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CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ATS ACQUISITION
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Accounting Changes and Error Corrections [Abstract]  
CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ATS ACQUISITION ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC"), Topic 842, Leases ("ASC 842")
On January 1, 2019, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") ASC 842, which increases transparency and comparability by recognizing a lessee’s rights and obligations resulting from leases by recording them on the balance sheet as lease assets and lease liabilities. The new guidance requires the recognition of the right-of-use ("ROU") assets and related operating and finance lease liabilities on the balance sheet. The Company adopted the new guidance using the modified retrospective approach with a cumulative-effect adjustment recorded on January 1, 2019. As a result, the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2018 was not restated and is not comparative. See Note 9 for a further information regarding the adoption of ASC 842.
Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2018-02, Income Statement-Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220) Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income ("ASU 2018-02")
During the first quarter of 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2018-02. The primary provision of ASU 2018-02 allows for the reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. ASU 2018-02 also requires certain disclosures about stranded tax effects. The adoption resulted in the reclassification of stranded tax amounts of $2,163 associated with net unrecognized losses from the Company's pension plans from accumulated other comprehensive loss to retained earnings.
ASU No. 2017-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718) ("ASU 2017-09")
On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU No. 2017-09 which provides clarity and guidance on which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting in Topic 718. The adoption of ASU 2017-09 had no impact to the Company's consolidated financial statements.
ASU No. 2017-07, Compensation-Retirement Benefits (Topic 715) ("ASU 2017-07")
On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2017-07 and was applied retrospectively. ASU No. 2017-07 requires that an employer disaggregate the service cost component from the other components of net benefit cost. It also provides guidance on how to present the service cost component and the other components of net benefit cost in the income statement and what component of net benefit cost is eligible for capitalization. As a result of the adoption, the Company reclassified the non-service cost components of the Company's pension expense for the year
ended December 2017 and 2016 from other operating expenses to other income (expense), net. The Company elected to apply the practical expedient which allowed it to reclassify amounts disclosed previously in the benefits plan note as the basis for applying retrospective presentation for comparative periods, as the Company determined it was impracticable to disaggregate the cost components for amounts capitalized and amortized in those periods. See Note 4 for information on the impact of the adoption of ASU 2017-07.
ASU No. 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805), Clarifying the Definition of a Business ("ASU No. 2017-01")
In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805), Clarifying the Definition of a Business, which amends Topic 805 to interpret the definition of a business by adding guidance to assist in evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The Company adopted the new guidance on January 1, 2018 and it had no impact to the Company's consolidated financial statements.
ASU No. 2016-20, Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers ("ASU No. 2016-20")
In December 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-20, Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, in order to clarify the Codification and to correct any unintended application of the guidance. The amendments in this update affected the guidance in ASC 606. ASC 606 was adopted by the Company on January 1, 2018 on a full retrospective basis, which required the Company to reflect the impact of the updated guidance for all periods presented. The adoption of ASC 606 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations. See Note 4 for information on the impact of the adoption of ASC 606.
ASU No. 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash ("ASU 2016-18")
In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18 which requires that the statement of cash flows disclose the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents. Restricted cash should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-18 provides specific guidance on the presentation of restricted cash in the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-18 was adopted by the Company on January 1, 2018 and was applied retrospectively for all periods presented.
ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments ("ASU 2016-15")
In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15 which clarifies how entities should classify certain cash receipts and cash payments on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-15 also clarifies how the predominance principle should be applied when cash receipts and cash payments have aspects of more than one class of cash flows. The Company adopted the new guidance on January 1, 2018 and it had no impact to the Company's consolidated financial statements.
ASU No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10), Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities ("ASU 2016-01")
In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01 which modifies how entities measure certain equity investments and also modifies the recognition of changes in the fair value of financial liabilities measured under the fair value option. Entities will be required to measure equity investments that do not result in consolidation and are not accounted for under the equity method at fair value and recognize any changes in fair value in net income. For financial liabilities measured using the fair value option, entities will be required to record changes in fair value caused by a change in instrument-specific credit risk (own credit risk) separately in other comprehensive income. ASU 2016-01 was adopted by the Company on January 1, 2018 and it had no impact to the Company's consolidated financial statements.
ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers ("ASC 606")
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers ("ASC 606"), requiring an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. ASC 606 replaced most existing revenue recognition guidance in GAAP. The Company adopted the guidance pursuant to ASC 606 on January 1, 2018. See Note 4 for information on the impact of the adoption of ASC 606.
