Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2018

The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and include the accounts of our Company and our wholly and majority-owned subsidiaries after elimination of all significant intercompany transactions.

The portion of the net income or loss and equity of a subsidiary attributable to the owners of a subsidiary other than the Company (a noncontrolling interest) is included as a component of consolidated stockholders‘ equity in our Consolidated Balance Sheets, within net income or loss in our Consolidated Statements of Operations, within comprehensive income or loss in our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income/(Loss) and as a component of consolidated stockholders’ equity in our Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in our Consolidated Financial Statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Fiscal Year

Our fiscal year end is the last Sunday in December. Fiscal years 2018 and 2016 each comprised 52 weeks and fiscal year 2017 comprised 53 weeks. Our fiscal years ended as of December 30, 2018, December 31, 2017, and December 25, 2016, respectively.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

We consider all highly liquid debt instruments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

Marketable Securities

We have investments in marketable debt securities. We determine the appropriate classification of our investments at the date of purchase and reevaluate the classifications at the balance sheet date. Marketable debt securities with maturities of 12 months or less are classified as short-term. Marketable debt securities with maturities greater than 12 months are classified as long-term. The Company’s marketable securities are accounted for as available for sale (“AFS”).

AFS securities are reported at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses, after applicable income taxes, are reported in accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss).

We conduct an other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) analysis on a quarterly basis or more often if a potential loss-triggering event occurs. We consider factors such as the duration, severity and the reason for the decline in value, the potential recovery period and whether we intend to sell. For AFS securities, we also consider whether (i) it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the debt securities before recovery of their amortized cost basis and (ii) the amortized cost basis cannot be recovered as a result of credit losses.

Concentration of Risk

Financial instruments, which potentially subject us to concentration of risk, are cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities. Cash is placed with major financial institutions. As of December 30, 2018, we had cash balances at financial institutions in excess of federal insurance limits. We periodically evaluate the credit standing of these financial institutions as part of our ongoing investment strategy.

Our marketable securities portfolio consists of investment-grade securities diversified among security types, issuers and industries. Our cash equivalents and marketable securities are primarily managed by third-party investment managers who are required to adhere to investment policies approved by our Board of Directors designed to mitigate risk.

Accounts Receivable

Credit is extended to our advertisers and our subscribers based upon an evaluation of the customer’s financial condition, and collateral is not required from such customers. Allowances for estimated credit losses, rebates, returns, rate adjustments and discounts are generally established based on historical experience.

Inventories

Inventories are included within Other current assets of the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Inventory cost is generally based on the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) method for newsprint and other paper grades and the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method for other inventories.

Investments

Investments in which we have at least a 20%, but not more than a 50%, interest are generally accounted for under the equity method. We elected the fair value measurement alternative for our investment interests below 20% and account for these investments at cost less impairments, adjusted by observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or similar investments of the same issuer given our equity instruments are without readily determinable fair values. Prior to 2018 and the adoption of ASU 2016-01 (see Note 6 for more information), investment interests below 20% were generally accounted for under the cost method, except if we could exercise significant influence, the investment would be accounted for under the equity method.

We evaluate whether there has been an impairment of our investments annually or in an interim period if circumstances indicate that a possible impairment may exist.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is computed by the straight-line method over the shorter of estimated asset service lives or lease terms as follows: buildings, building equipment and improvements – 10 to 40 years; equipment – 3 to 30 years; and software – 2 to 5 years. We capitalize interest costs and certain staffing costs as part of the cost of major projects.

We evaluate whether there has been an impairment of long-lived assets, primarily property, plant and equipment, if certain circumstances indicate that a possible impairment may exist. These assets are tested for impairment at the asset group level associated with the lowest level of cash flows. An impairment exists if the carrying value of the asset (i) is not recoverable (the carrying value of the asset is greater than the sum of undiscounted cash flows) and (ii) is greater than its fair value.

