Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

10. GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Goodwill and other intangible assets consisted of the following:

	As of December 31,
( in thousands )	2015			2014
Goodwill, net (1)	$	1,804,748		$	573,119
Other intangible assets:
Amortizable intangible assets:
Carrying amount:
Acquired network distribution rights	$	744,962		$	586,687
Customer and advertiser lists		223,726			94,669
Copyrights and other tradenames		390,111			66,782
Broadcast licenses		124,030			-
Acquired rights and other		120,267			120,227
Total carrying amount		1,603,096			868,365
Accumulated amortization:
Acquired network distribution rights		(195,678	)		(157,847	)
Customer and advertiser lists		(81,892	)		(71,870	)
Copyrights and other tradenames		(30,875	)		(20,046	)
Broadcast licenses		(2,524	)		-
Acquired rights and other		(29,463	)		(22,721	)
Total accumulated amortization		(340,432	)		(272,484	)
Total other intangible assets, net	$	1,262,664		$	595,881

(1) Includes accumulated impairments of $44,386 in 2015 and 2014

Activity related to goodwill and amortizable intangible assets by segment is as follows:


(in thousands)	U.S. Networks			International Networks			Corporate and Other		Total
Goodwill
Balance as of December 31, 2013	$	510,484		$	64,098		$	-	$	574,582
Additions - business acquisitions		-			-			-		-
Foreign currency translation adjustment		-			(1,463	)		-		(1,463	)
Balance as of December 31, 2014		510,484			62,635					573,119
Additions - business acquisitions		-			1,259,447			-		1,259,447
Foreign currency translation adjustment		-			(27,818	)		-		(27,818	)
Balance as of December 31, 2015	$	510,484		$	1,294,264		$	-	$	1,804,748
(in thousands)
Amortizable Intangible Assets
Balance as of December 31, 2013	$	573,083		$	81,926		$	-	$	655,009
Additions - business acquisitions		-			-			-		-
Foreign currency translation adjustment		-			(3,525	)		-		(3,525	)
Amortization		(48,318	)		(7,285	)		-		(55,603	)
Balance as of December 31, 2014		524,765			71,116			-		595,881
Additions - business acquisitions		-			761,362			-		761,362
Foreign currency translation adjustment		-			(25,932	)				(25,932	)
Amortization		(40,166	)		(28,481	)		-		(68,647	)
Balance as of December 31, 2015	$	484,599		$	778,065		$	-	$	1,262,664

Separately acquired intangible assets reflect the acquisition of certain rights that will expand our opportunity to earn future revenues. Cash payments for these acquired rights totaled $11.0 million, $10.9 million and $31.3 million in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and are reported as other, net in our consolidated statements of cash flows.

To determine the fair value of our reporting units, we used market data and discounted cash flow analyses. As the primary determination of fair value is determined using a discounted cash flow model, the resulting fair value is considered a Level 3 measurement. No impairment charges were identified as a result of our goodwill analyses in 2015 or 2014. We recorded a $24.7 million charge in 2013 to write-down goodwill associated with our EMEA reporting unit driven by delayed expansion into certain markets.

Amortization expense associated with intangible assets for each of the next five years is expected to be as follows:

( in thousands )	Estimated Amortization **
2016	$	86,310
2017	$	85,247
2018	$	84,951
2019	$	85,828
2020	$	77,570
Thereafter	$	842,758

** The functional currency of certain foreign subsidiaries differs from the U.S. Dollar, so these amounts are subject to change as rates fluctuate.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the aggregate amount of goodwill and a description of intangible assets, which may include (a) for amortizable intangible assets (also referred to as finite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, the amount of any significant residual value, and the weighted-average amortization period, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization (also referred to as indefinite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, and (c) the amount of research and development assets acquired and written off in the period, including the line item in the income statement in which the amounts written off are aggregated, if not readily apparent from the income statement. Also discloses (a) for amortizable intangibles assets in total and by major class, the gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization, the total amortization expense for the period, and the estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the five succeeding fiscal years, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization the carrying amount in total and by major class, and (c) for goodwill, in total and for each reportable segment, the changes in the carrying amount of goodwill during the period (including the aggregate amount of goodwill acquired, the aggregate amount of impairment losses recognized, and the amount of goodwill included in the gain (loss) on disposal of a reporting unit). If any part of goodwill has not been allocated to a reportable segment, discloses the unallocated amount and the reasons for not allocating. For each impairment loss recognized related to an intangible asset (excluding goodwill), discloses: (a) a description of the impaired intangible asset and the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method for determining fair value, (c) the caption in the income statement or the statement of activities in which the impairment loss is aggregated, and (d) the segment in which the impaired intangible asset is reported. For each goodwill impairment loss recognized, discloses: (a) a description of the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method of determining the fair value of the associated reporting unit, and (c) if a recognized impairment loss is an estimate not finalized and the reasons why the estimate is not final. May also disclose the nature and amount of any significant adjustments made to a previous estimate of an impairment loss.

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