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Accounting Policies (Policies) | 6 Months Ended
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Jun. 30, 2026
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Basis of Presentation | Basis of Presentation The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and the instructions of Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The condensed consolidated financial statements herein should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto as of December 31, 2025 and 2024 and for the year ended December 31, 2025, the six-month transition period ended December 31, 2024 and the fiscal years ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 (the “Audited Consolidated Annual Financial Statements”) included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 filed with the SEC on February 12, 2026 (the “Form 10-K”). In the opinion of the Company, the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments, consisting of only normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial position as of June 30, 2026 and its results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2026 and 2025, and cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2026 and 2025. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025 and the accompanying notes were derived from the Audited Consolidated Financial Statements, but do not contain all of the footnote disclosures from the Audited Consolidated Financial Statements. The results of operations for the periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results that might be expected for future interim periods or for the full year. For example, our MSG Networks segment earns a higher share of its annual revenues in the first and fourth quarters as a result of MSG Networks’ advertising revenue being largely derived from the sale of inventory in its live NBA and NHL professional sports programming.
Reclassifications | Reclassifications For purposes of comparability, certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation in accordance with GAAP.
Principles of Consolidation | Principles of Consolidation The condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company include the accounts of Sphere Entertainment Co. and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates | Use of Estimates The preparation of the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions about future events. These estimates and the underlying assumptions affect the amounts of assets and liabilities reported, disclosures about contingent assets and liabilities, and reported amounts of revenues and expenses. Such estimates include the provision for credit losses, valuation of investments, goodwill, intangible assets, deferred production content costs, other long-lived assets, deferred tax assets, pension and other postretirement benefit obligations and the related net periodic benefit cost, ultimate revenue, and other liabilities. In addition, estimates are used in revenue recognition, rights fees expense, performance and share-based compensation, depreciation and amortization, litigation matters and other matters. Management believes its use of estimates in the condensed consolidated financial statements to be reasonable. Management evaluates its estimates on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors, including the general economic environment and actions it may take in the future. The Company adjusts such estimates when facts and circumstances dictate. However, these estimates may involve significant uncertainties and judgments and cannot be determined with precision. In addition, these estimates are based on management’s best judgment at a point in time and, as such, these estimates may ultimately differ from actual results. Changes in estimates resulting from weakness in the economic environment or other factors beyond the Company’s control could be material and would be reflected in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements in future periods.
Recently Issued and Adopted Accounting Pronouncements | Recently Issued and Adopted Accounting Pronouncements Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements In November 2024, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2024-03, Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses, requiring additional disclosures about specified categories of expenses included in certain expense captions presented on the face of the income statement. This standard will be effective for the Company as of and for the annual period ending December 31, 2027, and may be applied either prospectively to financial statements issued for reporting periods after the effective date of this ASU or retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. The Company continues to evaluate the impact of adopting this guidance on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements and disclosures. In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-04, Induced Conversions of Convertible Debt Instruments, providing clarification on the requirements for determining whether certain settlements of convertible debt should be accounted for as induced conversions. This ASU will be effective for the Company as of and for the annual period ending December 31, 2026, and may be applied either prospectively to financial statements issued for reporting periods after the effective date of this ASU or retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements and disclosures. In September 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-06, Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Internal-Use Software, clarifying and modernizing the accounting for costs related to internal-use software. The ASU removes the consideration of software project development stages. Under the new guidance, cost capitalization would begin when (i) management has authorized and committed to funding the software project, and (ii) it is probable that the project will be completed and the software will be used to perform its intended function (referred to as the “probable-to-complete recognition threshold”). This standard will be effective for the Company in the first quarter of the annual period ending December 31, 2028 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements and disclosures. In December 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-11, Interim Reporting (Topic 270): Narrow-Scope Improvements, which provides a comprehensive list within Topic 270 of required interim disclosures, establishes a principle requiring disclosure of events or changes occurring after the end of the most recent annual reporting period that have a material impact on interim results and clarifies the form and content requirements applicable to interim financial statements. According to the ASU, the FASB does not intend to change the fundamental nature of interim reporting or expand or reduce current interim disclosure requirements but rather provide clarity and improve navigability of the existing interim reporting requirements. The update will be effective for the Company for interim reporting periods within the year ending December 31, 2028. The Company does not expect the adoption to have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements and disclosures. In December 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-12, Codification Improvements, to (i) clarify, (ii) correct errors in, or (iii) make other minor improvements to a variety of topics in the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”). The amendments are intended to make the Accounting Standards Codification easier to understand and apply. The standard is effective for the Company’s year ending December 31, 2027, including interim periods within the year. The Company does not expect the adoption to have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements and disclosures. Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements In July 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-05, Measurement of Credit Losses for Accounts Receivable and Contract Assets. This ASU provides all entities with a practical expedient that allows for the assumption that current conditions as of the balance sheet date do not change for the remaining life of the asset when estimating credit losses for such assets. This standard was effective for the Company in the first quarter of the annual period ending December 31, 2026 and early adoption is permitted. The Company early adopted ASU 2025-05 as of the fourth quarter of 2025. Adoption of the ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation | In developing the estimated revenue, the Company applies the allowable practical expedient and does not disclose information about remaining performance obligations that have original expected durations of one year or less.

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