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Revenue
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2018
Revenue [Line Items]  
Revenue
Revenue
 
Three Months Ended
June 30
 
Six Months Ended
June 30
(in millions)
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Residential:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Video
$
5,628

 
$
5,740

 
$
11,287

 
$
11,446

High-Speed Internet
4,262

 
3,898

 
8,419

 
7,740

Voice
994

 
1,034

 
2,000

 
2,068

Business services
1,761

 
1,585

 
3,487

 
3,128

Advertising
666

 
626

 
1,248

 
1,180

Other
399

 
374

 
787

 
745

Total Cable Communications(a)
13,710

 
13,257

 
27,228

 
26,307

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Distribution
1,684

 
1,550

 
3,571

 
3,112

Advertising
938

 
906

 
1,926

 
1,732

Content licensing and other
294

 
240

 
613

 
492

Total Cable Networks
2,916

 
2,696

 
6,110

 
5,336

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Advertising
1,387

 
1,270

 
3,752

 
2,549

Content licensing
481

 
523

 
1,003

 
1,026

Distribution and other
523

 
448

 
1,133

 
874

Total Broadcast Television
2,391

 
2,241

 
5,888

 
4,449

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Theatrical
540

 
837

 
963

 
1,488

Content licensing
648

 
684

 
1,381

 
1,418

Home entertainment
225

 
334

 
473

 
620

Other
297

 
287

 
540

 
583

Total Filmed Entertainment
1,710

 
2,142

 
3,357

 
4,109

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Theme Parks
1,361

 
1,314

 
2,642

 
2,432

Headquarters and Other
15

 
9

 
29

 
17

Eliminations(b)
(80
)
 
(84
)
 
(183
)
 
(172
)
Total NBCUniversal
8,313

 
8,318

 
17,843

 
16,171

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate and Other
255

 
205

 
646

 
413

Eliminations(b)
(543
)
 
(494
)
 
(1,191
)
 
(1,018
)
Total revenue
$
21,735

 
$
21,286

 
$
44,526

 
$
41,873

(a)
For both the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, 2.7% of Cable Communications segment revenue was derived from franchise and other regulatory fees. For both the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, 2.8% of Cable Communications segment revenue was derived from franchise and other regulatory fees.
(b)
Included in Eliminations are transactions that our segments enter into with one another. See Note 2 for a description of these transactions.
We operate primarily in the United States, but also in select international markets primarily in Europe and Asia. The table below summarizes revenue by geographic location.
 
