BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Interim Financial Statements

Interim Financial Statements

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and do not include all of the information and note disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“US GAAP”). Amounts as of December 31, 2012 included in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been derived from audited consolidated financial statements as of that date. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on February 27, 2013. Our significant accounting policies have not changed since December 31, 2012, except as noted below.

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring items, necessary for their fair presentation in conformity with US GAAP for complete financial statements.  The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for a full year.

Basis of Consolidation

Basis of Consolidation

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of CME Ltd. and our subsidiaries, after the elimination of intercompany accounts and transactions.  Entities in which we hold less than a majority voting interest but over which we have the ability to exercise significant influence are accounted for using the equity method.  Other investments are accounted for using the cost method.

Change in Operating Model

Change in Operating Model

Beginning January 1, 2013, we have changed our presentation of certain components of our operating expenses to better reflect how cost centers are managed under our new operating model, with no impact on consolidated operating loss or cash flows. We have also recast all prior periods presented in Note 16, "Segment Data" to conform to the new segment presentation. In the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows, we reclassified the amortization of production costs from the net change in program rights to amortization of program rights with no impact on net cash used in operating activities or net investment in programming.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US GAAP 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 and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.

Our cash position decreased in the first three months of 2013. Cash receipts were lower in the first quarter of 2013 compared to the prior year due to lower revenues as a result of a decrease in the consumption of gross rating points ("GRPs") in our regions resulting from our new pricing initiatives. However, this decrease was significantly offset by a decrease in programming payments. We continue to take steps to conserve cash, including targeted reductions to our operating cost base through cost optimization programs, the deferral of programming commitments and capital expenditures and the deferral of development projects. In addition, we have announced public and private equity offerings (see Note 19, "Subsequent Events"). There were no restructuring charges incurred during the first quarter of 2013. We believe that we are taking appropriate actions to monitor and address the risks affecting our business, and with our current cash balances, cash generative operations, working capital management initiatives, and equity financing, taken together, we believe we will have adequate cash resources to meet our debt service and other financial obligations for the next twelve months.

Accounting Pronouncements Adopted

Accounting Pronouncements Adopted

On January 1, 2013, we adopted guidance that was issued in July 2012 which is intended to simplify how entities test indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment by providing an option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances indicates that it is more likely than not that the indefinite-lived asset is impaired. If an entity determines it is not more likely than not that the indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired, then performing the two-step impairment test is not necessary. The guidance is effective for annual and interim impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012. The adoption of this guidance may impact how we perform our impairment testing, but not the amount of impairment recognized in the financial statements if indefinite-lived intangible assets are found to be impaired.

We also adopted guidance that was issued in February 2013 which requires an entity to provide information about the amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2012, and interim periods within those annual periods. The adoption of this guidance did not change the presentation of our condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements Issued

Recent Accounting Pronouncements Issued

There are no recent accounting pronouncements that are expected to have an impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.