REVENUES	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019
REVENUES
REVENUES	3. REVENUES Revenue Recognition Revenues are recognized when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to our customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. All revenues recognized on the condensed consolidated statements of operations are the result of contracts with customers, except for revenues associated with lease income where we are the lessor through a sublease arrangement. Advertising Revenues We generate revenues primarily by delivering advertising on our digital media sites, on our partners’ websites and in our newspapers. These advertising revenues are generated through digital and print performance obligations that are included in contracts with customers, which are typically one year or less in duration or commitment. There are no differences in the treatment of digital and print advertising performance obligations or the recognition of revenues for retail, national, classified, and direct marketing revenue categories. We generate advertising revenues through digital products that are sold on cost-per-thousand impressions (“CPM”) which means that an advertiser pays based upon number of times their ad is displayed on our owned and operated websites and apps, our partners’ websites, ad exchanges, in a video pre-roll or a programmatic bidding exchange. Such revenues are recognized according to the timing outlined in the contract. In addition to the advertising sold on a CPM basis, we also sell monthly marketing campaigns to some of our clients. Monthly marketing campaigns include multiple products some of which are sold on a CPM basis and others – like reputation management and search engine optimization – which are not. The contracted goods and services offered as part of monthly marketing campaigns are performed over the specific contract terms and the transfer of the performance obligation occurs as the benefits are consumed by the customer. As such, revenue is recognized daily regardless of the performance obligations classification of timing of being point in time or overtime. Print advertising is advertising that is printed in a publication, inserted into a publication, or physically mailed to a customer. Our performance obligations for print products are directly associated with the inclusion of the advertisement in the final publication and delivery of the product on the contracted distribution day. Revenues are recognized at the point in time that the newspaper publication is delivered, and distribution of the advertisement is satisfied. Certain customers may receive cash-based incentives or credits, which are accounted for as variable consideration. We estimate these amounts based on the expected value approach. For ads placed on our partners’ websites or selling a product hosted or managed by partners, we evaluate whether we are the principal or agent. Generally, we report advertising revenues for ads placed on our partners’ websites or for the resale of their products on a gross basis; that is, the amounts billed to our customers are recorded as revenues, and amounts paid to our partners for their products or advertising space are recorded as operating expenses. Where we are the principal, we are primarily responsible to our customers for fulfillment of the contract goals though, from time to time, the use of third-party goods or services. Our control is further supported by our level of discretion in establishing price and in some cases, controlling inventory before it is transferred to the customer. Most products, including the printed newspaper advertising product, banner ads on our websites and video ads on our owned and operated player are reported on a gross basis. However, there are some third-party products and services that we offer to customers and various revenue share arrangements, such as exchange platforms, that are reported on a net basis. Revenues are earned through being a reseller of a product or participating in an exchange where control over the service provided is limited and costs of the arrangement are net of revenue received. Audience Revenues Audience revenues include digital and print subscriptions or a combination of both at various frequencies of delivery. Our subscribers typically pay us in advance of when their subscriptions start or shortly thereafter. Our performance obligation to subscribers of our digital products is the real-time access to news and information delivered through multiple digital platforms. Our performance obligation to our traditional print subscribers is delivery of the physical newspaper according to their subscription plan. Revenues related to digital and print subscriptions are recognized ratably each day that a product is delivered to the subscriber. Digital subscriptions may be purchased for a day, month, quarter, or year, and revenue is reported daily over the term of the contract. Traditional print subscriptions may have various frequencies of delivery based upon the subscriber’s delivery preference. Revenues are recognized based upon each delivery, therefore at a point in time. Certain subscribers may enter into a grace period (“grace”) after their previous contract term has expired but before payment has be received on the renewal. Grace is granted as a continuation of the subscription contract, so that service is not disrupted, and the extension is accounted for as variable consideration. We estimate these revenue amounts based on the expected amount to be received, taking into account the expected discontinuation of service or nonpayment based on historical experience. Other Revenues The largest revenue streams within other revenues are for commercial printing and distribution. The commercial print agreements are between us and third-party publishers to print and make available for distribution their finished products. Commercial print contracts are for a daily finished product and each day’s product is unique, or a separate performance obligation. Revenue is recorded at a point in time upon completion of each day’s print project. The performance obligation for distribution revenues is the transportation of third-party published products to their subscribers or stores for resale. Distribution is performed substantially the same over the life of the contract and revenue is recognized at the point in time each performance obligation is completed. We report distribution revenues from the third-party publishers on a gross basis. That is, the amounts that we bill to third-party publishers to deliver their finished product to their customers are recorded as revenues, and the amounts paid to our independent carriers to deliver the third-party product are recorded as operating expenses. Arrangements with Multiple Performance Obligations Our contracts with customers may include multiple performance obligations. For such arrangements, we allocate revenue to each performance obligation based on its standalone selling price. We generally determine standalone selling prices for audience revenue contracts based upon observable market values and the adjusted market assessment. For advertising revenue contracts with multiple performance obligations, stand-alone selling price is based on the prices charged to customers or on an adjusted market assessment. Unearned Revenues We record unearned revenues when cash payments are received or due in advance of our performance, including amounts which are refundable. The increase in the unearned revenue balance for the three months ended March 31, 2019, reflects cash payments received or due in advance of satisfying our performance obligations, partially offset by $35.9 million of revenues recognized that were included in the unearned revenue balance as of December 30, 2018. Our payment terms vary for advertising and subscriber customers. Subscribers generally pay in advance of up to one year. Advertiser payments are due within 30 days of invoice issuance and therefore amounts paid in advance are not significant. For advertisers that are considered to be at a higher risk of collectability due to payment history or credit processing, we require payment before the products or services are delivered to the customer.