Goodwill and Intangibles

Goodwill is the excess of cost over the fair value of tangible and intangible net assets acquired. Goodwill is not amortized but tested for impairment annually or in an interim period if certain circumstances indicate a possible impairment may exist. Our annual impairment testing date is the first day of our fiscal fourth quarter.

We identify a business as an operating segment if: (1) it engages in business activities from which it may earn revenues and incur expenses; (2) its operating results are regularly reviewed by the Chief Operating Decision Maker (who is the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer) to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and assess its performance; and (3) it has available discrete financial information. We have determined that we have one reportable segment. Therefore, all required segment information can be found in the Consolidated Financial Statements.

We test goodwill for impairment at a reporting unit level. During the fourth quarter of 2018, we adopted accounting guidance that simplifies our goodwill impairment testing by eliminating the requirement to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill (formerly “Step 2”) in the event that an impairment is identified.

We first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value. The qualitative assessment includes, but is not limited to, the results of our most recent quantitative impairment test, consideration of industry, market and macroeconomic conditions, cost factors, cash flows, changes in key management personnel and our share price. The result of this assessment determines whether it is necessary to perform the goodwill impairment test (formerly “Step 1”). For the 2018 annual impairment testing, based on our qualitative assessment, we concluded that goodwill is not impaired.

If we determine that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value, we compare the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount, including goodwill. Fair value is calculated by a combination of a discounted cash flow model and a market approach model. In calculating fair value for a reporting unit, we generally weigh the results of the discounted cash flow model more heavily than the market approach because the discounted cash flow model is specific to our business and long-term projections. If the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill of that reporting unit is not considered impaired. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss would be recognized in an amount equal to that excess, limited to the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit.

Intangible assets that are not amortized (i.e., trade names) are tested for impairment at the asset level by comparing the fair value of the asset with its carrying amount. If the fair value, which is based on future cash flows, exceeds the carrying value, the asset is not considered impaired. If the carrying amount exceeds the fair value, an impairment loss would be recognized in an amount equal to the excess of the carrying amount of the asset over the fair value of the asset.

Intangible assets that are amortized (i.e., customer lists, non-competes, etc.) are tested for impairment at the asset level associated with the lowest level of cash flows. An impairment exists if the carrying value of the asset (1) is not recoverable (the carrying value of the asset is greater than the sum of undiscounted cash flows) and (2) is greater than its fair value.

The discounted cash flow analysis requires us to make various judgments, estimates and assumptions, many of which are interdependent, about future revenues, operating margins, growth rates, capital expenditures, working capital, discount rates and royalty rates. The starting point for the assumptions used in our discounted cash flow analysis is the annual long-range financial forecast. The annual planning process that we undertake to prepare the long-range financial forecast takes into consideration a multitude of factors, including historical growth rates and operating performance, related industry trends, macroeconomic conditions, and marketplace data, among others. Assumptions are also made for perpetual growth rates for periods beyond the long-range financial forecast period. Our estimates of fair value are sensitive to changes in all of these variables, certain of which relate to broader macroeconomic conditions outside our control.

The market approach analysis includes applying a multiple, based on comparable market transactions, to certain operating metrics of a reporting unit.

The significant estimates and assumptions used by management in assessing the recoverability of goodwill acquired and intangibles are estimated future cash flows, discount rates, growth rates, as well as other factors. Any changes in these estimates or assumptions could result in an impairment charge. The estimates, based on reasonable and supportable assumptions and projections, require management’s subjective judgment. Depending on the assumptions and estimates used, the estimated results of the impairment tests can vary within a range of outcomes.

In addition to annual testing, management uses certain indicators to evaluate whether the carrying value of a reporting unit or intangibles may not be recoverable and an interim impairment test may be required. These indicators include: (1) current-period operating or cash flow declines combined with a history of operating or cash flow declines or a projection/forecast that demonstrates continuing declines in the cash flow or the inability to improve our operations to forecasted levels, (2) a significant adverse change in the business climate, whether structural or technological, (3) significant impairments and (4) a decline in our stock price and market capitalization.

