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Description of Business and Basis of Presentation
9 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Description of Business and Basis of Presentation

NOTE 1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

News Corporation (together with its subsidiaries, “News Corporation,” “News Corp,” the “Company,” “we,” or “us”) is a global diversified media and information services company comprised of businesses across a range of media, including: news and information services, cable network programming in Australia, digital real estate services, book publishing, digital education and pay-TV distribution in Australia.

The Separation and Distribution

On June 28, 2013 (the “Distribution Date”), the Company completed the separation of its businesses (the “Separation”) from Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc. (“21st Century Fox”). As of the effective time of the Separation, all of the outstanding shares of the Company were distributed to 21st Century Fox stockholders based on a distribution ratio of one share of Company Class A or Class B Common Stock for every four shares of 21st Century Fox Class A or Class B Common Stock, respectively, held of record as of June 21, 2013 (the “Record Date”). Following the Separation, the Company’s Class A and Class B Common Stock began trading independently on The NASDAQ Global Select Market (“NASDAQ”), and CHESS Depository Interests representing the Company’s Class A and Class B Common Stock began trading on the Australian Securities Exchange (“ASX”). In connection with the Separation, the Company entered into the Separation and Distribution Agreement (the “Separation and Distribution Agreement”) and certain other related agreements which govern the Company’s relationship with 21st Century Fox following the Separation. (See Note 9 – Related Party Transactions and 21st Century Fox Investment for further information).

Basis of Presentation

Subsequent to the Distribution Date, the Company’s financial statements as of June 30, 2013 and as of and for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2014 are presented on a consolidated basis, as the Company became a separate consolidated group on June 28, 2013. The Company’s consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2014 reflect the Company’s operations as a stand-alone company. The Company’s consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2013 and March 31, 2014 consist of the Company’s consolidated balances, subsequent to the Separation.

Prior to the Separation, the Company’s combined financial statements were prepared on a stand-alone basis derived from the consolidated financial statements and accounting records of 21st Century Fox. The Company’s financial statements for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2013 were prepared on a combined basis and presented as carve-out financial statements, as the Company was not a separate consolidated group prior to the Distribution Date. These statements reflect the combined historical results of operations and cash flows of 21st Century Fox’s publishing businesses, its education division and other Australian assets.

Prior to the Separation, the Company’s combined statements of operations included allocations of general corporate expenses for certain support functions that were provided on a centralized basis by 21st Century Fox and not recorded at the business unit level, such as expenses related to finance, human resources, information technology, facilities, and legal, among others. These expenses were allocated to the Company on the basis of direct usage when identifiable, with the remainder allocated on a pro rata basis of combined revenues, operating income, headcount or other measures of the Company. Management believes the assumptions underlying the combined financial statements, including the assumptions regarding allocating general corporate expenses from 21st Century Fox, are reasonable. Nevertheless, the combined financial statements may not include all of the actual expenses that would have been incurred by the Company and may not reflect the Company’s combined results of operations and cash flows had it been a stand-alone company during the periods presented. Actual costs that would have been incurred if the Company had been a stand-alone company would depend on multiple factors, including organizational structure and strategic decisions made in various areas, including information technology and infrastructure.

The consolidated and combined financial statements will be referred to as the “Financial Statements” herein. The consolidated and combined statements of operations will be referred to as the “Statements of Operations” herein. The consolidated balance sheets will be referred to as the “Balance Sheets” herein.

For purposes of the Company’s Financial Statements for periods prior to the Separation, income tax expense was recorded as if the Company filed tax returns on a stand-alone basis separate from 21st Century Fox. This separate return methodology applies the accounting guidance for income taxes to the stand-alone financial statements as if the Company was a stand-alone enterprise for the periods prior to the Distribution Date. Therefore, cash tax payments for periods prior to the Separation may not be reflective of the Company’s actual tax balances. Prior to the Separation, the Company’s operating results were included in 21st Century Fox’s consolidated U.S. federal and state income tax returns. The calculation of the Company’s income taxes involves considerable judgment and the use of both estimates and allocations.

The accompanying Financial Statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. In the opinion of management, all adjustments consisting only of normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation have been reflected in these unaudited consolidated and combined financial statements. Operating results for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014.

The accompanying Financial Statements and notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated and combined financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on September 20, 2013 (the “2013 Form 10-K”).