Three Months Ended
June 30
 
Six Months Ended
June 30
(in millions)
2018
  
2017
 
2018
  
2017
United States
$
19,931

 
$
19,073

 
$
40,816

  
$
37,905

Foreign
1,804

 
2,213

 
3,710

  
3,968

Total revenue
$
21,735

 
$
21,286

 
$
44,526

 
$
41,873


No single customer accounted for a significant amount of revenue in any period presented.
Cable Communications Segment
Residential
Our Cable Communications segment generates revenue from residential customers subscribing to our video, high-speed Internet, voice, and security and automation services, which we market individually and as bundled services at a discounted rate in the United States. Revenue from residential customers that purchase bundled services at a discounted rate is allocated between the separate services based on the respective stand-alone selling prices. The stand-alone selling prices are determined based on the current prices at which we separately sell the cable services. Significant judgment is used to determine performance obligations that should be accounted for separately and the allocation of revenue when services are combined in a bundle. Revenue related to our security and automation services is reported in other revenue.
We recognize revenue from residential cable services as the services are provided on a monthly basis. Subscription rates and related charges vary according to the services and features customers receive. Customers are typically billed in advance and pay on a monthly basis. Installation fees are deferred and recognized as revenue over the period of benefit to the customer, which is less than a year for residential customers. While a portion of our residential customers are subject to contracts for their cable services, which are typically 2 years in length, based on our evaluation of the terms of these contracts, we recognize revenue for these cable services on a basis that is consistent with our customers that are not subject to contracts. Our cable services generally involve customer premise equipment, such as set-top boxes, cable modems and wireless gateways. The timing and pattern of recognition for customer premise equipment revenue are consistent with those of our residential cable services. Sales commissions related to our residential customers are expensed as incurred, as the related period of benefit is less than a year.
Under the terms of our cable franchise agreements, we are generally required to pay the cable franchising authority an amount based on our gross video revenue. We generally pass these and other similar fees through to our cable services customers and classify these fees in the respective cable service revenue, with the corresponding costs included in other operating and administrative expenses.
Business Services
Our Cable Communications segment generates revenue from business customers subscribing to a variety of products and services. Our small business services offerings primarily include high-speed Internet services, as well as voice and video services, similar to those that we provide to our residential customers, and also include cloud-based solutions that provide file sharing, online backup and web conferencing, among other features. We also offer Ethernet network services that connect multiple locations and provide higher downstream and upstream speed options to medium-sized customers and larger enterprises, as well as advanced voice services. In addition, we provide cellular backhaul services to mobile network operators to help these customers manage their network bandwidth.
Recently, we have expanded our enterprise service offerings to include a software-defined networking product and our managed solutions business to offer enterprise customers support related to Wi-Fi networks, router management, network security, business continuity risks and other services. We primarily offer our enterprise service offerings to Fortune 1000 companies and other large enterprises with multiple locations both within and outside of our cable distribution footprint where we have agreements with other companies to use their networks to provide coverage.
We recognize revenue from business services as the services are provided on a monthly basis. Substantially all of our business customers are initially under contracts, with terms typically ranging from 2 years for small and medium-sized businesses to up to 5 years for larger enterprises. At any given time, the amount of future revenue to be earned related to fixed pricing under existing agreements is equal to approximately half of our annual business services revenue, of which the substantial majority will be recognized within 2 years. Customers with contracts may only discontinue service in accordance with the terms of their contracts. We receive payments from business customers based on a billing schedule established in our contracts, which is typically on a monthly basis. Installation revenue related to our business services customers and sales commissions are generally deferred and recognized over the respective contract terms.
Advertising
Our Cable Communications segment generates revenue from the sale of advertising and from our advanced advertising business. As part of our distribution agreements with cable networks, we generally receive an allocation of scheduled advertising time on cable networks that we sell to local, regional and national advertisers. In most cases, the available advertising units are sold by our sales force. We also represent the advertising sales efforts of other multichannel video providers in some markets. Since we are acting as the principal in these arrangements, we record the advertising that is sold in advertising revenue and the fees paid to multichannel video providers in other operating and administrative expenses. In some cases, we work with representation firms as an extension of our sales force to sell a portion of the advertising units allocated to us and record the revenue net of agency commissions. In addition, we generate revenue from the sale of advertising online and on our On Demand service. We enter into advertising arrangements with customers and have determined that a contract exists once all terms and conditions are agreed upon, typically when the number of advertising units is specifically identified and the timing of airing is scheduled. Advertisements are generally aired or viewed within one year once all terms and conditions are agreed upon. Advertising revenue is recognized in the period in which advertisements are aired or viewed. Payment terms vary by contract, although terms generally require payment within 30 to 60 days from when advertisements are aired or viewed. Our advanced advertising business provide technology, tools, marketplace solutions and data-driven insights to various customers in the media industry to more effectively engage with their targeted audiences. Revenue earned from our advanced advertising business is recognized when services are provided.
