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GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2024
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract] |
GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS | GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS Goodwill Changes in the carrying value of goodwill attributable to each business unit were as follows (in millions).
|  | Studios |  | Networks |  | DTC |  |  |  | Total
December 31, 2022 |  | $ | 8,963 |  |  | $ | 17,557 |  |  | $ | 7,918 |  |  |  |  | $ | 34,438 |
Acquisitions (See Note 4) |  | 245 |  |  | (24) |  |  | 127 |  |  |  |  | 348 |
Foreign currency translation and other adjustments |  | 64 |  |  | 97 |  |  | 22 |  |  |  |  | 183 |
December 31, 2023 |  | $ | 9,272 |  |  | $ | 17,630 |  |  | $ | 8,067 |  |  |  |  | $ | 34,969 |
Impairment of goodwill |  | — |  |  | (9,147) |  |  | — |  |  |  |  | (9,147) |
Foreign currency translation and other adjustments |  | (75) |  |  | (64) |  |  | (16) |  |  |  |  | (155) |
December 31, 2024 |  | $ | 9,197 |  |  | $ | 8,419 |  |  | $ | 8,051 |  |  |  |  | $ | 25,667 |
The carrying amount of goodwill at the Networks segment included accumulated impairments of $10.8 billion and $1.6 billion as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The Studios and DTC segments did not include any accumulated impairments as of December 31, 2024 and 2023. Intangible Assets Finite-lived intangible assets subject to amortization consisted of the following (in millions, except years).
| Weighted Average Amortization Period (Years) |  | December 31, 2024 |  | December 31, 2023
Gross |  | Accumulated Amortization |  | Net |  | Gross |  | Accumulated Amortization |  | Net
Trademarks and trade names | 27 |  | $ | 22,835 |  |  | $ | (4,212) |  |  | $ | 18,623 |  |  | $ | 22,935 |  |  | $ | (2,688) |  |  | $ | 20,247 |
Affiliate, advertising and subscriber relationships | 8 |  | 24,240 |  |  | (18,528) |  |  | 5,712 |  |  | 24,335 |  |  | (14,730) |  |  | 9,605 |
Franchises | 35 |  | 7,900 |  |  | (789) |  |  | 7,111 |  |  | 7,900 |  |  | (426) |  |  | 7,474 |
Character rights | 14 |  | 995 |  |  | (197) |  |  | 798 |  |  | 995 |  |  | (125) |  |  | 870 |
Other | 6 |  | 586 |  |  | (531) |  |  | 55 |  |  | 591 |  |  | (502) |  |  | 89 |
Total |  |  | $ | 56,556 |  |  | $ | (24,257) |  |  | $ | 32,299 |  |  | $ | 56,756 |  |  | $ | (18,471) |  |  | $ | 38,285 |
Amortization expense for finite-lived intangible assets reflects the pattern in which the assets’ economic benefits are consumed over their estimated useful lives. For assets whose economic benefits are anticipated to be consumed evenly, a straight-line method is utilized. For assets in which the economic benefits are expected to be recognized unevenly over the useful life of the asset, an accelerated method such as the sum-of-the-months’ digits method is utilized. Amortization expense related to finite-lived intangible assets was $5,935 million, $6,854 million and $6,237 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. During 2024, as a result of the goodwill impairment charge discussed below and recorded in the second quarter of 2024, and the long-term trends and risks associated with the Company’s Networks reporting unit, the Company reassessed and shortened the useful lives for certain of its linear networks trade names. This change was considered a change in estimate, was accounted for prospectively, and resulted in incremental amortization expense of $184 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. During 2023, the Company reassessed the useful lives and amortization methods for its linear networks and HBO trademarks and trade names, and its DC franchise, and concluded the pattern of amortization should be accelerated. Accordingly, the Company has changed the amortization method for these assets from the straight-line method to the sum-of-the-months’ digits method. This change was considered a change in estimate, was accounted for prospectively, and resulted in incremental amortization expense of $368 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Amortization expense relating to intangible assets subject to amortization for each of the next five years and thereafter is estimated to be as follows (in millions).
