Note 5 – Revenue Recognition

Revenue from contracts with customers is recognized as an unsatisfied performance obligation until the terms of a customer contract are satisfied; generally, this occurs with the transfer of control as we satisfy contractual performance obligations at a point in time or over time. Our contractual performance obligations include licensing of content and delivery of online advertisements on our owned and operated VOD platforms, the distribution of film content and production of episodic television series. Revenue is measured at contract inception as the amount of consideration we expect to receive in exchange for transferring goods or providing services. Our contracts are valued at a fixed price at inception and do not include any variable consideration or financing components in our normal course of business. Sales tax, value added tax, and other taxes that are collected concurrently with revenue producing activities are excluded from revenue.

The following tables disaggregates our revenue by major operating area (Line of Business):


	Year Ended December 31,
							% of
	2019		% of revenue		2018		revenue
Revenue:
Online networks	$	40,027,289	72	%	$	4,411,427	16	%
Television and film distribution		15,967,507	29	%		13,188,560	49	%
Television and short-form video production		610,356	1	%		10,152,020	38	%
Total revenue		56,605,152	102	%		27,752,007	103	%
Less: returns and allowances		(1,241,246)	(2)	%		(892,488)	(3)	%
Net revenue	$	55,363,906	100	%	$	26,859,519	100	%

Online Networks

In this business area, we distribute and exhibit VOD content directly to consumers across all digital platforms, such as connected TV’s, smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, gaming consoles and the web through our subsidiaries and operate AVOD networks including Crackle, Popcornflix® and others. We generate advertising revenues primarily by delivering video advertisements to our streaming viewers. We also distribute our own and third-party owned content to end viewers on our SVOD network Pivotshare.

Revenue from online digital distribution and VOD platforms in our Online Networks business area are recorded over time as advertisements are delivered and when monthly activity is reported by advertisers.

Television and Film Distribution

In this business area, we distribute movies and television series worldwide to consumers through license agreements across all media, including theatrical, home video, pay-per-view, free, cable, pay television, VOD, mobile and new digital media platforms worldwide.

The Company licenses and distributes individual and multi-film packages to its customers. Revenue from multi-film sales is allocated on a per title basis and recognized upon initial availability for exploitation by customers. In addition, the Company distributes DVDs and similar media to its customers. The Company recognizes revenue upon shipment of DVD units or similar media units to its customers. Provision for future returns and other allowances are established based upon historical experience. Revenue from the distribution of multi-film packages and DVDs and similar media is included in television and film distribution in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

Television and Short-Form Video Production

In this business area, we work with sponsors and use highly regarded independent producers to develop and produce our television and short-form video content, including Brand-related content. We also derive revenue from our subsidiary A Plus, which develops and distributes high-quality, empathetic short-form videos to millions of people worldwide. A Plus enhances our ability to distribute short form versions of our video productions and video library and provides us with content developed and distributed by A Plus that is complementary to the Brand.

The Company recognizes revenue from the production and distribution of television programs and short-form video content as each episode becomes available for delivery or becomes available for broadcast, and for short-form online videos, revenue is recognized when the videos are posted to a website for viewing. Revenue from the distribution of short-form online media content is included in television and short-form video production revenue in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. Cash advances received by the Company are recorded as deferred revenue until all performance obligations have been satisfied.

For all customer contracts, we evaluate whether we are the principal (i.e., report revenue on a gross basis) or the agent (i.e., report revenue on a net basis). Generally, we report revenue for advertisements placed on CSSE properties, films distributed and show productions on a gross basis (the amount billed to our customers is recorded as revenue, and the amount paid to our publishers is recorded as a cost of revenue). We are the principal because we control the advertising inventory before it is transferred to our customers. Our control is evidenced by our sole ability to monetize the advertising inventory, being primarily responsible to our customers, having discretion in establishing pricing, or a combination of these factors. We also generate revenue through agency relationships in which revenue is reported net of agency commissions and publisher payments in arrangements where we do not own the content or the ad inventory.

