Marketing Expenses

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Marketing And Advertising Expense [Abstract]

Marketing Expense

7. Marketing Expenses

Marketing expense includes media, advertising production, marketing and promotional expenses and payroll-related expenses, including share-based payment arrangements, for personnel engaged in these activities.  Media expense was $128.7 million, $1.0 million, and $0 in 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively.  Internet advertising expense is recorded based on either the rate of delivery of a guaranteed number of impressions over the advertising contract term or on the cost per customer acquired, depending upon the terms.  All other advertising costs are charged to expense as incurred or, in the case of production costs, the first time the advertising takes place. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, $5.0 million and $0, respectively, of costs have been prepaid for future advertisements and promotions.

Prior to the acquisition of Nutrisystem, Tivity Health historically classified marketing expenses within cost of revenue and selling, general, and administrative expenses, while Nutrisystem presented marketing expenses in a separate line item.  Because marketing expense is material to the combined company and for purposes of comparability, we have reclassified historical Tivity Health marketing expenses to a separate line for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017.