Goodwill

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

Goodwill:

Goodwill

5.       Goodwill

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by operating segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 are as follows (amounts in millions):

		Activision		Blizzard		Total
Balance at December 31, 2012		$	6,928	$	178	$	7,106
	Tax benefit credited to goodwill		(8)		---		(8)
Balance at September 30, 2013		$	6,920	$	178	$	7,098

The tax benefit credited to goodwill represents the tax deduction resulting from the exercise of stock options that were outstanding and vested at the consummation of the Business Combination and included in the purchase price of the Company, to the extent that the tax deduction did not exceed the fair value of those options. Conversely, to the extent that the tax deduction did exceed the fair value of those options, the tax benefit is credited to additional paid-in capital.