|  | 2025 |  | 2026 |  | 2027 |  | 2028 |  | 2029 |  | Thereafter
Amortization expense |  | $ | 4,578 |  |  | $ | 3,423 |  |  | $ | 2,636 |  |  | $ | 2,013 |  |  | $ | 1,768 |  |  | $ | 17,881 |
Impairment Analysis We perform fair value-based impairment tests of goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives on an annual basis, and between annual tests if an event occurs or if circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit or an indefinite-lived intangible asset below its carrying value. Significant judgments and assumptions for all quantitative goodwill tests performed include discount rates, control premiums, terminal growth rates, relevant comparable company earnings multiples and the amount and timing of expected future cash flows, including revenue growth rates and profit margins. 2024 Impairment Analysis During the second quarter of 2024, the Company performed goodwill and intangible assets impairment monitoring procedures for all of its reporting units and concluded the delta between market capitalization and book value, continued softness in the U.S. linear advertising market, and uncertainty related to affiliate and sports rights renewals, including the NBA, represented a triggering event for the Networks reporting unit. As a result, the Company elected to perform a quantitative impairment assessment for all of its reporting units in the second quarter of 2024. For the Networks reporting unit, fair value was determined using a DCF method. The key judgments and assumptions used in the DCF method to determine the fair value of the Networks reporting unit were as follows: • The expected future cash flows in terms of their amount and timing. These cash flows, utilized in the DCF analysis, are derived from the reporting unit’s budget and its strategic long-term plan, which reflect expectations based upon operating performance and assumptions consistent with those of a market participant with regards to affiliate revenue, sports rights, and continued softness in the U.S. linear advertising market. • Long-term growth rate of negative 3%. • A discount rate of 10.5%. This is reflective of the risks inherent in the future cash flows of the reporting unit and market conditions. Given the inherent uncertainty in determining the assumptions underlying a DCF analysis, actual results may differ from those used in the valuations. The carrying value of the Networks reporting unit exceeded its fair value and the Company recorded a pre-tax, non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $9.1 billion during the second quarter of 2024 in impairments and loss on dispositions in the consolidated statements of operations. The goodwill impairment charge does not have an impact on the calculation of the Company’s financial covenants under the Company’s debt arrangements. As of October 1, 2024, the Company performed a quantitative goodwill impairment assessment for all of its reporting units. The estimated fair value of each reporting unit exceeded its carrying value and, therefore, no impairment was recorded. The DTC reporting unit had headroom of 20%. The Studios reporting unit, which had headroom of 16%, and the Networks reporting unit, which had headroom of 12%, both had fair values in excess of carrying value of less than 20%. The fair values of the reporting units were determined using a combination of DCF and market valuation methodologies. The Company continues to monitor its reporting units for triggers that could impact the recoverability of goodwill. Long-term trends and risks the Company is monitoring in its ongoing assessment include, but are not limited to, the following: •the delta between market capitalization and book value; •uncertainty related to affiliate rights renewals associated with the Company’s Networks and DTC reporting units; •declining levels of global GDP growth and continued softness in the U.S. linear advertising market associated with the Company’s Networks reporting unit; •content licensing trends and volatility related to the performance of theatrical film and game slates in the Company’s Studios reporting unit; and •risks in executing the projected growth strategies of the Company’s DTC reporting unit. 2023 and 2022 Impairment Analysis For the 2023 and 2022 annual impairment tests, the Company performed a quantitative goodwill impairment assessment for all reporting units. The estimated fair value of each reporting unit exceeded its carrying value and, therefore, no impairment was recorded. Fair Value Measurements The determination of fair value of the Company’s reporting units represents a Level 3 fair value measurement in the fair value hierarchy due to its use of internal projections and unobservable measurement inputs. Changes in significant judgments and estimates could significantly impact the determined fair value of the reporting unit or the valuation of intangible assets. Changes to assumptions that would decrease the fair value of the reporting unit may result in corresponding increases to the impairment of goodwill at the reporting unit.

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