DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS	8. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS: The Company accounts for an award called for in the CEO’s employment agreement (the “Employment Agreement Award”) as a derivative instrument in accordance with ASC 815, “Derivatives and Hedging.” The Company estimated the fair value of the award at December 31, 2019 and 2018, to be approximately $27.0 million and $25.7 million, respectively, and accordingly adjusted its liability to this amount. The long-term portion is recorded in other long-term liabilities and the current portion is recorded in other current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. The expense/(benefit) associated with the Employment Agreement Award was recorded in the consolidated statements of operations as corporate selling, general and administrative expenses and was approximately $4.9 million and $(5.1) million for the years ended December 31, 2019, and 2018, respectively. The Company’s obligation to pay the Employment Agreement Award was triggered after the Company recovered the aggregate amount of its capital contribution in TV One and only upon actual receipt of distributions of cash or marketable securities or proceeds from a liquidity event with respect to the Company’s aggregate investment in TV One. The CEO was fully vested in the award upon execution of the employment agreement, and the award lapses if the CEO voluntarily leaves the Company, or is terminated for cause. In September 2014, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company approved terms for a new employment agreement with the CEO, including a renewal of the Employment Agreement Award upon similar terms as in the prior employment agreement. Prior to the quarter ended September 30, 2018, there were probability factors included in the calculation of the award related to the likelihood that the award will be realized. During the quarter ended September 30, 2018, management changed the methodology used in calculating the fair value of the Company’s Employment Agreement Award liability to simplify the calculation. As part of the simplified calculation, the Company eliminated certain adjustments made to its aggregate investment in TV One, including the treatment of historical dividends paid and potential distribution of assets upon liquidation. The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors approved the simplified method which eliminates certain assumptions that were historically used in the determination of the fair value of this liability. The revised methodology resulted in a credit adjustment of approximately $6.6 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2018 to reflect this change in estimate. The liability was further reduced during the quarter ended December 31, 2018 using the simplified methodology, due primarily to an overall lower valuation. During 2019, there was an increase in the overall enterprise valuation and an increase in the overall working capital contributing to an increase in expense recognized throughout the year.

8. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS:

The Company accounts for an award called for in the CEO’s employment agreement (the “Employment Agreement Award”) as a derivative instrument in accordance with ASC 815, “Derivatives and Hedging.” The Company estimated the fair value of the award at December 31, 2019 and 2018, to be approximately $27.0 million and $25.7 million, respectively, and accordingly adjusted its liability to this amount. The long-term portion is recorded in other long-term liabilities and the current portion is recorded in other current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. The expense/(benefit) associated with the Employment Agreement Award was recorded in the consolidated statements of operations as corporate selling, general and administrative expenses and was approximately $4.9 million and $(5.1) million for the years ended December 31, 2019, and 2018, respectively.

The Company’s obligation to pay the Employment Agreement Award was triggered after the Company recovered the aggregate amount of its capital contribution in TV One and only upon actual receipt of distributions of cash or marketable securities or proceeds from a liquidity event with respect to the Company’s aggregate investment in TV One. The CEO was fully vested in the award upon execution of the employment agreement, and the award lapses if the CEO voluntarily leaves the Company, or is terminated for cause. In September 2014, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company approved terms for a new employment agreement with the CEO, including a renewal of the Employment Agreement Award upon similar terms as in the prior employment agreement. Prior to the quarter ended September 30, 2018, there were probability factors included in the calculation of the award related to the likelihood that the award will be realized. During the quarter ended September 30, 2018, management changed the methodology used in calculating the fair value of the Company’s Employment Agreement Award liability to simplify the calculation. As part of the simplified calculation, the Company eliminated certain adjustments made to its aggregate investment in TV One, including the treatment of historical dividends paid and potential distribution of assets upon liquidation. The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors approved the simplified method which eliminates certain assumptions that were historically used in the determination of the fair value of this liability. The revised methodology resulted in a credit adjustment of approximately $6.6 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2018 to reflect this change in estimate. The liability was further reduced during the quarter ended December 31, 2018 using the simplified methodology, due primarily to an overall lower valuation. During 2019, there was an increase in the overall enterprise valuation and an increase in the overall working capital contributing to an increase in expense recognized throughout the year.