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FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

The fair value hierarchy is based on inputs to valuation techniques that are used to measure fair value that are either observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability based on market data obtained from independent sources while unobservable inputs reflect a reporting entity's pricing based upon their own market assumptions. The fair value hierarchy consists of the following three levels:


•	Level I - Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.


•	Level II - Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations whose inputs are observable or whose significant value drivers are observable.


•	Level III - Instruments whose significant value drivers are unobservable.

The following table presents for each of these hierarchy levels, the Company's financial assets and financial liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis:



	Fair Value Hierarchy	September 30, 2019		December 31, 2018
Assets:
Money market funds	Level I	$	44,931	$	91,852
Investment securities pledged as collateral	Level I	1,936,422		1,462,626
Prepaid forward contracts	Level II	—		109,344
Interest rate swap contracts	Level II	2,634		1,975
Liabilities:
Prepaid forward contracts	Level II	194,643		—
Interest rate swap contracts	Level II	183,644		132,978
Contingent consideration related to 2017 and 2018 acquisitions	Level III	5,142		6,195

The Company's cash equivalents, investment securities and investment securities pledged as collateral are classified within Level I of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using quoted market prices.

The Company's derivative contracts and liabilities under derivative contracts on the Company's consolidated balance sheets are valued using market-based inputs to valuation models. These valuation models require a variety of inputs, including contractual terms, market prices, yield curves, and measures of volatility. When appropriate, valuations are adjusted for various factors such as liquidity, bid/offer spreads and credit risk considerations. Such adjustments are generally based on available market evidence. Since model inputs can generally be verified and do not involve significant management judgment, the Company has concluded that these instruments should be classified within Level II of the fair value hierarchy.

The fair value of the contingent consideration as of September 30, 2019 is equal to the contractual obligation expected to be paid based on a probability assessment of attaining the targets as of such date. The maximum amount that could be paid if all targets are achieved is approximately $11,000.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate fair value of each class of financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate:

Credit Facility Debt, Collateralized Indebtedness, Senior Notes and Debentures, Senior Guaranteed Notes, Notes Payable and Supply Chain Financing

The fair values of each of the Company's debt instruments are based on quoted market prices for the same or similar issues or on the current rates offered to the Company for instruments of the same remaining maturities. The fair value of notes payable is based primarily on the present value of the remaining payments discounted at the borrowing cost. The carrying value of outstanding amounts related to supply chain financing agreements approximates the fair value due to the short-term nature of their maturity (less than one year).

The carrying values, estimated fair values, and classification under the fair value hierarchy of the Company's financial instruments, excluding those that are carried at fair value in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, are summarized as follows:



		September 30, 2019				December 31, 2018
	Fair Value Hierarchy	Carrying Amount (a)		Estimated Fair Value		Carrying Amount (a)		Estimated Fair Value
CSC Holdings debt instruments:
Credit facility debt	Level II	$	6,632,330	$	6,679,875	$	5,915,559	$	5,972,500
Collateralized indebtedness	Level II	1,423,519		1,423,130		1,406,182		1,374,203
Senior guaranteed notes	Level II	7,600,412		8,136,444		5,847,758		5,646,468
Senior notes and debentures	Level II	7,142,714		7,912,429		8,416,610		8,972,722
Notes payable and supply chain financing	Level II	110,519		110,580		106,108		105,836
Cablevision debt instruments:
Senior notes and debentures	Level II	1,100,698		1,219,360		1,095,193		1,163,843
		$	24,010,192	$	25,481,818	$	22,787,410	$	23,235,572


(a)	Amounts are net of unamortized deferred financing costs and discounts/premiums.

The fair value estimates related to the Company's debt instruments presented above are made at a specific point in time, based on relevant market information and information about the financial instrument. These estimates are subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgments and therefore cannot be determined with precision. Changes in assumptions could significantly affect the estimates.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

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