Revenue Recognition

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2024

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

17.Revenue Recognition

Contract Balances

Our allowance for credit losses as of December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 were as follows:

	Pay-TV		Wireless		Broadband and Satellite Services		Total
	(In thousands)
Balance, December 31, 2021	$	32,947	$	5,587	$	14,588	$	53,122
Current period provision for expected credit losses		75,518		4,146		32,911		112,575
Write-offs charged against allowance		(67,823)		(6,022)		(36,011)		(109,856)
Acquisitions		—		78		—		78
Foreign currency translation		—		—		3,871		3,871
Balance, December 31, 2022	$	40,642	$	3,789	$	15,359	$	59,790
Current period provision for expected credit losses		56,421		10,881		34,085		101,387
Write-offs charged against allowance		(61,743)		4,001		(29,371)		(87,113)
Foreign currency translation		—		—		326		326
Balance, December 31, 2023	$	35,320	$	18,671	$	20,399	$	74,390
Current period provision for expected credit losses		56,729		24,989		25,653		107,371
Write-offs charged against allowance		(49,474)		(14,921)		(34,193)		(98,588)
Foreign currency translation		—		—		(545)		(545)
Balance, December 31, 2024	$	42,575	$	28,739	$	11,314	$	82,628

Contract assets arise when we recognize revenue for providing a service in advance of billing our customers. Our contract assets typically relate to our long-term contracts where we recognize revenue using the cost-based input method and the revenue recognized exceeds the amount billed to the customer.

Our contract assets also include receivables related to sales-type leases recognized over the lease term as the customer is billed. Contract assets are amortized as the customer is billed for services. Contract assets are recorded in “Trade accounts receivable, net” on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The following table summarizes our contract asset balances:

	As of December 31,
	2024		2023
	(In thousands)
Contract assets	$	108,092	$	66,103

Contract liabilities arise when we bill our customers and receive consideration in advance of providing the service. Contract liabilities are recognized as revenue when the service has been provided to the customer.

Contract liabilities are recorded in “Deferred revenue and other” and “Long-term deferred revenue and other long-term liabilities” on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The following table summarizes our contract liability balances:

	As of December 31,
	2024		2023
	(In thousands)
Contract liabilities	$	649,054	$	710,456

Our beginning of period contract liability recorded as customer contract revenue during 2024 was $664 million.

Performance Obligations

Pay-TV and Wireless Segments

We apply a practical expedient and do not disclose the value of the remaining performance obligations for contracts that are less than one year in duration, which represent a substantial majority of our revenue. As such, the amount of revenue related to unsatisfied performance obligations is not necessarily indicative of our future revenue.

Broadband and Satellite Services Segment

As of December 31, 2024, the remaining performance obligations for our customer contracts was approximately $1.6 billion. Performance obligations expected to be satisfied within one year and greater than one year are 27% and 73%, respectively. This amount and percentages exclude leasing arrangements and agreements with consumer customers.

Contract Acquisition Costs

The following table presents the activity in our contract acquisition costs, net:

	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2024		2023		2022
	(In thousands)
Balance, beginning of period	$	352,114	$	460,876	$	555,614
Additions		260,403		321,470		400,124
Amortization expense		(321,717)		(431,181)		(495,456)
Foreign currency translation		(1,600)		949		594
Balance, end of period	$	289,200	$	352,114	$	460,876