Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. Also included in the consolidated financial statements are entities for which the Company has a controlling financial interest or is the primary beneficiary. Investments in companies in which the Company owns 20percent to 50percent of the voting common stock or otherwise exercises significant influence over operating and financial policies of the Company are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. All significant intercompany accounts have been eliminated in consolidation.

Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2012 presentation.

The Company owns certain radio stations which, under current Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) rules, are not permitted or transferable. These radio stations were placed in a trust in order to comply with FCC rules at the time of the closing of the merger that resulted in the Company's acquisition of Clear Channel.  The Company is the beneficial owner of the trust, but the radio stations are managed by an independent trustee.  The Company will have to divest all of these radio stations unless any stations may be owned by the Company under then-current FCC rules, in which case the trust will be terminated with respect to such stations. The trust agreement stipulates that the Company must fund any operating shortfalls of the trust activities, and any excess cash flow generated by the trust is distributed to the Company. The Company is also the beneficiary of proceeds from the sale of stations held in the trust. The Company consolidates the trust in accordance with ASC810-10, which requires an enterprise involved with variable interest entities to perform an analysis to determine whether the enterprise's variable interest or interests give it a controlling financial interest in the variable interest entity, as the trust was determined to be a variable interest entity and the Company is its primary beneficiary.

Revenue Recognition

CCME revenue is recognized as advertisements or programs are broadcast and is generally billed monthly. Outdoor advertising contracts typically cover periods of a few weeks up to one year and are generally billed monthly. Revenue for outdoor advertising space rental is recognized ratably over the term of the contract. Advertising revenue is reported net of agency commissions. Agency commissions are calculated based on a stated percentage applied to gross billing revenue for the Company's media and entertainment and outdoor operations. Payments received in advance of being earned are recorded as deferred income.Revenue arrangements typically contain multiple products and services and revenues are allocated based on the relative fair value of each delivered item and recognized in accordance with the applicable revenue recognition criteria for the specific unit of accounting.

Barter transactions represent the exchange of advertising spots or display space for merchandise or services. These transactions are recorded at the estimated fair market value of the advertising spots or display space or the fair value of the merchandise or services received, whichever is most readily determinable. Revenue is recognized on barter and trade transactions when the advertisements are broadcasted or displayed. Expenses are recorded ratably over a period that estimates when the merchandise or service received is utilized, or when the event occurs. Barter and trade revenues and expenses from continuing operations are included in consolidated revenue and selling, general and administrative expenses, respectively. Barter and trade revenues and expenses from continuing operations were as follows:

(In millions)		Years Ended December 31,
		2012		2011		2010
Barter and trade revenues	$	56.5	$	61.2	$	67.0
Barter and trade expenses		58.8		63.4		66.4

Advertising Expense

The Company records advertising expense as it is incurred. Advertising expenses were $113.4 million,$92.2million and $82.0million for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Share-Based Compensation

Under the fair value recognition provisions of ASC718-10, share-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award. For awards that vest based on service conditions, this cost is recognized as expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. For awards that will vest based on market or performance conditions, this cost will be recognized when it becomes probable that the performance conditions will be satisfied. Determining the fair value of share-based awards at the grant date requires assumptions and judgments about expected volatility and forfeiture rates, among other factors.

The Company does not have any equity incentive plans under which it grants stock awards to employees. Employees of subsidiaries of the Company receive equity awards from CCMH's equity incentive plan or CCOH's equity incentive plan. Prior to the merger, Clear Channel granted equity awards to its employees under its own equity incentive plans.

Foreign Currency

Results of operations for foreign subsidiaries and foreign equity investees are translated into U.S. dollars using the average exchange rates during the year. The assets and liabilities of those subsidiaries and investees are translated into U.S. dollars using the exchange rates at the balance sheet date. The related translation adjustments are recorded in a separate component of shareholders' equity, “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)”. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are included in operations.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-08, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing Goodwill for Impairment. Under the revised guidance, entities testing goodwill for impairment have the option of performing a qualitative assessment before calculating the fair value of the reporting unit (i.e., step 1 of the goodwill impairment test). If entities determine, on the basis of qualitative factors, that the fair value of the reporting unit is more likely than not less than the carrying amount, the two-step impairment test would be required. The ASU does not change how goodwill is calculated or assigned to reporting units, nor does it revise the requirement to test goodwill annually for impairment. The amendments are effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is permitted. The Company early adopted the provisions of this ASU as of October 1, 2011 with no material impact to its financial position or results of operations.  However, for its annual impairment test as of October 1, 2012, the Company elected to perform a quantitative assessment and applied the two-step impairment test.

In December2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No.2011-11, Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities (ASC210). Under the ASU, new disclosures will be required for recognized financial instruments and derivative instruments that are either offset on the balance sheet in accordance with the offsetting guidance in ASC210-20-45 or ASC815-10-45, or are subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement, regardless of whether they are offset in accordance with the offsetting guidance. The disclosure requirements will be effective for periods beginning on or after January1, 2013, and are to be applied retrospectively. The Company does not expect the provisions of ASU2011-11 to have a material effect on its financial position or results of operations.

In July2012, the FASB issued ASU No.2012-02, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment. The ASU gives entities the option to first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether the existence of events and circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not (a likelihood of more than 50%) that an indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired. If an entity determines that it is more likely than not that the fair value of such an asset exceeds its carrying amount, it would not need to calculate the fair value of the asset in that year. However, if an entity concludes otherwise, it must calculate the fair value of the asset, compare that value with its carrying amount and record an impairment charge, if any. The guidance is effective for annual and interim impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012. Early adoption is permitted. The Company did not early adopt the provisions of this ASU during 2012 in connection with its annual impairment test for indefinite-lived intangibles. The Company does not expect the provisions of ASU2012-02 to have a material effect on its financial position or results of operations.