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Goodwill and Intangible Assets
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]  
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price of acquired businesses over the estimated fair values of the tangible and identifiable intangible net assets acquired. Evaluations of the recoverability of goodwill are performed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 350, which requires an annual assessment of potential goodwill impairment at the reporting unit level and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of goodwill may not be recoverable. The annual assessment of the recoverability of recorded goodwill can be based on either a qualitative or quantitative assessment or a combination of the two approaches. Both methods utilize estimates which, in turn, require judgments and assumptions regarding future trends and events. As a result, both the precision and reliability of the resulting estimates are subject to uncertainty. If our annual goodwill impairment evaluation determines that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its related carrying amount, we may recognize an impairment charge. In connection with our most recent annual impairment test of goodwill during the quarter ended September 30, 2018, which indicated no impairment of recorded goodwill, the Company utilized the quantitative approach in assessing the fair values of its reporting units relative to their respective carrying values. Subsequent to completing our 2018 annual impairment test, no events or changes in circumstances were noted that required an interim goodwill impairment test.


The following table presents changes to the carrying amount of goodwill by segment during the three months ended March 31, 2019 (in thousands):
 
Research
 
Conferences
 
Consulting
 
 
Total
Balance at December 31, 2018 (1)
$
2,638,418

 
$
187,654

 
$
97,064

 
 
$
2,923,136

Foreign currency translation impact
(16,386
)
 
(61
)
 
47

 
 
(16,400
)
Balance at March 31, 2019
$
2,622,032

 
$
187,593

 
$
97,111

 
 
$
2,906,736

 
(1)
The Company does not have any accumulated goodwill impairment losses.

Finite-Lived Intangible Assets

The following tables present reconciliations of the carrying amounts of the Company's finite-lived intangible assets as of the dates indicated (in thousands):
March 31, 2019
 
Customer
Relationships
 
Software
 
Content
 
Other
 
Total
Gross cost at December 31, 2018
 
$
1,131,656

 
$
110,701

 
$
98,842

 
$
51,662

 
$
1,392,861

Intangible assets fully amortized
 
—

 
—

 
(85,894
)
 
—

 
(85,894
)
Foreign currency translation impact
 
8,344

 
278

 
—

 
61

 
8,683

Gross cost
 
1,140,000

 
110,979

 
12,948

 
51,723

 
1,315,650

Accumulated amortization (1)
 
(210,203
)
 
(44,632
)
 
(7,877
)
 
(36,883
)
 
(299,595
)
Balance at March 31, 2019
 
$
929,797

 
$
66,347

 
$
5,071

 
$
14,840

 
$
1,016,055

December 31, 2018
 
Customer
Relationships
 
Software
 
Content
 
Other
 
Total
Gross cost
 
$
1,131,656

 
$
110,701

 
$
98,842

 
$
51,662

 
$
1,392,861

Accumulated amortization (1)
 
(184,918
)
 
(38,901
)
 
(92,717
)
 
(33,760
)
 
(350,296
)
Balance at December 31, 2018
 
$
946,738

 
$
71,800

 
$
6,125

 
$
17,902

 
$
1,042,565


 

(1) Finite-lived intangible assets are amortized using the straight-line method over the following periods: Customer relationships—4 to 13 years; Software—3 to 7 years; Content—1.5 to 5 years; and Other—2 to 11 years.

Amortization expense related to finite-lived intangible assets was $33.7 million and $51.6 million during the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The estimated future amortization expense by year for finite-lived intangible assets is as follows (in thousands):
2019 (remaining nine months)
$
96,977

2020
124,391

2021
103,949

2022
94,410

2023
94,410

Thereafter
501,918

 
$
1,016,055