Management has applied what it believes to be the most appropriate valuation methodology for its impairment testing.

Self-Insurance

We self-insure for workers’ compensation costs, automobile and general liability claims, up to certain deductible limits, as well as for certain employee medical and disability benefits. Employee medical costs above a certain threshold are insured by a third party. The recorded liabilities for self-insured risks are primarily calculated using actuarial methods. The liabilities include amounts for actual claims, claim growth and claims incurred but not yet reported.

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits

Our single-employer pension and other postretirement benefit costs are accounted for using actuarial valuations. We recognize the funded status of these plans – measured as the difference between plan assets, if funded, and the benefit obligation – on the balance sheet and recognize changes in the funded status that arise during the period but are not recognized as components of net periodic pension cost, within other comprehensive income/(loss), net of income taxes. The assets related to our funded pension plans are measured at fair value.

We make significant subjective judgments about a number of actuarial assumptions, which include discount rates, health-care cost trend rates, long-term return on plan assets and mortality rates. Depending on the assumptions and estimates used, the impact from our pension and other postretirement benefits could vary within a range of outcomes and could have a material effect on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

We have elected the practical expedient to use the month-end that is closest to our fiscal year-end for measuring the single-employer pension plan assets and obligations as well as other postretirement benefit plan assets and obligations.

We also recognize the present value of pension liabilities associated with the withdrawal from multiemployer pension plans. We record liabilities for obligations related to complete, partial and estimated withdrawals from multiemployer pension plans. The actual liability for estimated withdrawals is not known until each plan completes a final assessment of the withdrawal liability and issues a demand to us. Therefore, we adjust the estimate of our multiemployer pension plan liability as more information becomes available that allows us to refine our estimates.

See Notes 10 and 11 for additional information regarding pension and other postretirement benefits.

Revenue Recognition

We generate revenues principally from subscriptions and advertising. Subscription revenues consist of revenues from subscriptions to our print and digital products (which include our news product, as well as our Crossword and Cooking products) and single-copy and bulk sales of our print products. Subscription revenues are based on both the number of copies of the printed newspaper sold and digital-only subscriptions, and the rates charged to the respective customers.

Advertising revenues are derived from the sale of our advertising products and services, primarily on our print and digital platforms. These revenues are primarily determined by the volume, rate and mix of advertisements.

Other revenues primarily consist of revenues from licensing, affiliate referrals (revenue generated by offering direct links to merchants in exchange for a portion of the sale price), building rental revenue, commercial printing, NYT Live (our live events business) and retail commerce.

Revenue is recognized when a performance obligation is satisfied by transferring a promised good or service to a customer. A good or service is considered transferred when the customer obtains control, which is when the customer has the ability to direct the use of and/or obtain substantially all of the benefits of an asset.

Proceeds from subscription revenues are deferred at the time of sale and are recognized on a pro rata basis over the terms of the subscriptions. Payment is typically due upfront and the revenue is recognized ratably over the subscription period. The deferred proceeds are recorded within “Unexpired subscription revenue” in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Single-copy revenue is recognized based on date of publication, net of provisions for related returns. Payment for single-copy sales is typically due upon complete satisfaction of our performance obligations. The Company does not have significant financing components or significant payment terms as we only offer industry standard payment terms to our customers.

When our subscriptions are sold through third parties, we are a principal in the transaction and, therefore, revenues and related costs to third parties for these sales are reported on a gross basis. We are considered a principal if we control a promised good or service before transferring that good or service to the customer. The Company considers several factors to determine if it controls the good and therefore is the principal. These factors include: (1) if we have primary responsibility for fulfilling the promise, (2) if we have inventory risk before the goods or services are transferred to the customer or after the transfer of control to the customer and (3) if we have discretion in establishing price for the specified good or service.

