Accounting Policies, by Policy (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Business Description and Basis of Presentation [Text Block]

Nature of Business

Chyron is a provider of Graphics as a Service for on-air and digital video applications including newsrooms, studios, sports broadcasting facilities, and corporate video environments. Chyron's graphics solutions include the Axis World Graphics online content creation software and order management system, on-air graphics systems, clip servers, channel branding, and graphics asset management solutions, and social media editors, all of which may be incorporated into the Company's BlueNet™ end-to-end graphics workflow.

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]

Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary. All significant intercompany amounts have been eliminated.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues, costs and expenses during the periods presented. Estimates made by management include inventory valuations, stock compensation, allowances for doubtful accounts, income taxes, pension assumptions and reserves for warranty and incurred but not reported health insurance claims. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Company has not segregated its cost of sales between costs of products and costs of services as it is not practicable to segregate such costs. Certain prior amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash includes cash on deposit, overnight repurchase agreements, and amounts invested in highly liquid money market funds. Cash equivalents consist of short term investments with original maturities of three months or less. Cash and cash equivalents include $1.7 million and $3.7 million of investments in overnight repurchase agreements at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Repurchase agreements are collateralized by U.S. Treasury and federal agency securities with a fair value of 102% of the securities sold. This credit risk is divided among five financial institutions that management believes to be of high quality. The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents approximates their fair value.

Receivables, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. Accounts receivable are stated net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. Our allowance for doubtful accounts considers historical experience, the age of amounts due, current economic conditions and other factors that may affect customers' ability to pay.

Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market, cost being determined primarily on the basis of FIFO and average cost. The need for inventory obsolescence provisions is evaluated by the Company and when appropriate, reserves for technological obsolescence, non-profitability of product lines and excess quantities are established.

Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Property, Equipment and Depreciation

Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization are provided on the straight line method over the following estimated useful lives:

Machinery and equipment	3	-	10	years
Furniture and fixtures	5	-	10	years
Leasehold improvements	Shorter of the life of improvement or remaining life of the lease

When assets are retired or disposed of, the assets and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and the resulting gain or loss is reflected in operations.

Research, Development, and Computer Software, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Capitalized Software Costs

For development costs related to the Company's on line web-based solutions, the Company capitalizes costs incurred during the application development stage. Costs related to preliminary project activities and post implementation activities were expensed as incurred. The Company has not capitalized any software development costs for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011.

Self Insurance [Policy Text Block]

Self Insurance

The Company is self-insured for healthcare costs up to certain stop-loss limits. Such costs are accrued based on known claims and an estimate of incurred, but not reported ("IBNR") claims. IBNR claims are estimated using historical lag information and other data provided by claims administrators. This estimation process is subjective, and to the extent that future actual results differ from original estimates, adjustments to recorded accruals may be necessary.

Research and Development Expense, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Research, Development and Engineering

Technological feasibility for the Company's products is reached shortly before the products are released to manufacturing. Consequently, costs incurred after technological feasibility is established have not been material, and accordingly, the Company expenses all research and development costs when incurred. The Company re-evaluates the materiality of these costs on an on-going basis. Research and development costs include wages and other personnel costs, material costs and an allocation of certain indirect costs related to facilities.

Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, Including Intangible Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Long-Lived Assets and Intangible Assets

Long-lived assets and certain identifiable intangible assets to be held and used are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. Determination of recoverability is based on an estimate of undiscounted future cash flows resulting from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition. In the event that such cash flows are not expected to be sufficient to recover the carrying amount of the assets, the assets are written down to their estimated fair values. There was no impairment of long-lived assets and intangible assets for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Goodwill, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Goodwill

Goodwill is not amortized, but is tested at least annually, on October 1, for impairment at the reporting unit level. The reporting unit is the single operating segment presented in these financial statements. Impairment is the condition that exists when the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value. The first step in the impairment process is to determine the fair value of the reporting unit and then compare it to the carrying value, including goodwill. If the fair value exceeds the carrying value, no further action is required and no impairment loss is recognized. Additional impairment assessments may be performed on an interim basis if the Company encounters events or changes in circumstances that would indicate that, more likely than not, the carrying value of goodwill has been impaired. There was no impairment of goodwill in 2012.

Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, title has transferred, product payment is not contingent upon installation or other service obligations, the price is fixed and determinable, and collectability is reasonably assured. This condition is normally met when the product has been delivered or upon performance of services. In instances where final acceptance of the product or service is specified by the customer, revenue is deferred until all acceptance criteria have been met.

The Company also enters into arrangements that contain multiple elements such as equipment, installation and service. For multiple-element arrangements, revenue is recognized based on an allocation of the total amount of the arrangement to each deliverable based on fair value. Fair value is determined using vendor-specific objective evidence ("VSOE") if available, third-party evidence ("TPE") if VSOE is not available, or best estimate of selling price ("BESP") if neither VSOE or TPE is available. BESP must be determined in a manner that is consistent with that used to determine the price to sell the specific elements on a standalone basis. The Company's best estimate of selling price is established considering multiple factors including, but not limited to, pricing practices in different geographies and through different sales channels, gross margin objectives, competitor pricing pressures and other factors contemplated in negotiating the arrangement with the customer.

Revenue from training, installation and services is recognized upon the performance of services. The Company also provides one year maintenance contracts with certain equipment sales and defers a portion of the revenue from the equipment sale based on the relative fair value as determined above. Multiple year maintenance contracts are also offered. Deferred maintenance revenue is recognized ratably, on a straight line basis over the contract period, generally one to three years.

