Description of Business and Basis of Presentation

Description of Business

AMC Networks Inc. (“AMC Networks”) and collectively with its subsidiaries (the “Company”) own and operate entertainment businesses and assets. The Company is comprised of two operating segments:

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National Networks: Principally includes five nationally distributed programming networks: AMC, WE tv, BBC AMERICA, IFC and SundanceTV. These programming networks are distributed throughout the United States (“U.S.”) via cable and other multichannel video programming distribution platforms, including direct broadcast satellite (“DBS”) and platforms operated by telecommunications providers (we refer collectively to these cable and other multichannel video programming distributors as “multichannel video programming distributors” or “distributors”). AMC, IFC and SundanceTV are also distributed in Canada. The National Networks operating segment also includes AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology, which primarily services most of the nationally distributed programming networks.

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International and Other: Principally includes AMC Networks International, the Company’s international programming businesses consisting of a portfolio of channels in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and parts of Asia and Africa; IFC Films, the Company’s independent film distribution business; AMC Networks International - DMC, the broadcast solutions unit of certain networks of AMC Networks International and third party networks; and various developing on-line content distribution initiatives.

Basis of Presentation

Principles of Consolidation

These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of AMC Networks, its majority owned or controlled subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

Investments in business entities in which the Company lacks control but does have the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies are accounted for using the equity method.

Unaudited Interim Financial Statements

These condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and Article 10 of Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and should be read in conjunction with the Company's consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2014 contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K (“2014 Form 10-K”) filed with the SEC. The condensed consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2015 and for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 presented in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are unaudited; however, in the opinion of management, such financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting solely of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods presented.

The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that might be expected for future interim periods or for the full year ending December 31, 2015.

Program Rights

The Company periodically reviews the programming usefulness of its licensed and owned original program rights based on a series of factors, including expected future revenue generation from airings on the Company's networks and other exploitation opportunities, ratings, type and quality of program material, standards and practices, and fitness for exhibition through various forms of distribution. If it is determined that film or other program rights have no future programming usefulness, a write-off of the unamortized cost is recorded in technical and operating expense. Program rights write-offs of $9,596 and $3,603 were recorded for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Use of Estimates

These condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates and judgments inherent in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements include the valuation of acquisition-related assets and liabilities, the useful lives and methodologies used to amortize and assess recoverability of program rights, the estimated useful lives of intangible assets, valuation and recoverability of goodwill and intangible assets and income taxes.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications were made to the prior period amounts to conform to the current period presentation.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In April 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. ASU 2015-03 requires debt issuance costs to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying value of the debt. ASU 2015-03 will be applied retrospectively and is effective for the fourth quarter of 2015. Early adoption is permitted for financial statements that have not been previously issued. The adoption of ASU 2015-03 is not expected to have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-02, Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis. ASU 2015-02 amends current GAAP principles relating to the requirements of the reporting entity to consolidate other legal entities, which will therefore require all reporting entities that hold variable interests in other legal entities to re-evaluate consolidation assessments and disclosures. The new standard states (i) limited partnerships will be VIEs, unless the limited partners have either substantive kick-out or participating rights, (ii) a reporting organization may no longer have to consolidate a legal entity in certain circumstances based solely on its fee arrangement, when certain criteria are met, (iii) less frequent performance of the related-party tiebreaker test (and mandatory consolidation by one of the related parties) than under current GAAP, and (iv) for entities other than limited partnerships, ASU 2015-02 clarifies how to determine whether the equity holders have power over the entity. ASU 2015-02 is effective for the fourth quarter of 2015 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently in the process of assessing the impact, if any, the adoption of ASU 2015-02 will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). ASU 2014-09 provides new guidance related to how an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The standard requires an evaluation of (i) transfer of control, (ii) variable consideration, (iii) allocation of selling price for multiple elements, (iv) intellectual property licenses, (v) time value of money and (vi) contract costs. The standard also expands the required disclosures related to revenue and cash flows from contracts with customers to provide greater insight into both revenue that has been recognized, and revenue that is expected to be recognized in the future from existing contracts. ASU 2014-09 is effective in the first quarter of 2017 and can be adopted either retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption, with early application not permitted. In April 2015, the FASB proposed a one-year delay in the effective date of the standard to the first quarter of 2018, with an option that would permit companies to adopt the standard as early as the original effective date. A final decision on the effective date is expected in 2015. The Company is currently determining its implementation approach and assessing the impact the adoption of ASU 2014-09 will have on its consolidated financial statements.