Advertising revenues are recognized when advertisements are published in newspapers or placed on digital platforms or, with respect to certain digital advertising, each time a user clicks on certain advertisements, net of provisions for estimated rebates and rate adjustments.

We recognize a rebate obligation as a reduction of revenues, based on the amount of estimated rebates that will be earned , related to the underlying revenue transactions during the period. Measurement of the rebate obligation is estimated based on the historical experience of the number of customers that ultimately earn and use the rebate. We recognize an obligation for rate adjustments as a reduction of revenues, based on the amount of estimated post-billing adjustments that will be claimed. Measurement of the rate adjustment reserve is estimated based on historical experience of credits actually issued.

Payment for advertising is due upon complete satisfaction of our performance obligations. The Company has a formal credit checking policy, procedures and controls in place that evaluate collectability prior to ad publication. Our advertising contracts do not include a significant financing component.

Other revenues are recognized when the delivery occurs, services are rendered or purchases are made.

Performance Obligations

Our contracts with customers may include multiple performance obligations. For such arrangements, we allocate revenue to each performance obligation based on its relative standalone selling price.

In the case of our digital archive licensing contracts, the transaction price was allocated among the performance obligations, (i) the archival content and (ii) the updated content, based on the Company’s estimate of the standalone selling price of each of the performance obligations, as they are currently not sold separately.

Contract Assets

We record revenue from performance obligations when performance obligations are satisfied. For our digital archiving licensing revenue, we record revenue related to the portion of performance obligation (i) satisfied at the commencement of the contract when the customer obtains control of the archival content or (ii) when the updated content is transferred. We receive payments from customers based upon contractual billing schedules. As the transfer of control represents a right to the contract consideration, we record a contract asset in “Other current assets” for short-term contract assets and “Miscellaneous assets” for long-term contract assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheet for any amounts not yet invoiced to the customer. The contract asset is reclassified to “Accounts receivable” when the customer is invoiced based on the contractual billing schedule.

Significant Judgments

Our contracts with customers sometimes include promises to transfer multiple products and services to a customer. Determining whether products and services are considered distinct performance obligations that should be accounted for separately versus together may require significant judgment. We use an observable price to determine the standalone selling price for separate performance obligations if available or, when not available, an estimate that maximizes the use of observable inputs and faithfully depicts the selling price of the promised goods or services if we sold those goods or services separately to a similar customer in similar circumstances.

Practical Expedients and Exemptions

We expense the cost to obtain or fulfill a contract as incurred because the amortization period of the asset that the entity otherwise would have recognized is one year or less. We also apply the practical expedient for the significant financing component when the difference between the payment and the transfer of the products and services is a year or less.

Income Taxes

Income taxes are recognized for the following: (1) the amount of taxes payable for the current year and (2) deferred tax assets and liabilities for the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized differently in the financial statements than for tax purposes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are established using statutory tax rates and are adjusted for tax rate changes in the period of enactment.

We assess whether our deferred tax assets should be reduced by a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Our process includes collecting positive (i.e., sources of taxable income) and negative (i.e., recent historical losses) evidence and assessing, based on the evidence, whether it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

We recognize in our financial statements the impact of a tax position if that tax position is more likely than not of being sustained on audit, based on the technical merits of the tax position. This involves the identification of potential uncertain tax positions, the evaluation of tax law and an assessment of whether a liability for uncertain tax positions is necessary. Different conclusions reached in this assessment can have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

We operate within multiple taxing jurisdictions and are subject to audit in these jurisdictions. These audits can involve complex issues, which could require an extended period of time to resolve. Until formal resolutions are reached between us and the tax authorities, the timing and amount of a possible audit settlement for uncertain tax benefits is difficult to predict.

Stock-Based Compensation

We establish fair value based on market data for our stock-based awards to determine our cost and recognize the related expense over the appropriate vesting period. We recognize stock-based compensation expense for outstanding stock-settled long-term performance awards, restricted stock units and stock appreciation rights, net of estimated forfeitures. See Note 16 for additional information related to stock-based compensation expense.

