v2.4.1.9
Postretirement, Pension and Other Employee Benefit Plans (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Postretirement And Pension Benefits
201420132012
Year ended December 31 (in millions)Postretirement BenefitsPension BenefitsPostretirement BenefitsPension BenefitsPostretirement BenefitsPension Benefits
Benefit obligation$ 837 $ 581 $ 633 $ 498 $ 703 $ 805
Fair value of plan assets(a) - 242 - 220 - 403
Plan funded status and recorded
benefit obligation (837) (339) (633) (278) (703) (402)
Portion of benefit obligation not
yet recognized in benefits expense 46 53 (110) (3) 17 151
Benefits expense(b) 59 14 65 12 60 163
Discount rate4.25%3.75-4.25%5.00-5.25%4.50-5.25%4.25%3.25-4.25%
Expected return on plan assetsN/A5.00%N/A5.00%N/A5.00%

(a) The fair value of the plan assets are primarily based on Level 1 inputs that use quoted market prices for identical financial instruments in an active market.

(b) We did not recognize service costs related to our pension plans in 2014 and 2013 as the plans were frozen. The 2012 amount included service costs related to our pension benefits of $139 million.

Deferred Compensation Plans
Year ended December 31 (in millions)201420132012
Benefit obligation$ 1,774 $ 1,434 $ 1,247
Interest expense$ 149 $ 128 $ 107
Benefit Obligation and Expense for Our Split-Dollar Life Insurance Agreements
Year ended December 31 (in millions)201420132012
Benefit obligation$ 217 $ 212 $ 202
Other operating and administrative expenses$ 52 $ 50 $ 58
NBCUniversal Media, LLC [Member]  
Postretirement And Pension Benefits
201420132012
Year ended December 31 (in millions)Postretirement BenefitsPension BenefitsPostretirement BenefitsPension BenefitsPostretirement BenefitsPension Benefits
Benefit obligation$ 209 $ 581 $158$498$ 177 $ 546
Fair value of plan assets(a) - 242 - 220 - 217
Plan funded status and recorded
benefit obligation (209) (339) (158) (278) (177) (329)
Portion of benefit obligation not yet
recognized in benefit expense (3) 53 (44) (3) (11) 53
Benefits expense(b) 12 14 14 12 15 142
Discount rate 4.25 %3.75-4.25%5.25%4.50-5.25%4.25%3.75-4.25%
Expected return on plan assetsN/A5.00%N/A5.00%N/A5.00%

(a) The fair value of the plan assets are primarily based on Level 1 inputs that use quoted market prices for identical financial instruments in an active market.

(b) We did not recognize service costs related to our pension plans in 2014 and 2013 as the plans were frozen. The 2012 amount included service costs related to our pension benefits of $134 million.

Deferred Compensation Plans
Year ended December 31 (in millions)201420132012
Benefit obligation$ 349 $ 250 $ 163
Interest expense$ 24 $ 18 $ 11