NBCUniversal Segments
Distribution
Our Cable Networks segment generates distribution revenue from the distribution of our cable network programming to traditional and virtual multichannel video providers. Our Broadcast Television segment generates distribution revenue from the fees received under retransmission consent agreements and associated fees received from NBC-affiliated local broadcast television stations.
Distribution revenue is recognized as programming is provided on a monthly basis, generally under multiyear agreements. Monthly fees received under distribution agreements with multichannel video providers are generally based on the number of subscribers. Payment terms and conditions vary by contract type, although terms generally include payment within 30 to 60 days.
Advertising
Our Cable Networks and Broadcast Television segments generate advertising revenue from the sale of advertising on our cable and broadcast networks, our owned local broadcast television stations, and various digital properties.
We enter into advertising arrangements with customers and have determined that a contract exists once all terms and conditions are agreed upon, typically when the number of advertising units is specifically identified and the timing of airing is scheduled. Advertisements are generally aired or viewed within one year once all terms are agreed upon. Advertising revenue is recognized, net of agency commissions, in the period in which advertisements are aired or viewed and payment occurs thereafter, generally within 30 days. In some instances, we guarantee audience ratings for the advertisements. To the extent there is a shortfall in contracts where the ratings were guaranteed, a portion of the revenue is deferred until the shortfall is settled, typically by providing additional advertising units generally within one year of the original airing.
Theatrical
Our Filmed Entertainment segment theatrical revenue is generated from the worldwide theatrical release of our produced and acquired films for exhibition in movie theaters and is affected by the timing, nature and number of films released in movie theaters and their acceptance by audiences. Theatrical revenue is also affected by the number of exhibition screens, ticket prices, the percentage of ticket sale retention by the exhibitors and the popularity of competing films at the time our films are released. We recognize theatrical revenue as the films are viewed and exhibited in theaters and payment generally occurs within 60 days after exhibition.
Content Licensing
Our Cable Networks, Broadcast Television and Filmed Entertainment segments generate revenue from the licensing of our owned film and television content in the United States and internationally to cable, broadcast and premium networks and subscription video on demand services. Our content licensing agreements generally include fixed pricing and span multiple years. For example, following a film’s theatrical release, our Filmed Entertainment segment may license the exhibition rights of a film to different customers over multiple successive distribution windows.
We recognize revenue when the content is delivered and available for use by the licensee. When the term of an existing agreement is renewed or extended, we recognize revenue at the later of when the content is available or when the renewal or extension period begins. Payment terms and conditions vary by contract type, although payments are generally collected over the license term. The amount of future revenue to be earned related to fixed pricing under existing agreements primarily relates to our Filmed Entertainment segment, which at any given time equals approximately 1 to 2 years of our annual Filmed Entertainment content licensing revenue. The substantial majority of this revenue will be recognized within 2 years. This amount may fluctuate from period to period depending on the timing of the release and the availability of content under existing agreements and may not represent the total content licensing revenue expected to be recognized as it does not include revenue from future agreements or from variable pricing or optional purchases under existing agreements.
For our content licensing agreements that also include variable pricing, such as pricing based on the number of subscribers to a subscription video on demand service, we generally recognize revenue for variable pricing as the content is delivered and available and as the variable amounts become known.
Home Entertainment
Our Filmed Entertainment segment generates revenue from the sale of our produced and acquired films on standard-definition digital video discs and Blu-ray discs (together, “DVDs”) and through digital distribution services. Our Cable Networks and Broadcast Television networks also generate revenue from the sale of owned programming on DVDs and through digital distribution services, which is reported in other revenue. We recognize revenue from DVD sales, net of estimated returns and customer incentives, on the date that DVDs are delivered to and made available for sale by retailers. Payment terms generally include payment within 60 to 90 days from delivery to the retailer.
Theme Parks
Our Theme Parks segment generates revenue primarily from ticket sales and guest spending at our Universal theme parks in Orlando, Florida; Hollywood, California; and Osaka, Japan. Guest spending includes in-park spending on food, beverages and merchandise. We recognize revenue from theme park ticket sales when the tickets are used, generally within a year from the date of purchase. For annual passes, we generally recognize revenue on a straight-line basis over the period the pass is available to be used. We recognize revenue from guest spending at the point of sale.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
The following tables summarize our accounts receivable and other balances that are not separately presented in our condensed consolidated balance sheet that relate to the recognition of revenue and collection of the related cash, as well as deferred costs associated with our contracts with customers.
(in millions)
June 30,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
Receivables, gross
$
9,142

