Commitments and Contingencies

12 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

NOTE 17. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Commitments

The Company has commitments under certain firm contractual arrangements (“firm commitments”) to make future payments. These firm commitments secure the future rights to various assets and services to be used in the normal course of operations. The following table summarizes the Company’s material firm commitments as of June 30, 2020:


	As of June 30, 2020
	Payments Due by Period
	Total		Less than 1 year		1-3 years		3-5 years		More than 5 years
	(in millions)
Purchase obligations^(a)	$	904	$	316	$	343	$	133	$	112
Sports programming rights^(b)	1,790		408		665		363		354
Programming costs^(c)	781		209		370		182		20
Operating leases^(d)
Transmission costs^(e)	215		27		52		42		94
Land and buildings	1,343		138		273		227		705
Plant and machinery	21		9		10		2		—
Finance leases
Transmission costs^(e)	128		31		55		42		—
Borrowings^(f)	1,141		48		761		321		11
Interest payments on borrowings^(g)	107		39		53		15		—
Total commitments and contractual obligations	$	6,430	$	1,225	$	2,582	$	1,327	$	1,296

________________________

(a)The Company has commitments under purchase obligations related to minimum subscriber guarantees for license fees, printing contracts, capital projects, marketing agreements, production services and other legally binding commitments.

(b)The Company has sports programming rights commitments with the National Rugby League, Australian Football League, Cricket Australia, domestic football league and Australian Rugby Union as well as certain other broadcast rights which are payable through fiscal 2028. During June 2020, the Company amended and extended its sports programming rights agreement with the National Rugby League to license certain media rights through fiscal 2028 for approximately A$1.5 billion.

(c)The Company has programming rights commitments with various suppliers for programming content.

(d)The Company leases office facilities, warehouse facilities, printing plants, satellite services and equipment. These leases, which are classified as operating leases, are expected to be paid at certain dates through fiscal 2048. This amount includes approximately $13 million of office facilities that have been subleased from Fox Corporation (“FOX”). Amounts reflected represent only the Company’s lease obligations for which it has firm commitments.

(e)The Company has contractual commitments for satellite transmission services. The Company’s satellite transponder services arrangements extend through fiscal 2032 and are accounted for as operating or finance leases, based on the underlying terms of those arrangements.

(f)See Note 9—Borrowings.

(g)Reflects the Company’s expected future interest payments on borrowings outstanding and interest rates applicable at June 30, 2020. Such rates are subject to change in future periods. See Note 9—Borrowings.

Contingencies

The Company routinely is involved in various legal proceedings, claims and governmental inspections or investigations, including those discussed below. The outcome of these matters and claims is subject to significant uncertainty, and the Company often cannot predict what the eventual outcome of pending matters will be or the timing of the ultimate resolution of these matters. Fees, expenses, fines, penalties, judgments or settlement costs which might be incurred by the Company in connection with the various proceedings could adversely affect its results of operations and financial condition.

The Company establishes an accrued liability for legal claims when it determines that a loss is both probable and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Once established, accruals are adjusted from time to time, as appropriate, in light of

additional information. The amount of any loss ultimately incurred in relation to matters for which an accrual has been established may be higher or lower than the amounts accrued for such matters. Legal fees associated with litigation and similar proceedings are expensed as incurred. Except as otherwise provided below, for the contingencies disclosed for which there is at least a reasonable possibility that a loss may be incurred, the Company was unable to estimate the amount of loss or range of loss. The Company recognizes gain contingencies when the gain becomes realized or realizable.

News America Marketing

In May 2020, the Company sold its News America Marketing business. In the Disposition, the Company retained certain liabilities, including those arising from the legal proceedings with Insignia and Valassis described below.

Insignia Systems, Inc.

On July 11, 2019, Insignia filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota against News America Marketing FSI L.L.C. (“NAM FSI”), News America Marketing In-Store Services L.L.C. (“NAM In-Store”) and News Corporation (together, the “NAM Parties”) alleging violations of federal and state antitrust laws and common law business torts. The complaint seeks treble damages, injunctive relief and attorneys’ fees and costs. On August 14, 2019, the NAM Parties answered the complaint and asserted a counterclaim against Insignia for breach of contract, alleging that Insignia violated a prior settlement agreement between NAM In-Store and Insignia. On July 10, 2020, each of the NAM Parties and Insignia filed a motion for summary judgment on the counterclaim. While it is not possible at this time to predict with any degree of certainty the ultimate outcome of this action, the NAM Parties believe they have been compliant with applicable laws and intend to defend themselves vigorously.

Valassis Communications, Inc.

