Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets

NOTE 7. GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

The following table sets forth the changes in the carrying amounts of goodwill by segment, which is the same as reporting unit for Business Solutions, Entertainment Group and Consumer Mobility. The International segment has three reporting units: Mexico Wireless, Brazil and PanAmericana.

	Business Solutions			Entertainment Group		Consumer Mobility		International		Total
Balance as of December 31, 2015	$	45,351	$	38,673	$	16,512	$	4,032	$	104,568
Goodwill acquired		22		380		14		65		481
Foreign currency translation adjustments		-		-		-		167		167
Other		(9)		-		-		-		(9)
Balance as of December 31, 2016		45,364		39,053		16,526		4,264		105,207
Goodwill acquired		-		210		-		-		210
Foreign currency translation adjustments		-		12		-		(30)		(18)
Other		31		5		14		-		50
Balance as of December 31, 2017	$	45,395	$	39,280	$	16,540	$	4,234	$	105,449

The majority of our goodwill acquired during 2017 related to our acquisition of INVIDI Technologies, a leading provider in addressable advertising platforms, the final valuation of Quickplay Media and other adjustments. Other changes to our goodwill in 2017 include foreign currency translation adjustments.

The majority of our goodwill acquired during 2016 related to the final valuation of DIRECTV, Nextel Mexico and GSF Telecom, as well as our acquisition of Quickplay Media. Other changes to our goodwill in 2016 include foreign currency translation adjustments.

Our other intangible assets are summarized as follows:

	December 31, 2017							December 31, 2016
Other Intangible Assets		Gross Carrying Amount		Currency Translation Adjustment		Accumulated Amortization		Gross Carrying Amount		Currency Translation Adjustment		Accumulated Amortization
Amortized intangible assets:
Customer lists and relationships:
Wireless acquisitions	$	764	$	-	$	683	$	942	$	-	$	715
BellSouth Corporation		2,370		-		2,370		4,450		-		4,429
DIRECTV		19,551		(141)		8,950		19,547		(125)		5,618
AT&T Corp.		33		-		29		33		-		26
Mexican wireless		506		(97)		278		506		(108)		214
Subtotal		23,224		(238)		12,310		25,478		(233)		11,002
Trade names		2,942		(6)		2,366		2,942		(7)		1,394
Other		781		(3)		335		707		(3)		283
Total	$	26,947	$	(247)	$	15,011	$	29,127	$	(243)	$	12,679

Indefinite-lived intangible assets not subject to amortization:
Licenses:
Wireless licenses	$	84,434					$	82,474
Orbital slots		11,702						11,702
Trade names		6,451						6,479
Total	$	102,587					$	100,655

Amortized intangible assets are definite-life assets, and, as such, we record amortization expense based on a method that most appropriately reflects our expected cash flows from these assets, over a weighted-average life of 8.5 years (9.2 years for customer lists and relationships and 4.2 years for trade names and other). Amortization expense for definite-life intangible assets was $4,626 for the year ended December 31, 2017, $5,186 for the year ended December 31, 2016 and $2,728 for the year ended December 31, 2015. Amortization expense is estimated to be $3,002 in 2018, $2,489 in 2019, $2,009 in 2020, $1,535 in 2021, and $1,074 in 2022.

In 2017, we wrote off approximately $2,273 of fully amortized intangible assets (primarily customer lists). In 2016, we wrote off approximately $117 of fully amortized intangible assets (primarily customer lists). We review amortized intangible assets for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable over the remaining life of the asset or asset group.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the aggregate amount of goodwill and a description of intangible assets, which may include (a) for amortizable intangible assets (also referred to as finite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, the amount of any significant residual value, and the weighted-average amortization period, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization (also referred to as indefinite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, and (c) the amount of research and development assets acquired and written off in the period, including the line item in the income statement in which the amounts written off are aggregated, if not readily apparent from the income statement. Also discloses (a) for amortizable intangibles assets in total and by major class, the gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization, the total amortization expense for the period, and the estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the five succeeding fiscal years, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization the carrying amount in total and by major class, and (c) for goodwill, in total and for each reportable segment, the changes in the carrying amount of goodwill during the period (including the aggregate amount of goodwill acquired, the aggregate amount of impairment losses recognized, and the amount of goodwill included in the gain (loss) on disposal of a reporting unit). If any part of goodwill has not been allocated to a reportable segment, discloses the unallocated amount and the reasons for not allocating. For each impairment loss recognized related to an intangible asset (excluding goodwill), discloses: (a) a description of the impaired intangible asset and the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method for determining fair value, (c) the caption in the income statement or the statement of activities in which the impairment loss is aggregated, and (d) the segment in which the impaired intangible asset is reported. For each goodwill impairment loss recognized, discloses: (a) a description of the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method of determining the fair value of the associated reporting unit, and (c) if a recognized impairment loss is an estimate not finalized and the reasons why the estimate is not final. May also disclose the nature and amount of any significant adjustments made to a previous estimate of an impairment loss.

+ References + Details