In connection with the Company's on-line web-based solutions, the Company recognizes revenue on a monthly basis for use of its subscription based products. The Company recognizes set-up or other up-front fees, if any, ratably over the longer of the contract or the expected customer relationship period, generally one to three years. Revenues from these web-based solutions are included in service revenues in the Company's statements of operations.

Approximately 35% and 32% of 2012 and 2011 consolidated revenues, respectively, were made through third-party dealers and system integrators (collectively, dealers). The Company recognizes revenue from sales to dealers when the product is shipped and all other revenue recognition criteria are met.

Shipping and Handling Cost, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Shipping and Handling Fees and Costs

All amounts billed to a customer in a sales transaction related to shipping and handling represent revenues earned and are reported as revenue, and the costs incurred by the Company for shipping and handling are reported as a component of cost of sales.

Advertising Costs, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Advertising Costs

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising expense was $74 thousand in 2012 and $96 thousand in 2011.

Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Income Taxes

We account for income taxes under an asset and liability approach, which recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities based on the difference between the financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect in the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. Valuation allowances are provided if, based upon the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the net deferred tax assets will not be realized.

The Company recognizes tax benefits associated with the exercise of stock options directly to stockholders' equity only when realized. A tax benefit occurs when the actual tax benefit realized by the Company upon an employee's disposition of a share-based award exceeds the deferred tax asset, if any, associated with the award that the Company had recorded. When assessing whether a tax benefit relating to share-based compensation has been realized, the Company follows the tax law ordering method, under which current year share-based compensation deductions are assumed to be utilized before net operating loss carryforwards and other tax attributes.

The Company recognizes the financial statement impact of tax positions, taken or expected to be taken, utilizing a more-likely-than not recognition threshold. We also recognize any interest and penalties related to tax uncertainties as income tax expense. At December 31, 2012 there are no unrecognized tax benefits, or related accrued interest and penalties, recorded in the financial statements.

Sales Taxes [Policy Text Block]

Sales Taxes

We account for sales taxes imposed on the Company's goods and services on a net basis in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations. Since the Company primarily acts as an agent for the governmental authorities, the amount charged to the customer is collected and remitted directly to the appropriate jurisdictional entity.

Foreign Currency Transactions and Translations Policy [Policy Text Block]

Foreign Currencies

Assets and liabilities of the Company's foreign subsidiary, which are of immaterial amounts, are translated into U.S. dollars at the period end rate of exchange, while revenues and expenses are translated at the average exchange rate during the period. Adjustments from translating the Company's foreign subsidiary's financial statements are reported as a component of other comprehensive income or loss. Transaction gains or losses are included in other income and expense, net. The net impact of foreign exchange transactions for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 were gains of $13 thousand and $16 thousand, respectively.

Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Earnings (Loss) Per Share

Basic earnings (loss) per share is computed based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share is based on the sum of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and common stock equivalents. Potentially dilutive shares are excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share when their effect is anti-dilutive. Shares used to calculate earnings (loss) per share are as follows (in thousands):

	Years Ended December 31,
	2012		2011
Basic weighted average shares outstanding		16,961		16,458
Effect of dilutive stock options		-		-
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding		16,961		16,458
Weighted average shares which are not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share because their impact is antidilutive
Stock options		3,087		1,361
Restricted stock units		173		510

Comprehensive Income, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Other Comprehensive Loss

The Company reports comprehensive income (loss) in accordance with ASC 220-10. ASC 220-10 establishes guidelines for the reporting and display of comprehensive income (loss), net income (loss) and its components in financial statements. Included in other comprehensive loss for the Company is a charge for deferred losses on the Company's pension plan and translation adjustments related to the Company's foreign subsidiary.

Share-based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans Policy [Policy Text Block]

Share-Based Compensation

The Company's share-based compensation programs consist of grants of share-based awards to employees and non-employee directors, including stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units and other equity awards. The estimated fair value of these awards, including the effect of forfeitures, is charged to income over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period.

The fair value of stock options is estimated at the grant date using the Black-Scholes option valuation model. The fair value of restricted stock units is based on the market value of the Company's common stock on the date of grant.

Fair Value Measurement, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Fair Value Measurements

Financial assets and liabilities are classified as Level 1, 2 or 3 within the fair value hierarchy. Fair values determined by Level 1 inputs utilize quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access. Fair values determined by Level 2 inputs utilize data points that are observable such as quoted prices, interest rates and yield curves. Fair values determined by Level 3 inputs utilize unobservable data points for the asset or liability.

Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Retirement-Related Benefits

The Company recognizes in its balance sheet as an asset or liability the overfunded or underfunded status of its defined benefit plan. This asset or liability is measured as the difference between the fair value of plan assets and the benefit obligation of the plan. For the pension plan, the benefit obligation is the projected benefit obligation, which is calculated based on actuarial computations of current and future benefits for employees. Actuarial gains or losses and prior service costs or credits that arise during the period, but are not included as components of net periodic benefit (expense), are recognized as a component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss). Pension expense is charged to operating expenses.

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In July 2012, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standard Update No. 2012-01, Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment. This guidance gives companies the option to perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that an asset might be impaired and whether it is necessary to perform a quantitative test. The updated accounting guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012, with early adoption permitted. The Company believes that this guidance will have no impact on its consolidated financial statements.