19. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Commitments

a) Programming Rights Agreements and Other Commitments

At June 30, 2017, we had total commitments of US$ 129.2 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	$	34,824	$	12,336	$	1,892	$	1,735
2018	35,647		6,414		2,578		31
2019	25,133		11,509		1,173		13
2020	21,852		3,241		667		—
2021	7,110		353		497		—
2022 and thereafter	4,598		392		1,811		—
Total	$	129,164	$	34,245	$	8,618	$	1,779

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 were initially 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

In the second quarter of 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, which may include asset disposals, pending an agreement being reached with its creditors. As at June 30, 2017, we had receivables, net of an allowance for doubtful accounts, related to Agrokor and its group companies totaling US$ 2.6 million.