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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
19.    COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Commitments
a) Programming Rights Agreements and Other Commitments
At March 31, 2017, we had total commitments of US$ 121.6 million (December 31, 2016: US$ 128.2 million) in respect of future programming, including contracts signed with license periods starting after the balance sheet date. In addition, we have digital transmission obligations, future minimum operating lease payments for non-cancellable operating leases with remaining terms in excess of one year and other commitments as follows:
 
Programming purchase obligations

 
Other
commitments

 
Operating
leases

 
Capital
expenditures

2017
$
37,213

 
$
15,976

 
$
2,403

 
$
945

2018
36,029

 
5,372

 
2,122

 

2019
21,105

 
10,869

 
949

 

2020
14,613

 
375

 
488

 

2021
8,443

 
335

 
333

 

2022 and thereafter
4,182

 
382

 
1,453

 

Total
$
121,585

 
$
33,309

 
$
7,748

 
$
945


Contingencies
a) Litigation
We are from time to time party to legal proceedings, arbitrations and regulatory proceedings arising in the normal course of our business operations, including the proceeding described below. We evaluate, on a quarterly basis, developments in such matters and provide accruals for such matters, as appropriate. In making such decisions, we consider the degree of probability of an unfavorable outcome and our ability to make a reasonable estimate of the amount of a loss. An unfavorable outcome in any such proceedings, if material, could have an adverse effect on our business or consolidated financial statements.
In the fourth quarter of 2016, our Slovak subsidiary MARKIZA-SLOVAKIA, spol. s.r.o. (“Markiza”) was notified of claims that were filed in June 2016 in a court of first instance in Bratislava, the Slovak Republic to collect amounts allegedly owing under four promissory notes. These four promissory notes were purportedly issued in June 2000 by Pavol Rusko in his personal capacity and were purportedly guaranteed by Markiza under the signature of Mr. Rusko, who was an executive director of Markiza at that time as well as one of its shareholders. The notes purport to be issued in favor of Marian Kocner, a controversial Slovak businessman, and to a former associate of Mr. Kocner, and were supposedly assigned several times, ultimately to Sprava a inkaso zmeniek, s.r.o., a company owned by Mr. Kocner that is the plaintiff in these proceedings. The four notes purport to be in the aggregate amount of approximately EUR 69.0 million. A court of first instance in Bratislava has suspended proceedings in respect of one of the promissory notes (in the amount of approximately EUR 26.0 million) because the plaintiff failed to pay court fees. Two of the remaining notes allegedly matured in 2015 and the third in 2016. Despite a random case assignment system in Slovakia, the three cases dealing with the other notes have all been assigned to the same judge. We do not believe that any of the promissory notes are authentic and are vigorously defending the claims. We are currently unable to estimate for what amount, if any, we may be liable if the plaintiff is ultimately successful in pursuing their claims.
b) Other
On April 7, 2017, the largest private company and advertiser in Croatia, Agrokor d.d. ("Agrokor"), entered government administration facing significant liquidity issues. Agrokor has since obtained short-term financing and is in the process of obtaining additional long-term liquidity while the Croatian government-appointed administrator determines Agrokor's restructuring plans. As at March 31, 2017, we had receivables related to Agrokor and its group companies totaling US$ 4.3 million. We are currently unable to estimate the timing or impact such restructuring may have on our receivables from Agrokor and have not provided for any potential loss as a result of any potential restructuring plans.