On November 8, 2013, Valassis filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan (the “District Court”) against the NAM Parties and News America Incorporated (together, the “NAM Group”) alleging violations of federal and state antitrust laws and common law business torts, including unfair competition. The complaint seeks treble damages, injunctive relief and attorneys’ fees and costs. NAM In-Store and NAM FSI asserted a counterclaim against Valassis for unfair competition, alleging that Valassis has engaged in the same practices that it alleges to be unfair. In November 2019, the parties agreed to discontinue the unfair competition claim and counterclaim.

On December 19, 2013, the NAM Group filed a motion to dismiss the complaint and on March 30, 2016, the District Court dismissed Valassis’s bundling and tying claims. On September 25, 2017, the District Court granted Valassis’s motion to transfer the case to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (the “N.Y. District Court”). On April 13, 2018, the NAM Group filed a motion for summary judgment dismissing the case which was granted in part and denied in part by the N.Y. District Court on February 21, 2019. The N.Y. District Court found that the NAM Group’s bidding practices were lawful but denied its motion with respect to claims arising out of certain other alleged contracting practices. In addition, the N.Y. District Court also dismissed Valassis’s claims relating to free-standing insert products. On December 20, 2019, the N.Y. District Court granted the NAM Group’s motion to exclude the testimony of Valassis’s sole damages expert, but subsequently clarified that Valassis could seek the court’s permission to prove damages through other evidence. Valassis filed a motion to supplement and amend its expert and pre-trial damages disclosures, which the N.Y. District Court granted on April 24, 2020. On May 8, 2020, the NAM Group filed a motion to reconsider the N.Y. District Court's April 24, 2020 decision, which Valassis has opposed. A new trial date has not been set, and in light of COVID-19, the conduct of jury trials in the N.Y. District Court is currently suspended until further order of the court. While it is not possible at this time to predict with any degree of certainty the ultimate outcome of this action, the NAM Group believes it has been compliant with applicable laws and intends to defend itself vigorously.

U.K. Newspaper Matters

Civil claims have been brought against the Company with respect to, among other things, voicemail interception and inappropriate payments to public officials at the Company’s former publication, The News of the World, and at The Sun, and related matters (the “U.K. Newspaper Matters”). The Company has admitted liability in many civil cases and has settled a number of cases. The Company also settled a number of claims through a private compensation scheme which was closed to new claims after April 8, 2013.

In connection with the Separation, the Company and 21st Century Fox agreed in the Separation and Distribution Agreement that 21st Century Fox would indemnify the Company for payments made after the Distribution Date arising out of civil claims and investigations relating to the U.K. Newspaper Matters as well as legal and professional fees and expenses paid in connection with the previously concluded criminal matters, other than fees, expenses and costs relating to employees (i) who are not directors, officers or certain designated employees or (ii) with respect to civil matters, who are not co-defendants with the Company or 21st Century Fox. 21st Century Fox’s indemnification obligations with respect to these matters are settled on an after-tax basis. In March 2019, as part of the separation of FOX from 21st Century Fox, the Company, News Corp Holdings UK & Ireland, 21st Century Fox and FOX entered into a Partial Assignment and Assumption Agreement, pursuant to which, among other things, 21st Century Fox assigned, conveyed and transferred to FOX all of its indemnification obligations with respect to the U.K. Newspaper Matters.

The net expense (benefit) related to the U.K. Newspaper Matters in Selling, general and administrative was $8 million, $10 million and $(35) million for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020, June 30, 2019 and June 30, 2018, respectively. As of June 30, 2020, the Company has provided for its best estimate of the liability for the claims that have been filed and costs incurred, including liabilities associated with employment taxes, and has accrued approximately $64 million. The amount to be indemnified by FOX of approximately $66 million was recorded as a receivable in Other current assets on the Balance Sheet as of June 30, 2020. The net expense for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020 and the net benefit for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018 reflects a $5 million and $46 million impact, respectively, from the reversal of a portion of the Company’s previously accrued liability and the corresponding receivable from FOX as the result of an agreement reached with the relevant tax authority with respect to certain employment taxes. It is not possible to estimate the liability or corresponding receivable for any additional claims that may be filed given the information that is currently available to the Company. If more claims are filed and additional information becomes available, the Company will update the liability provision and corresponding receivable for such matters.

The Company is not able to predict the ultimate outcome or cost of the civil claims. It is possible that these proceedings and any adverse resolution thereof could damage its reputation, impair its ability to conduct its business and adversely affect its results of operations and financial condition.

Other

The Company’s tax returns are subject to on-going review and examination by various tax authorities. Tax authorities may not agree with the treatment of items reported in the Company’s tax returns, and therefore the outcome of tax reviews and examinations can be unpredictable.

The Company believes it has appropriately accrued for the expected outcome of uncertain tax matters and believes such liabilities represent a reasonable provision for taxes ultimately expected to be paid; however, these liabilities may need to be adjusted as new information becomes known and as tax examinations continue to progress, or as settlements or litigations occur.