Intracompany transactions and balances have been eliminated. Equity investments in which the Company exercises significant influence but does not exercise control and is not the primary beneficiary are accounted for using the equity method. Investments in which the Company is not able to exercise significant influence over the investee are designated as available-for-sale if readily determinable fair values are available. If an investment’s fair value is not readily determinable, the Company accounts for its investment under the cost method.

The preparation of the Company’s Financial Statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts that are reported in the Financial Statements and accompanying disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

The Company’s fiscal year ends on the Sunday closest to June 30. Fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2013 include 52 weeks. All references to March 31, 2014 and March 31, 2013 relate to the three and nine months ended March 30, 2014 and March 31, 2013, respectively. For convenience purposes, the Company continues to date its financial statements as of March 31.

Certain fiscal 2013 amounts have been reclassified to conform to the fiscal 2014 presentation.

Recent Accounting Guidance

In July 2012, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) ASU 2012-02, “Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment” (“ASU 2012-02”), which permits an entity to make a qualitative assessment of whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit’s indefinite-lived intangible asset is less than the asset’s carrying value before applying a quantitative impairment assessment. If it is determined through the qualitative assessment that the fair value of a reporting unit’s indefinite-lived intangible asset is more likely than not greater than the asset’s carrying value, the remaining impairment steps would be unnecessary. The qualitative assessment is optional, allowing companies to go directly to the quantitative assessment. ASU 2012-02 is effective for the Company for annual and interim indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment tests performed beginning July 1, 2013. The adoption of ASU 2012-02 did not have an impact on the Company’s Financial Statements.

In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-02, “Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income” (“ASU 2013-02”), which requires the Company to provide information about the amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component. In addition, it requires the Company to present, either on the face of the statement where net income is presented or in the notes, significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by the respective line items of net income but only if the amount reclassified is required under GAAP to be reclassified to net income in its entirety in the same reporting period. For other amounts that are not required under GAAP to be reclassified in their entirety to net income, the Company is required to cross-reference to other disclosures required under GAAP that provide additional detail about those amounts. ASU 2013-02 was effective for the Company for interim reporting periods beginning July 1, 2013. (See Note 11 – Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits).

In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-04, “Liabilities (Topic 405): Obligations Resulting from Joint and Several Liability Arrangements for Which the Total Amount of the Obligation Is Fixed at the Reporting Date” (“ASU 2013-04”). The objective of ASU 2013-04 is to provide guidance for the recognition, measurement, and disclosure of obligations resulting from joint and several liability arrangements for which the total amount of the obligation (within the scope of this guidance) is fixed at the reporting date. Examples of obligations within the scope of ASU 2013-04 include debt arrangements, other contractual obligations, and settled litigation and judicial rulings. ASU 2013-04 is effective for the Company for interim reporting periods beginning July 1, 2014, however, early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that ASU 2013-04 will have on its Financial Statements, but does not expect the adoption will have a significant impact on the Company’s Financial Statements.

In March 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-05, “Parent’s Accounting for the Cumulative Translation Adjustment upon Derecognition of Certain Subsidiaries or Groups of Assets within a Foreign Entity or of an Investment in a Foreign Entity” (“ASU 2013-05”). The objective of ASU 2013-05 is to resolve the diversity in practice regarding the release of the cumulative translation adjustment into net income when a parent either sells a part or all of its investment in a foreign entity or no longer holds a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or group of assets within a foreign entity. ASU 2013-05 is effective for the Company for interim reporting periods beginning July 1, 2014, however, early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that ASU 2013-05 will have on its Financial Statements, but does not expect the adoption will have a significant impact on the Company’s Financial Statements.

In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-11, “Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists” (“ASU 2013-11”). ASU 2013-11 clarifies guidance and eliminates diversity in practice on the presentation of unrecognized tax benefits when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists at the reporting date. ASU 2013-11 is effective for the Company for annual reporting periods beginning July 1, 2014 and subsequent interim periods. Based on its review, the Company has determined that ASU 2013-11 will not have a significant impact on its Financial Statements.

In April 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-08, “Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360): Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity” (“ASU 2014-08”). ASU 2014-08 changes the criteria for reporting discontinued operations with only disposals representing a strategic shift in operations being presented as discontinued operations. Additionally, ASU 2014-08 requires expanded disclosures about discontinued operations. The Company early adopted ASU 2014-08 which did not have an impact on the Company’s Financial Statements.