 
$
9,122

Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts
295

 
288

Receivables, net
$
8,847

 
$
8,834


(in millions)
June 30,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
Noncurrent receivables, net (included in other noncurrent assets, net)
$
1,191

 
$
1,184

Contract acquisition and fulfillment costs (included in other noncurrent assets, net)
$
929

 
$
922

Noncurrent deferred revenue (included in other noncurrent liabilities)
$
530

 
$
497


In our Cable Communications segment, we manage credit risk by screening applicants through the use of internal customer information, identification verification tools and credit bureau data, as well as offering customers the opportunity to establish automatic monthly payments. If a customer’s account is delinquent, various measures are used to collect outstanding amounts, including termination of the customer’s cable services.
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 [Member] | NBCUniversal Media LLC [Member]  
Revenue [Line Items]  
Revenue
Revenue
 
Three Months Ended
June 30
 
Six Months Ended
June 30
(in millions)
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Distribution
$
1,684

 
$
1,550

 
$
3,571

 
$
3,112

Advertising
938

 
906

 
1,926

 
1,732

Content licensing and other
294

 
240

 
613

 
492

Total Cable Networks
2,916

 
2,696

 
6,110

 
5,336

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Advertising
1,387

 
1,270

 
3,752

 
2,549

Content licensing
481

 
523

 
1,003

 
1,026

Distribution and other
523

 
448

 
1,133

 
874

Total Broadcast Television
2,391

 
2,241

 
5,888

 
4,449

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Theatrical
540

 
837

 
963

 
1,488

Content licensing
648

 
684

 
1,381

 
1,418

Home entertainment
225

 
334

 
473

 
620

Other
297

 
287

 
540

 
583

Total Filmed Entertainment
1,710

 
2,142

 
3,357

 
4,109

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Theme Parks
1,361

 
1,314

 
2,642

 
2,432

Headquarters and Other
15

 
9

 
29

 
17

Eliminations(a)
(80
)
 
(84
)
 
(183
)
 
(172
)
Total revenue
$
8,313

 
$
8,318

 
$
17,843

 
$
16,171

(a)
Included in Eliminations are transactions that our segments enter into with one another. See Note 2 for a description of these transactions.
We operate primarily in the United States, but also in select international markets primarily in Europe and Asia. The table below summarizes revenue by geographic location.
 
