| Leases |
Lessee Accounting We enter into non-cancelable operating and finance leases for, among other things, communication towers, satellites, satellite-related ground infrastructure, data centers, office space, dark fiber and transport equipment, warehouses and distribution centers, vehicles and other equipment. Substantially all of our leases have remaining lease terms from one to 13 years, some of which include renewal options, and some of which include options to terminate the leases within one year. For certain arrangements (generally communication towers), the lease term includes the non-cancelable period plus the renewal period that we are reasonably certain to exercise. Our Eutelsat 65 West A, Telesat T19V and EchoStar 105/SES-11 satellites are accounted for as finance leases within our Broadband and Satellite Services segment. Our Nimiq 5 satellite is accounted for as finance lease within our Pay-TV segment. Substantially all of our remaining leases are accounted for as operating leases, including our Anik F3 satellite lease. The components of lease expense were as follows: | | | | | | | | | | For the Three Months Ended | | | | March 31, | | | | 2024 | | 2023 | | | | | (In thousands) | Operating lease cost (1) | | $ | 167,006 | | $ | 117,556 | | | | | | | | | | Short-term lease cost (2) | | | 1,023 | | | 1,279 | | | | | | | | | | Finance lease cost: | | | | | | | | Amortization of right-of-use assets | | | 18,468 | | | 34,197 | | Interest on lease liabilities | | | 2,792 | | | 3,570 | | Total finance lease cost | | | 21,260 | | | 37,767 | | Total lease costs | | $ | 189,289 | | $ | 156,602 | |
| (1) | The increase in operating lease cost is primarily related to communication tower leases. |
| (2) | Leases that have terms of 12 months or less. |
Supplemental cash flow information related to leases was as follows: | | | | | | | | | For the Three Months Ended | | | March 31, | | | 2024 | | 2023 | | | | (In thousands) | Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities: | | | | | | | Operating cash flows from operating leases | | $ | 118,408 | | $ | 73,613 | Operating cash flows from finance leases | | $ | 2,824 | | $ | 2,397 | Financing cash flows from finance leases | | $ | 15,134 | | $ | 8,713 | | | | | | | | Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations: | | | | | | | Operating leases | | $ | 199,300 | | $ | 231,868 | Finance leases | | $ | — | | $ | 51,110 |
Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases was as follows: | | | | | | | | | As of | | | March 31, | | December 31, | | | 2024 | | 2023 | | | | (In thousands) | Operating Leases: | | | | | | | Operating lease assets | | $ | 3,092,070 | | $ | 3,065,448 | | | | | | | | Other current liabilities | | $ | 341,257 | | $ | 317,395 | Operating lease liabilities | | | 3,157,720 | | | 3,121,307 | Total operating lease liabilities | | $ | 3,498,977 | | $ | 3,438,702 | | | | | | | | Finance Leases: | | | | | | | Property and equipment, gross | | $ | 830,606 | | $ | 833,933 | Accumulated depreciation | | | (538,300) | | | (520,344) | Property and equipment, net | | $ | 292,306 | | $ | 313,589 | | | | | | | | Other current liabilities | | $ | 48,391 | | $ | 56,459 | Other long-term liabilities | | | 60,133 | | | 67,199 | Total finance lease liabilities | | $ | 108,524 | | $ | 123,658 | | | | | | | | Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term: | | | | | | | Operating leases | | | 10.0 years | | | 10.6 years | Finance leases | | | 2.1 years | | | 2.2 years | | | | | | | | Weighted Average Discount Rate: | | | | | | | Operating leases | | | 9.9% | | | 9.5% | Finance leases | | | 9.6% | | | 9.7% |
Maturities of lease liabilities as of March 31, 2024 were as follows: | | | | | | | | | | | | Maturities of Lease Liabilities | | | Operating | | Finance | | | | For the Years Ending December 31, | | Leases | | Leases | | Total | | | | (In thousands) | 2024 (remaining nine months) | | $ | 350,672 | | $ | 48,115 | | $ | 398,787 | 2025 | | | 499,361 | | | 35,392 | | | 534,753 | 2026 | | | 531,049 | | | 36,588 | | | 567,637 | 2027 | | | 531,138 | | | 2,574 | | | 533,712 | 2028 | | | 487,494 | | | — | | | 487,494 | Thereafter | | | 3,269,111 | | | — | | | 3,269,111 | Total lease payments | | | 5,668,825 | | | 122,669 | | | 5,791,494 | Less: Imputed interest | | | (2,169,848) | | | (14,145) | | | (2,183,993) | Total | | | 3,498,977 | | | 108,524 | | | 3,607,501 | Less: Current portion | | | (341,257) | | | (48,391) | | | (389,648) | Long-term portion of lease obligations | | $ | 3,157,720 | | $ | 60,133 | | $ | 3,217,853 |
Lessor Accounting The following table presents our lease revenue by type of lease: | | | | | | | | | | For the Three Months Ended | | | | March 31, | | | | 2024 | | 2023 | | | | | (In thousands) | Lease revenue: | | | | | | | | Sales-type lease revenue | | $ | 1,084 | | $ | 4,201 | | Operating lease revenue | | | 5,654 | | | 11,187 | | Total lease revenue | | $ | 6,738 | | $ | 15,388 | |
Substantially all of our net investment in sales-type leases consisted of lease receivables totaling $28 million and $30 million as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. The following table presents future operating lease payments to be received as of March 31, 2024: | | | | For the Years Ending December 31, | | Total | | | (In thousands) | 2024 (remaining nine months) | | $ | 6,415 | 2025 | | | 4,953 | 2026 | | | 3,567 | 2027 | | | 3,488 | 2028 | | | 672 | Thereafter | | | 177 | Total lease payments to be received | | $ | 19,272 |
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