Recently Issued But Not Yet Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
ASU No. 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes ("ASU 2019-12")
In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12 which provides amendments to simplify the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles in ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes. The amendments also improve consistent application of and simplify GAAP for other areas of Topic 740 by clarifying and amending existing guidance. ASU 2019-12 becomes effective for the Company on January 1, 2021. Early adoption of the amendments is permitted, including adoption in any interim period for public business entities for periods for which financial statements have not yet been issued. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact that the adoption of ASU 2019-12 will have on its consolidated financial statements.
ASU No. 2018-15, Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract ("ASU 2018-15")
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15 which requires upfront implementation costs incurred in a cloud computing arrangement (or hosting arrangement) that is a service contract to be amortized to hosting expense over the term of the arrangement, beginning when the module or component of the hosting arrangement is ready for its intended use. ASU 2018-15 became effective for the Company on January 1, 2020 and will be applied prospectively.
ASU No. 2018-14, Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans ("ASU 2018-14")
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-14 which amends ASC 715 to clarify certain disclosure requirements related to defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans. ASU 2018-14 becomes effective for the Company for its annual and interim reporting periods beginning December 31, 2020, although early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2018-14 to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (Topic 350) ("ASU 2017-04")
In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04 which simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill by removing the second step of the two-step impairment test. The amendment requires an entity to perform its annual, or interim goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An entity still has the option to perform the qualitative assessment for a reporting unit to determine if the quantitative impairment test is necessary. ASU 2017-04 became effective for the Company on January 1, 2020 and will be applied prospectively.
ASU No. 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments ("ASU 2016-13")
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13 which requires a financial asset (or a group of financial assets) measured at amortized cost to be assessed for impairment under the current expected credit loss model rather than an incurred loss model. The measurement of expected credit losses is based on relevant information about past events, including historical experience, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount.  ASU 2016-13 become effective for the Company on January 1, 2020 and will be applied prospectively.
CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ATS ACQUISITION
Adoption of ASC 606 - Revenue from Contracts with Customers
On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the guidance pursuant to ASC 606. The Company elected to apply the guidance on a full retrospective basis, which required the Company to reflect the impact of the updated guidance for all periods presented. The adoption of the guidance resulted in the deferral of certain installation revenue, the deferral of certain commission expenses, and a reduction of revenue due to the reclassification of certain third-party giveaways and incentives from operating expense. Additionally, the Company made changes in the composition of revenue resulting from the allocation of value related to bundled services sold to residential customers at a discount.
Installation Services Revenue
Pursuant to ASC 606, the Company's installation services revenue is deferred and recognized over the benefit period. For residential customers, the benefit period is less than one year. For business and wholesale customers, the benefit period is the contract term. Prior to the adoption of ASC 606, the Company recognized installation services revenue for residential and SMB customers when installations were completed. As a result of the deferral of installation
services revenue for residential and SMB customers, the Company recognized contract liabilities of $6,978 and recorded a cumulative effect adjustment of $5,093 (net of tax of $1,885) to retained earnings. The accounting for installation services revenue related to business and wholesale customers has not changed.
Commission Expenses
Pursuant to ASC 606, the Company defers commission expenses related to obtaining a contract with a customer when the expected amortization is greater than one year and amortizes these costs over the average contract term. For commission expenses related to customer contracts with a term of one year or less, the Company is utilizing the practical expedient and is recognizing the costs when incurred.  Prior to the adoption of ASC 606, the Company recognized commission expenses related to the sale of its services when incurred. As a result of the change in the timing of recognition of these commission expenses, the Company recognized contract assets of $24,329 and recorded a cumulative effect adjustment of $17,759 (net of tax of $6,570) to retained earnings.
Third-Party Product Giveaways and Incentives
When the Company acts as the agent in providing certain product giveaways or incentives, revenue is recorded net of the costs of the giveaways and incentives. For the periods prior to January 1, 2018, costs for the giveaways and incentives recorded in other operating expense have been reclassified as a reduction to revenue.
Bundled Services
The Company provides bundled services at a discounted rate to its customers. Under ASC 606, revenue should be allocated to separate performance obligations within a bundled offering based on the relative stand-alone selling price of each service within the bundle. In connection with the adoption of ASC 606, the Company revised the amounts allocated to each performance obligation within its bundled offerings which reduced previously reported revenue for telephony services and increased previously reported revenue allocated to video and broadband services.
Adoption of ASU No. 2017-07 - Compensation-Retirement Benefits (Topic 715)
On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the guidance pursuant to ASU No. 2017-07. ASU No. 2017-07 requires that an employer disaggregate the service cost component from the other components of net benefit cost. In connection with the adoption of ASU No. 2017-07, the Company retroactively reclassified certain pension costs from other operating expenses to other income (expense), net. The adoption of ASU No. 2017-07 had no impact on the Company's consolidated balance sheet.
