortization depend on the estimated number of runs the content is expected to receive, and are determined based on a study of historical results for similar programming. For content that is expected to be aired only once, the entire cost is recognized as an expense on the first run. To the extent that the revenues the Company expects to earn from broadcasting a program are lower than the book value, the program rights are written down to their net realizable value by way of recording an additional amortization charge. Such write-downs establish a new cost basis for programming rights.

Stock-Based Compensation

• Stock-based compensation expense

        The Company estimates the fair value of stock options at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Black-Scholes pricing model was originally developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options, which have different characteristics than the Company's employee stock options. The model is also sensitive to changes in the subjective assumptions, which can materially affect the fair value estimate. These subjective assumptions include expected volatility, the expected life of the options, future employee turnover rates, future employee stock option exercise behavior and the fair value of the Company's common stock on the date of grant. The Company determines the fair value of its common stock by using closing prices as quoted on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. Performance-based nonvested share awards require management to make assumptions regarding the likelihood of achieving the set goals.

        Once the Company has estimated the fair value of the equity instruments, it recognizes this estimated cost as a stock-based compensation expense over the service period. Equity-based incentive awards that meet liability accounting criteria are remeasured at each reporting date at their fair value until settlement. The fair value of such unsettled equity-based incentive awards is recognized in liabilities.

Financial instruments and hedging activities

• Financial instruments and hedging activities

        The Company measures derivatives at fair value and recognize them as either assets or liabilities on the balance sheet. The Company designates derivatives as either fair value hedges or cash flow hedges when the required criteria are met. Changes in the fair value of derivatives that are designated and qualify as fair value hedges are recorded in the consolidated statement of income together with any changes in the fair value of the hedged asset or liability that is attributed to the hedged risk. The effective portion of changes in the fair value of derivatives that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges are recognized in equity. The gain or loss relating to the ineffective portion is recognized immediately in the consolidated statement of income. For derivatives that do not meet the conditions for hedge accounting, gains and losses from changes in the fair value are included in the consolidated statement of income. See Note 10, Commitments and Contingiencies below.

Tax provisions and valuation allowance for deferred tax assets

• Tax provisions and valuation allowance for deferred tax assets

        The Company records valuation allowances related to the tax effects of deductible temporary differences and loss carryforwards when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that the respective tax assets will not be realized. Changes in the Company's assessment of the probability of realization of deferred tax assets may affect the Company's effective income tax rate.

        The Company records temporary differences related to investments in its Russian subsidiaries. These temporary differences consisted primarily of undistributed earnings that the Company does not plan to permanently reinvest in operations outside the U.S.

        Significant judgment is required to determine when income tax provisions should be recorded and, when facts and circumstances change, when such provisions should be released. Although the Company believes that its judgments and estimates are reasonable, actual results could differ, and the Company may be exposed to impairment losses that could be material.