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Revenue Recognition
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
Revenue Recognition  
Revenue Recognition

12.Revenue Recognition

Contract Balances

Our valuation and qualifying accounts as of March 31, 2024 were as follows:

For the Three Months Ended 

March 31,

    

2024

(In thousands)

Balance at beginning of period

    

$

74,390

Current period provision for expected credit losses

26,521

Write-offs charged against allowance

(15,979)

Acquisitions

Foreign currency translation

(26)

Balance at end of period

$

84,906

Contract assets arise when we recognize revenue for providing a service in advance of billing our customers. Our contract assets typically relate to our long-term contracts where we recognize revenue using the cost-based input method and the revenue recognized exceeds the amount billed to the customer.

Our contract assets also include receivables related to sales-type leases recognized over the lease term as the customer is billed. Contract assets are amortized as the customer is billed for services. Contract assets are recorded in “Trade accounts receivable, net” on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The following table summarizes our contract asset balances:

As of

March 31,

December 31,

    

2024

    

2023

(In thousands)

Contract assets

$

72,300

$

66,103

Contract liabilities arise when we bill our customers and receive consideration in advance of providing the service. Contract liabilities are recognized as revenue when the service has been provided to the customer. Contract liabilities are recorded in “Deferred revenue and other” and “Long-term deferred revenue and other long-term liabilities” on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The following table summarizes our contract liability balances:

As of

March 31,

December 31,

    

2024

    

2023

(In thousands)

Contract liabilities

$

664,212

$

710,456

Our beginning of period contract liability recorded as customer contract revenue during 2024 was $615 million.

Performance Obligations

Pay-TV and Retail Wireless Segments

We apply a practical expedient and do not disclose the value of the remaining performance obligations for contracts that are less than one year in duration, which represent a substantial majority of our revenue. As such, the amount of revenue related to unsatisfied performance obligations is not necessarily indicative of our future revenue.

Broadband and Satellite Services Segment

As of March 31, 2024, the remaining performance obligations for our customer contracts was approximately $1.412 billion, compared to $1.740 billion as of December 31, 2023, a decrease of $328 million. This decrease resulted from the evaluation of the credit worthiness of the portfolio. Performance obligations expected to be satisfied within one year and greater than one year are 29% and 71%, respectively. This amount and percentages exclude leasing arrangements and agreements with consumer customers.

Contract Acquisition Costs

The following table presents the activity in our contract acquisition costs, net:

For the Three Months Ended 

March 31,

    

2024

    

2023

    

(In thousands)

Balance at beginning of period

$

352,114

$

460,876

Additions

65,104

95,659

Amortization expense

(94,266)

(112,883)

Foreign currency translation

(139)

452

Balance at end of period

$

322,813

$

444,104