No impairment losses have arisen from any CSSE contracts with customers during year ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Performance obligations

The unit of measure under ASC 606 is a performance obligation, which is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct or series of distinct goods or services to a customer. A contract’s transaction price is allocated to each distinct performance obligation and recognized as revenue when, or as, the performance obligation is satisfied. Our contracts have either a single performance obligation as the promise to transfer services is not separately identifiable from other promises in the contracts and is, therefore, not distinct, or have multiple performance obligations, most commonly due to the contract covering multiple service offerings. For contracts with multiple performance obligations, the contract’s transaction price can generally be readily allocated to each performance obligation based upon the selling price of each distinct service in the contract. In cases where estimates are needed to allocate the transaction price, we use historical experience and projections based on currently available information.

Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities (Deferred Revenues)

The following table provides information about receivables, contract assets, and contract liabilities from contracts with customers:


	December 31,		December 31,
	2019		2018
Contract Assets	$	34,661,119	$	12,841,099
Contract Liabilities	$	—	$	6,469

Contract assets are primarily comprised of contract obligations that are generally satisfied annually under the terms of our contracts and are transferred to accounts receivable when the right to payment becomes unconditional. Contract liabilities relate to advance consideration received from customers under the terms of our contracts primarily related to cash payments received in advance of satisfaction of the contractual performance obligation. We receive payments from customers based upon contractual billing schedules. Contract receivables are recognized in the period the Company provides services when the Company’s right to consideration is unconditional. Payment terms vary by the type and location of our customer and the products or services offered. Payment terms for amounts invoiced are typically net 30 or 60 days. The term between invoicing and when payment is due is not significant.

A contract asset results when goods or services have been transferred to the customer, but payment is contingent upon a future event, other than the passage of time (i.e. type of unbilled receivable). Given the nature of our business from time to time we engage with customers for terms that include minimum guarantees which are contractual obligations for payment over a period of time that may extend past one year at a variable rate of payment – based on sales or collections. These minimum guarantees are generally collectible via royalty payments at an agreed rate which are collected on a monthly basis. Contractual arrangements containing minimum guarantees are evaluated on a contract by contract basis for the need for present value treatment. As of the financial statement no material arrangements requiring financing treatment have been identified.

We record deferred revenues (also referred to as contract liabilities under Topic 606) when cash payments are received or due in advance of our satisfying our performance obligations. Our deferred revenue balance primarily relates to advance payments received related to our content distribution rights agreements and our production sponsorship arrangements. The Company’s deferred revenue (i.e. contract liabilities) as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, was $0 and $6,469, respectively. These contract liabilities are recognized as revenue as the related performance obligations are satisfied. No significant changes in the timeframe of the satisfaction of contract liabilities have occurred during the year ended December 31, 2019.

Arrangements with multiple performance obligations

In contracts with multiple performance obligations, we identify each performance obligation and evaluate whether the performance obligations are distinct within the context of the contract at contract inception. When multiple performance obligations are identified, we identify how control transfers to the customer for each distinct contract obligation and determine the period when the obligations are satisfied. If obligations are satisfied in the same period, no allocation of revenue is deemed to be necessary. In the event performance obligations within a bundled contract do not run concurrently, we allocate revenue to each performance obligation based on its relative standalone selling price. We generally determine standalone selling prices based on the prices charged to customers or by using expected cost-plus margins. Performance obligations that are not distinct at contract inception are combined.

Practical expedients

The Company has elected to use the practical expedient under the relevant accounting guidance to omit disclosure of remaining (or partially unsatisfied) performance obligations as the related contracts have an original expected duration of one year or less.

The Company has elected to use the practical expedient under the relevant accounting guidance to expense sales commissions as incurred because the amortization period is generally one year or less. These commission costs are recorded within Selling, general and administrative expenses.