Acquisition of Altice Technical Services US Corp
As discussed in Note 1, the Company completed the ATS Acquisition in the first quarter of 2018. ATS was previously owned by Altice Europe and a member of ATS's management through a holding company. As the acquisition is a combination of businesses under common control, the Company combined the results of operations and related assets and liabilities of ATS for all periods since the formation of ATS, including goodwill of $23,101, representing the amount previously transferred to ATS.
Cequel Communications Holdings II, LLC Merger into CSC Holdings
In November 2018, in connection with the credit silo combination described in Note 11, (i) Cequel Communications Holdings I, LLC ("CCHI") merged into Cablevision, with Cablevision as the surviving entity (the "Holdco Merger"), and (ii) Cequel Communications Holdings II, LLC ("CCHII") merged into CSC Holdings, with CSC Holdings as the surviving entity (the "CCHII Merger"). As a result of the Holdco Merger, the balance sheet and operating results of CCHI have been presented on a combined basis with Cablevision beginning January 1, 2016 as these entities were under common control. In addition, as a result of the CCHII Merger, the balance sheet and operating results of CCHII have been presented on a combined basis with CSC Holdings beginning January 1, 2016 as these entities were under common control.
The following table summarizes the impact of adopting ASC 606 and ASU No. 2017-07 and the impact of the ATS Acquisition on Altice USA's consolidated statements of operations:
Altice USA
Year Ended December 31, 2017
 As ReportedImpact of ASC 606Impact of ASU No. 2017-07Impact of ATS AcquisitionAs Adjusted
Residential:
Broadband$2,563,772  $45,192  $—  $(369) $2,608,595  
Video4,214,745  59,878  —  (501) 4,274,122  
Telephony823,981  (122,981) —  (235) 700,765  
Business services and wholesale1,298,817  (604) —  —  1,298,213  
News and advertising (a)396,187  —  —  —  396,187  
Other (a)29,068  —  —  —  29,068  
Total revenue9,326,570  (18,515) —  (1,105) 9,306,950  
Programming and other direct costs3,035,655  —  —  —  3,035,655  
Other operating expenses2,342,655  (18,515) (11,863) 35,038  2,347,315  
Restructuring and other expense152,401  —  —  —  152,401  
Depreciation and amortization2,930,475  —  —  96  2,930,571  
Operating income865,384  —  11,863  (36,239) 841,008  
Other expense, net(2,196,733) —  (11,863) —  (2,208,596) 
Loss before income taxes(1,331,349) —  —  (36,239) (1,367,588) 
Income tax benefit 2,852,967  —  —  9,385  2,862,352  
Net income$1,521,618  $—  $—  $(26,854) $1,494,764  
(a)Certain reclassifications were made between revenue categories to conform to the 2019 presentation.
The following table summarizes the impact of adopting ASC 606 and ASU No. 2017-07, the impact of the ATS acquisition and the impact of the CCHII Merger on CSC Holdings' consolidated statements of operations:
CSC Holdings
Year Ended December 31, 2017
As ReportedImpact of CCHII MergerImpact of ASC 606Impact of ASU No. 2017-07Impact of ATS AcquisitionAs Adjusted
Residential:
Broadband$1,603,015  $960,757  $45,192  $—  $(369) $2,608,595  
Video3,113,238  1,101,507  59,878  —  (501) 4,274,122  
Telephony693,478  130,503  (122,981) —  (235) 700,765  
Business services and wholesale923,161  375,656  (604) —  —  1,298,213  
Advertising (a)325,470  70,717  —  —  —  396,187  
Other (a)6,426  22,642  —  —  —  29,068  
Total revenue6,664,788  2,661,782  (18,515) —  (1,105) 9,306,950  
Programming and other direct costs2,280,062  755,593  —  —  —  3,035,655  
Other operating expenses1,675,665  666,990  (18,515) (11,863) 35,038  2,347,315  
Restructuring and other expense112,384  39,899  —  —  —  152,283  
Depreciation and amortization2,251,614  678,861  —  —  96  2,930,571  
Operating income345,063  520,439  —  11,863  (36,239) 841,126  
Other expense, net(898,612) (180,526) —  (11,863) —  (1,091,001) 
Loss before income taxes(553,549) 339,913  —  —  (36,239) (249,875) 
Income tax benefit 2,233,716  584,062  —  —  9,973  2,827,751  
Net income$1,680,167  $923,975  $—  $—  $(26,266) $2,577,876  
(a)Certain reclassifications were made between revenue categories to conform to the 2019 presentation.