3. REVENUES

Revenue Recognition

Revenues are recognized when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to our customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services.

All revenues recognized on the condensed consolidated statements of operations are the result of contracts with customers, except for revenues associated with lease income where we are the lessor through a sublease arrangement.

Advertising Revenues

We generate revenues primarily by delivering advertising on our digital media sites, on our partners’ websites and in our newspapers. These advertising revenues are generated through digital and print performance obligations that are included in contracts with customers, which are typically one year or less in duration or commitment. There are no differences in the treatment of digital and print advertising performance obligations or the recognition of revenues for retail, national, classified, and direct marketing revenue categories.

We generate advertising revenues through digital products that are sold on cost-per-thousand impressions (“CPM”) which means that an advertiser pays based upon number of times their ad is displayed on our owned and operated websites and apps, our partners’ websites, ad exchanges, in a video pre-roll or a programmatic bidding exchange. Such revenues are recognized according to the timing outlined in the contract.

In addition to the advertising sold on a CPM basis, we also sell monthly marketing campaigns to some of our clients. Monthly marketing campaigns include multiple products some of which are sold on a CPM basis and others – like reputation management and search engine optimization – which are not. The contracted goods and services offered as part of monthly marketing campaigns are performed over the specific contract terms and the transfer of the performance obligation occurs as the benefits are consumed by the customer. As such, revenue is recognized daily regardless of the performance obligations classification of timing of being point in time or overtime.

Print advertising is advertising that is printed in a publication, inserted into a publication, or physically mailed to a customer. Our performance obligations for print products are directly associated with the inclusion of the advertisement in the final publication and delivery of the product on the contracted distribution day. Revenues are recognized at the point in time that the newspaper publication is delivered, and distribution of the advertisement is satisfied.

Certain customers may receive cash-based incentives or credits, which are accounted for as variable consideration. We estimate these amounts based on the expected value approach.

For ads placed on our partners’ websites or selling a product hosted or managed by partners, we evaluate whether we are the principal or agent. Generally, we report advertising revenues for ads placed on our partners’ websites or for the resale of their products on a gross basis; that is, the amounts billed to our customers are recorded as revenues, and amounts paid to our partners for their products or advertising space are recorded as operating expenses. Where we are the principal, we are primarily responsible to our customers for fulfillment of the contract goals though, from time to time, the use of third-party goods or services. Our control is further supported by our level of discretion in establishing price and in some cases, controlling inventory before it is transferred to the customer.

Most products, including the printed newspaper advertising product, banner ads on our websites and video ads on our owned and operated player are reported on a gross basis. However, there are some third-party products and services that we offer to customers and various revenue share arrangements, such as exchange platforms, that are reported on a net basis. Revenues are earned through being a reseller of a product or participating in an exchange where control over the service provided is limited and costs of the arrangement are net of revenue received.

Audience Revenues

Audience revenues include digital and print subscriptions or a combination of both at various frequencies of delivery. Our subscribers typically pay us in advance of when their subscriptions start or shortly thereafter. Our performance obligation to subscribers of our digital products is the real-time access to news and information delivered through multiple digital platforms. Our performance obligation to our traditional print subscribers is delivery of the physical newspaper according to their subscription plan. Revenues related to digital and print subscriptions are recognized ratably each day that a product is delivered to the subscriber.

Digital subscriptions may be purchased for a day, month, quarter, or year, and revenue is reported daily over the term of the contract.

Traditional print subscriptions may have various frequencies of delivery based upon the subscriber’s delivery preference. Revenues are recognized based upon each delivery, therefore at a point in time.

Certain subscribers may enter into a grace period (“grace”) after their previous contract term has expired but before payment has be received on the renewal. Grace is granted as a continuation of the subscription contract, so that service is not disrupted, and the extension is accounted for as variable consideration. We estimate these revenue amounts based on the expected amount to be received, taking into account the expected discontinuation of service or nonpayment based on historical experience.

Other Revenues

The largest revenue streams within other revenues are for commercial printing and distribution. The commercial print agreements are between us and third-party publishers to print and make available for distribution their finished products. Commercial print contracts are for a daily finished product and each day’s product is unique, or a separate performance obligation. Revenue is recorded at a point in time upon completion of each day’s print project.

The performance obligation for distribution revenues is the transportation of third-party published products to their subscribers or stores for resale. Distribution is performed substantially the same over the life of the contract and revenue is recognized at the point in time each performance obligation is completed.

We report distribution revenues from the third-party publishers on a gross basis. That is, the amounts that we bill to third-party publishers to deliver their finished product to their customers are recorded as revenues, and the amounts paid to our independent carriers to deliver the third-party product are recorded as operating expenses.

Arrangements with Multiple Performance Obligations

Our contracts with customers may include multiple performance obligations. For such arrangements, we allocate revenue to each performance obligation based on its standalone selling price. We generally determine standalone selling prices for audience revenue contracts based upon observable market values and the adjusted market assessment. For advertising revenue contracts with multiple performance obligations, stand-alone selling price is based on the prices charged to customers or on an adjusted market assessment.

Unearned Revenues

We record unearned revenues when cash payments are received or due in advance of our performance, including amounts which are refundable. The increase in the unearned revenue balance for the three months ended March 31, 2019, reflects cash payments received or due in advance of satisfying our performance obligations, partially offset by $35.9 million of revenues recognized that were included in the unearned revenue balance as of December 30, 2018.

Our payment terms vary for advertising and subscriber customers. Subscribers generally pay in advance of up to one year. Advertiser payments are due within 30 days of invoice issuance and therefore amounts paid in advance are not significant. For advertisers that are considered to be at a higher risk of collectability due to payment history or credit processing, we require payment before the products or services are delivered to the customer.