Three Months Ended
June 30
 
Six Months Ended
June 30
(in millions)
2018
  
2017
 
2018
  
2017
United States
$
6,533

 
$
6,139

 
$
14,187

  
$
12,256

Foreign
1,780

 
2,179

 
3,656

  
3,915

Total revenue
$
8,313

 
$
8,318

 
$
17,843

 
$
16,171


No single customer accounted for a significant amount of revenue in any period presented.
Distribution
Our Cable Networks segment generates distribution revenue from the distribution of our cable network programming to traditional and virtual multichannel video providers. Our Broadcast Television segment generates distribution revenue from the fees received under retransmission consent agreements and associated fees received from NBC-affiliated local broadcast television stations.
Distribution revenue is recognized as programming is provided on a monthly basis, generally under multiyear agreements. Monthly fees received under distribution agreements with multichannel video providers are generally based on the number of subscribers. Payment terms and conditions vary by contract type, although terms generally include payment within 30 to 60 days.
Advertising
Our Cable Networks and Broadcast Television segments generate advertising revenue from the sale of advertising on our cable and broadcast networks, our owned local broadcast television stations, and various digital properties.
We enter into advertising arrangements with customers and have determined that a contract exists once all terms and conditions are agreed upon, typically when the number of advertising units is specifically identified and the timing of airing is scheduled. Advertisements are generally aired or viewed within one year once all terms are agreed upon. Advertising revenue is recognized, net of agency commissions, in the period in which advertisements are aired or viewed and payment occurs thereafter, generally within 30 days. In some instances, we guarantee audience ratings for the advertisements. To the extent there is a shortfall in contracts where the ratings were guaranteed, a portion of the revenue is deferred until the shortfall is settled, typically by providing additional advertising units generally within one year of the original airing.
Theatrical
Our Filmed Entertainment segment theatrical revenue is generated from the worldwide theatrical release of our produced and acquired films for exhibition in movie theaters and is affected by the timing, nature and number of films released in movie theaters and their acceptance by audiences. Theatrical revenue is also affected by the number of exhibition screens, ticket prices, the percentage of ticket sale retention by the exhibitors and the popularity of competing films at the time our films are released. We recognize theatrical revenue as the films are viewed and exhibited in theaters and payment generally occurs within 60 days after exhibition.
Content Licensing
Our Cable Networks, Broadcast Television and Filmed Entertainment segments generate revenue from the licensing of our owned film and television content in the United States and internationally to cable, broadcast and premium networks and subscription video on demand services. Our content licensing agreements generally include fixed pricing and span multiple years. For example, following a film’s theatrical release, our Filmed Entertainment segment may license the exhibition rights of a film to different customers over multiple successive distribution windows.
We recognize revenue when the content is delivered and available for use by the licensee. When the term of an existing agreement is renewed or extended, we recognize revenue at the later of when the content is available or when the renewal or extension period begins. Payment terms and conditions vary by contract type, although payments are generally collected over the license term. The amount of future revenue to be earned related to fixed pricing under existing agreements primarily relates to our Filmed Entertainment segment, which at any given time equals approximately 1 to 2 years of our annual Filmed Entertainment content licensing revenue. The substantial majority of this revenue will be recognized within 2 years. This amount may fluctuate from period to period depending on the timing of the release and the availability of content under existing agreements and may not represent the total content licensing revenue expected to be recognized as it does not include revenue from future agreements or from variable pricing or optional purchases under existing agreements.
For our content licensing agreements that also include variable pricing, such as pricing based on the number of subscribers to a subscription video on demand service, we generally recognize revenue for variable pricing as the content is delivered and available and as the variable amounts become known.
Home Entertainment
Our Filmed Entertainment segment generates revenue from the sale of our produced and acquired films on standard-definition digital video discs and Blu-ray discs (together, “DVDs”) and through digital distribution services. Our Cable Networks and Broadcast Television networks also generate revenue from the sale of owned programming on DVDs and through digital distribution services, which is reported in other revenue. We recognize revenue from DVD sales, net of estimated returns and customer incentives, on the date that DVDs are delivered to and made available for sale by retailers. Payment terms generally include payment within 60 to 90 days from delivery to the retailer.
Theme Parks
Our Theme Parks segment generates revenue primarily from ticket sales and guest spending at our Universal theme parks in Orlando, Florida; Hollywood, California; and Osaka, Japan. Guest spending includes in-park spending on food, beverages and merchandise. We recognize revenue from theme park ticket sales when the tickets are used, generally within a year from the date of purchase. For annual passes, we generally recognize revenue on a straight-line basis over the period the pass is available to be used. We recognize revenue from guest spending at the point of sale.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
The following tables summarize our accounts receivable and other balances that are not separately presented in our condensed consolidated balance sheet that relate to the recognition of revenue and collection of the related cash.
(in millions)
June 30,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
Receivables, gross
$
7,097

 
$
7,055

Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts
95

 
88

Receivables, net
$
7,002

 
$
6,967



(in millions)
June 30,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
Noncurrent receivables, net (included in other noncurrent assets, net)
$
1,091

 
$
1,093

Noncurrent deferred revenue (included in other noncurrent liabilities)
$
424

 
$
392