Goodwill and other Intangible Assets

6 Months Ended

Mar. 25, 2012

Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets [Abstract]

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block]

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill are as follows:



		26 Weeks Ended
	(Thousands of Dollars)	March 25 2012

	Goodwill, gross amount	1,536,000
	Accumulated impairment losses	1,288,729
	Goodwill, beginning of period	247,271
	Goodwill, end of period	247,271

Identified intangible assets consist of the following:



(Thousands of Dollars)	March 25 2012	September 25 2011

Nonamortized intangible assets:
Mastheads	30,795	30,795
Amortizable intangible assets:
Customer and newspaper subscriber lists	881,164	881,164
Less accumulated amortization	438,297	416,457
	442,867	464,707
Noncompete and consulting agreements	28,524	28,524
Less accumulated amortization	28,521	28,517
	3	7
	473,665	495,509

In assessing the recoverability of goodwill and other nonamortized intangible assets, we make a determination of the fair value of our business. Fair value is determined using a combination of an income approach, which estimates fair value based upon future revenue, expenses and cash flows discounted to their present value, and a market approach, which estimates fair value using market multiples of various financial measures compared to a set of comparable public companies in the publishing industry. A non-cash impairment charge will generally be recognized when the carrying amount of the net assets of the business exceeds its estimated fair value.

The required valuation methodology and underlying financial information that are used to determine fair value require significant judgments to be made by us. These judgments include, but are not limited to, long term projections of future financial performance and the selection of appropriate discount rates used to determine the present value of future cash flows. Changes in such estimates or the application of alternative assumptions could produce significantly different results.

We analyze goodwill and other nonamortized intangible assets for impairment on an annual basis, or more frequently if impairment indicators are present. Such indicators of impairment include, but are not limited to, changes in business climate and operating or cash flow losses related to such assets.

We review our amortizable intangible assets for impairment when indicators of impairment are present. We assess recoverability of these assets by comparing the estimated undiscounted cash flows associated with the asset or asset group with their carrying amount. The impairment amount, if any, is calculated based on the excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of those assets.

Due primarily to the difference between our stock price and the per share carrying value of our net assets, we analyzed the carrying value of our net assets in 2011. Continued deterioration in our revenue and the weak economic environment were also factors in the timing of the analysis. We concluded the fair value of our business did not exceed the carrying value of our net assets.

As a result, we recorded pretax, non-cash charges to reduce the carrying value of goodwill, nonamortized and amortizable intangible assets in 2011. Additional pretax, non-cash charges were recorded to reduce the carrying value of TNI in 2011. We also recorded pretax, non-cash charges to reduce the carrying value of property and equipment in 2011. We recorded deferred income tax benefits related to these charges.

A summary of impairment charges is included in the table below:



	13 Weeks Ended
(Thousands of Dollars)	June 26 2011	September 25 2011		Total

Goodwill	174,125	12,156		186,281
Nonamortized intangible assets	13,200	759		13,959
Amortizable intangible assets	—	4,199		4,199
Property and equipment	—	700		700
	187,325	17,814		205,139
Investment in TNI	12,000	(100	)	11,900
	199,325	17,714		217,039

Future decreases in our market value, or significant differences in revenue, expenses or cash flows from estimates used to determine fair value, could result in additional impairment charges in the future.

We also periodically evaluate our determination of the useful lives of amortizable intangible assets. Any resulting changes in the useful lives of such intangible assets will not impact our cash flows. However, a decrease in the useful lives of such intangible assets would increase future amortization expense and decrease future reported operating results and earnings per common share.

Annual amortization of intangible assets for the 53 week period ending March 2013 and for each of the 52 week periods ending March 2014, March 2015, March 2016 and March 2017 is estimated to be $39,839,000, $38,633,000, $38,490,000, $37,572,000 and $36,309,000, respectively.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the aggregate amount of goodwill and a description of intangible assets, which may include (a) for amortizable intangible assets (also referred to as finite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, the amount of any significant residual value, and the weighted-average amortization period, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization (also referred to as indefinite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, and (c) the amount of research and development assets acquired and written off in the period, including the line item in the income statement in which the amounts written off are aggregated, if not readily apparent from the income statement. Also discloses (a) for amortizable intangibles assets in total and by major class, the gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization, the total amortization expense for the period, and the estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the five succeeding fiscal years, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization the carrying amount in total and by major class, and (c) for goodwill, in total and for each reportable segment, the changes in the carrying amount of goodwill during the period (including the aggregate amount of goodwill acquired, the aggregate amount of impairment losses recognized, and the amount of goodwill included in the gain (loss) on disposal of a reporting unit). If any part of goodwill has not been allocated to a reportable segment, discloses the unallocated amount and the reasons for not allocating. For each impairment loss recognized related to an intangible asset (excluding goodwill), discloses: (a) a description of the impaired intangible asset and the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method for determining fair value, (c) the caption in the income statement or the statement of activities in which the impairment loss is aggregated, and (d) the segment in which the impaired intangible asset is reported. For each goodwill impairment loss recognized, discloses: (a) a description of the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method of determining the fair value of the associated reporting unit, and (c) if a recognized impairment loss is an estimate not finalized and the reasons why the estimate is not final. May also disclose the nature and amount of any significant adjustments made to a previous estimate of an impairment loss.

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