Earnings/(Loss) Per Share

As the Company has participating securities, GAAP requires to use the two-class method of computing earnings per share. The two-class method is an earnings allocation method for computing earnings/(loss) per share when a company’s capital structure includes either two or more classes of common stock or common stock and participating securities. This method determines earnings/(loss) per share based on dividends declared on common stock and participating securities (i.e., distributed earnings), as well as participation rights of participating securities in any undistributed earnings.

Foreign Currency Translation

The assets and liabilities of foreign companies are translated at period-end exchange rates. Results of operations are translated at average rates of exchange in effect during the year. The resulting translation adjustment is included as a separate component in the Stockholders’ Equity section of our Consolidated Balance Sheets, in the caption “Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of income taxes.”

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements



Accounting Standard Update(s)	Topic	Effective Period	Summary
2018-05	Income Taxes (Topic 740)	Upon issuance	The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued authoritative guidance that amends Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 740 “Income Taxes” to conform with SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin 118, issued in December 2017, which allowed SEC registrants to record provisional amounts for the year ended December 31, 2017, due to the complexities involved in accounting for the enactment of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”). In the fourth quarter of 2018, we completed our accounting for the impact of the Tax Act and recognized a $1.9 million tax benefit.
2018-02	Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	Fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted.	The FASB issued authoritative guidance providing financial statement preparers with an option to reclassify stranded tax effects within accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) to retained earnings in each period in which the effect of the change in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate related to the Tax Act is recorded. The Company elected to adopt this guidance to reclassify the stranded tax effects from AOCI to retained earnings in the first quarter of 2018. Our current accounting policy related to releasing tax effects from AOCI for pension and other postretirement benefits is a plan by plan approach. Accordingly, the Company recorded a $94.1 million cumulative effect adjustment for stranded tax effects, such as pension and other postretirement benefits, to “Retained earnings” on January 1, 2018. See Note 17 for more information.
2017-07	Compensation—Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost	Fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted.	The FASB issued authoritative guidance that requires the service cost component of net periodic benefit costs to be presented separately from the other components of net periodic benefit costs. Service cost will be presented with other employee compensation cost within “Operating costs.” The other components of net periodic benefit costs, such as interest cost, amortization of prior service cost and gains or losses, are required to be presented outside of operations. The guidance should be applied retrospectively for the presentation of the service cost component in the income statement and allows a practical expedient for the estimation basis for applying the retrospective presentation requirements. Since Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2017-07 only requires change to the Consolidated Statements of Operations classification of the components of net periodic benefit cost, there are no changes to income from continuing operations or net income. As a result of the adoption of the ASU during 2018, the service cost component of net periodic benefit costs continues to be recognized in total operating costs and the other components of net periodic benefit costs have been reclassified to “Other components of net periodic benefit costs/(income)” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations below “Operating profit” on a retrospective basis. The Company reclassified $0.9 million and $4.2 million of credits from “Production costs” and “Selling and general and administrative costs,” respectively, to “Other components of net periodic benefit costs/(income)” in 2017. Additionally, in 2017, the Company recorded a gain of $32.7 million in connection with the settlement of contractual funding obligations primarily from a postretirement plan, as well as a pension settlement charges of $102.1 million in connection with the transfer of certain pension benefit obligations to insurers that were reclassified from “Postretirement benefit plan withdrawl expense” and “Pension settlement expense”, respectively, to “Other components of net periodic benefit costs”. This recast increased the full year 2017 “Operating costs” by $5.1 million while “Operating profit” increased $64.2. The Company reclassified $1.3 million and $7.2 million of credits from “Production costs” and “Selling and general and administrative costs,” respectively, to “Other components of net periodic benefit costs/(income)” during 2016. Additionally, in 2016 the Company reclassified $1.7 million of pension credits out of “Restructuring charge” and $21.3 million of pension settlement charges out of “Pension settlement expense” into “Other components of net periodic benefit costs”. This recast increased the full year 2016 “Operating costs” by $8.5 million while “Operating profit” increased $11.1 million. There was no impact to net income for 2017 or 2016. See Note 10 for the components of net periodic benefit costs/(income) for our pension and other postretirement benefits plans.



