v2.4.1.9
Business and Basis of Presentation
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Business and Basis of Presentation

Note 1: Business and Basis of Presentation

We are a global media and technology company with two primary businesses, Comcast Cable and NBCUniversal. We were incorporated under the laws of Pennsylvania in December 2001. Through our predecessors, we have developed, managed and operated cable systems since 1963. In 2013, we acquired General Electric Company’s (“GE”) 49% common equity interest in NBCUniversal, LLC (“NBCUniversal Holdings”) that we did not already own.

On February 12, 2014, we entered into an agreement and plan of merger (the “merger agreement”) with Time Warner Cable Inc. (“Time Warner Cable”) whereby Time Warner Cable will become our wholly owned subsidiary (the “Time Warner Cable merger”). On April 25, 2014, in connection with the merger agreement, we entered into an agreement with Charter Communications, Inc. (“Charter”) that, among other things, would result in a net disposition of certain cable systems. See Note 5 for additional information on the Time Warner Cable merger and the agreement with Charter.

We present our operations for Comcast Cable in one reportable business segment, referred to as Cable Communications, and our operations for NBCUniversal in four reportable business segments. The Cable Networks, Broadcast Television, Filmed Entertainment and Theme Parks segments comprise the NBCUniversal businesses (collectively, the NBCUniversal segments”). See Note 18 for additional information on our reportable business segments.

Our Cable Communications segment primarily manages and operates cable systems that serve residential and business customers in the United States. As of December 31, 2014, our cable systems served 22.4 million video customers, 22.0 million high-speed Internet customers and 11.2 million voice customers, with 27.0 million total customer relationships.

Our Cable Networks segment consists primarily of a diversified portfolio of cable television networks. Our cable networks are comprised of our national cable networks, which provide a variety of entertainment, news and information, and sports content, our regional sports and news networks, our international cable networks, and our cable television production operations.

Our Broadcast Television segment consists primarily of the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, our NBC and Telemundo owned local broadcast television stations, the NBC Universo (formerly mun2) national cable network, and our broadcast television production operations.

Our Filmed Entertainment segment primarily produces, acquires, markets and distributes filmed entertainment worldwide. Our films are produced primarily under the Universal Pictures, Focus Features and Illumination names.

Our Theme Parks segment consists primarily of our Universal theme parks in Orlando, Florida and Hollywood, California. Our Theme Parks segment also receives fees from third parties that own and operate Universal Studios Japan and Universal Studios Singapore for intellectual property licenses and other services.

Our other business interests consist primarily of Comcast-Spectacor, which owns the Philadelphia Flyers and the Wells Fargo Center arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and operates arena management-related businesses.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include all entities in which we have a controlling voting interest (“subsidiaries”) and variable interest entities (“VIEs”) required to be consolidated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”).

We translate assets and liabilities of our foreign subsidiaries where the functional currency is the local currency, primarily the euro and the British pound, into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate as of the balance sheet date and translate revenue and expenses using average monthly exchange rates. The related translation adjustments are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Any foreign currency transaction gains and losses are included in our consolidated statement of income.

NBCUniversal Media, LLC [Member]  
Business and Basis of Presentation

Note 1: Business and Basis of Presentation

Unless indicated otherwise, throughout these notes to the consolidated financial statements, we refer to NBCUniversal and its consolidated subsidiaries as “we,” “us” and “our.” We are one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies that develops, produces and distributes entertainment, news and information, sports, and other content for global audiences. In 2013, Comcast acquired General Electric Company’s (“GE”) 49% common equity interest in our parent, NBCUniversal, LLC (“NBCUniversal Holdings”), that it did not already own. See Note 4 for additional information on the redemption transaction.

We present our operations as the following four reportable business segments: Cable Networks, Broadcast Television, Filmed Entertainment and Theme Parks. See Note 17 for additional information on our reportable business segments.

Our Cable Networks segment consists primarily of a diversified portfolio of cable television networks. Our cable networks are comprised of our national cable networks, which provide a variety of entertainment, news and information, and sports content, our regional sports and news networks, our international cable networks, and our cable television production operations.

Our Broadcast Television segment consists primarily of the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, our NBC and Telemundo owned local broadcast television stations, the NBC Universo (formerly mun2) national cable network, and our broadcast television production operations.

Our Filmed Entertainment segment primarily produces, acquires, markets and distributes filmed entertainment worldwide. Our films are produced primarily under the Universal Pictures, Focus Features and Illumination names.

Our Theme Parks segment consists primarily of our Universal theme parks in Orlando, Florida and Hollywood, California. Our Theme Parks segment also receives fees from third parties that own and operate Universal Studios Japan and Universal Studios Singapore for intellectual property licenses and other services.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include all entities in which we have a controlling voting interest (“subsidiaries”) and variable interest entities (“VIEs”) required to be consolidated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). Transactions between NBCUniversal and both Comcast and Comcast’s consolidated subsidiaries are reflected in these consolidated financial statements and disclosed as related party transactions when material.

We translate assets and liabilities of our foreign subsidiaries where the functional currency is the local currency, primarily the euro and the British pound, into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate as of the balance sheet date and translate revenue and expenses using average monthly exchange rates. The related translation adjustments are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Any foreign currency transaction gains and losses are included in our consolidated statement of income.