Accounting Standard Update(s)	Topic	Effective Period	Summary
2016-18	Statement of Cash Flow: Restricted Cash	Fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted.	The FASB issued authoritative guidance that amends the guidance in ASC 230 on the classification and presentation of restricted cash in the statement of cash flows. The key requirements of the ASU are: (1) all entities should include in their cash and cash-equivalent balances in the statements of cash flows those amounts that are deemed to be restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents, (2) a reconciliation between the statement of financial position and the statement of cash flows must be disclosed when the statement of financial position includes more than one line item for cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, (3) changes in restricted cash that result from transfers between cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash should not be presented as cash flow activities in the statement of cash flows and (4) an entity with a material balance of amounts generally described as restricted cash must disclose information about the nature of the restrictions. As a result of the adoption of ASU 2016-18 in 2018, the Company included the restricted cash balance with the cash and cash equivalents balances in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows on a retrospective basis. The reclassification did not have a material impact to the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for 2017 and 2016. The Company has added a reconciliation from the Consolidated Balance Sheets to the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. See Note 8 for more information.
2016-01 2018-03	Financial Instruments—Overall: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities	Fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years.	The FASB issued authoritative guidance that addresses certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial instruments, including requirements to measure most equity investments at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income, to perform a qualitative assessment of equity investments without readily determinable fair values, and to separately present financial assets and liabilities by measurement category and by type of financial asset on the balance sheet or the accompanying notes to the financial statements. We adopted ASU 2016-01 in the first quarter of 2018 and elected the measurement alternative, defined as cost, less impairments, adjusted by observable price changes, given our equity instruments are without readily determinable fair values. This guidance did not impact our AFS securities because we only hold debt securities. We also early adopted ASU 2018-03 in the first quarter of 2018. The adoptions of ASU 2016-01 and ASU 2018-03 did not have a material effect on our Consolidated Financial Statements. See Note 6 for more information.



Accounting Standard Update(s)	Topic	Effective Period	Summary
2014-09 2016-08 2016-10 2016-12	Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)	Fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2017	The FASB issued authoritative guidance that prescribes a single comprehensive model for entities to use in the accounting of revenue arising from contracts with customers. The new guidance supersedes virtually all existing revenue guidance under GAAP. There are two transition options available to entities: the full retrospective approach or the modified retrospective approach. On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted Topic 606. The Company has elected the modified retrospective approach, which allows for the new revenue standard to be applied to all existing contracts as of the effective date and a cumulative catch-up adjustment to be recorded to “Retained earnings.” The Company recognizes revenue under the core principle to depict the transfer of control to the Company’s customers in an amount reflecting the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled. In order to achieve that core principle, the Company applies the following five-step approach: (1) identify the contract with a customer, (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract, (3) determine the transaction price, (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract and (5) recognize revenue when a performance obligation is satisfied. The most significant change to the Company’s accounting practices related to accounting for certain licensing arrangements in the other revenue category for which archival and updated content is included. Under the former revenue guidance, licensing revenue was generally recognized over the term of the contract based on the annual minimum guarantee amount specified in the contractual agreement with the licensee. Based on the guidance of Topic 606, the Company has determined that the archival content and updated content included in these licensing arrangements represent two separate performance obligations. As such, a portion of the total contract consideration related to the archival content was recognized at the commencement of the contract when control of the archival content is transferred. The remaining contractual consideration will be recognized proportionately over the term of the contract when updated content is transferred to the licensee, in line with when the control of the new content is transferred. The net impact of these changes accelerated the revenue of contracts not completed as of January 1, 2018. In connection with the adoption of the standard the Company recorded a net increase to opening retained earnings of $2.6 million ($3.5 million before tax) and a contract asset of $3.5 million, with $1.3 million categorized as a current asset and $2.2 million categorized as a long term asset as of January 1, 2018. The impact to “Other revenues” as a result of applying Topic 606 was a decrease of $1.3 million for the twelve months ended December 30, 2018. Our subscription and advertising revenues were not affected by the new guidance. See Note 3 for more information on our revenues and the application of Topic 606.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements



Accounting Standard Update(s)	Topic	Effective Period	Summary
2018-15	Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Internal-Use Software	Fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted.	The FASB issued authoritative guidance that clarifies the accounting for implementation costs in cloud computing arrangements. The standard provides that implementation costs be evaluated for capitalization using the same criteria as that used for internal-use software development costs, with amortization expense being recorded in the same income statement expense line as the hosted service costs and over the expected term of the hosting arrangement. We are currently in the process of evaluating the impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements.
2018-14	Compensation—Retirement Benefits—Defined Benefit Plans—General	Fiscal years ending after December 15, 2020, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted.	The FASB issued authoritative guidance that modifies the disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other postretirement benefit plans. The guidance removes disclosures, clarifies the specific requirements of disclosures and adds disclosure requirements identified as relevant. We are currently in the process of evaluating the impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements.
2016-13 2018-19	Financial Instruments—Credit Losses	Fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years.	The FASB issued authoritative guidance that amends guidance on reporting credit losses for assets, including trade receivables, available-for-sale marketable securities and any other financial assets not excluded from the scope that have the contractual right to receive cash. For trade receivables, ASU 2016-13 eliminates the probable initial recognition threshold in current generally accepted accounting standards, and, instead, requires an entity to reflect its current estimate of all expected credit losses. The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account that is deducted from the gross trade receivables balance to present the net amount expected to be collected. For available-for-sale marketable securities, credit losses should be measured in a manner similar to current generally accepted accounting standards; however, ASU 2016-13 will require that credit losses be presented as an allowance rather than as a write-down. We are currently in the process of evaluating the impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements.
2016-02 2018-10 2018-11 2018-20	Leases	Fiscal years beginning after December 30, 2018. Early adoption is permitted.	The FASB issued authoritative guidance that provides guidance on accounting for leases and disclosure of key information about leasing arrangements. The guidance issued in 2016 was subsequently amended in the 2018 ASU updates (collectively, “Topic 842”). Topic 842 requires lessees to recognize the following for all operating and finance leases at the commencement date: (1) a lease liability, which is the obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis, and (2) a right-of-use asset representing the lessee’s right to use, or control the use of, the underlying asset for the lease term. A lessee is permitted to make an accounting policy election not to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities for short-term leases with a term of 12 months or less. The guidance does not fundamentally change lessor accounting; however, some changes have been made to align that guidance with the lessee guidance and other areas within GAAP. It requires that reimbursable expenses from a lessee be reported gross on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. The Company expects to adopt this guidance in the first quarter of 2019 utilizing the alternative transition method. Upon adoption, the Company expects to elect the transition package of practical expedients permitted within the new standard, which, among other things, allows the carryforward of the historical lease classification and allows the Company to recognize a cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. The Company continues to evaluate which other, if any, practical expedients will be elected. The adoption of the standards will require us to add right-of-use assets and lease liabilities onto our balance sheet. Based on our lease portfolio at December 30, 2018, the right-of-use asset and lease liability would have been in the range of $35 million to $40 million on our Consolidated Balance Sheets based on the remaining lease payments. We do not expect the lessee guidance to have a material impact to our Consolidated Statement of Operations or liquidity.

The Company considers the applicability and impact of all recently issued accounting pronouncements. Recent accounting pronouncements not specifically identified in our disclosures are either not applicable to the Company or are not expected to have a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations.