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Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2011
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies | NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Nature of Business CC Media Holdings, Inc. (the "Company") was formed in May 2007 by private equity funds sponsored by Bain Capital Partners, LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P. (together, the "Sponsors") for the purpose of acquiring the business of Clear Channel Communications, Inc., a Texas company ("Clear Channel"). The acquisition was completed on July 30, 2008 pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated November 16, 2006, as amended on April 18, 2007, May 17, 2007 and May 13, 2008 (the "Merger Agreement"). The Company's reportable operating segments are Media and Entertainment ("CCME", formerly known as the Radio segment), Americas outdoor advertising ("Americas outdoor" or "Americas outdoor advertising"), and International outdoor advertising ("International outdoor" or "International outdoor advertising"). The CCME segment provides media and entertainment services via broadcast and digital delivery. The Americas outdoor and International outdoor segments provide outdoor advertising services in their respective geographic regions using various digital and traditional display types. Included in the "Other" segment are the Company's media representation business, Katz Media Group, as well as other general support services and initiatives, which are ancillary to its other businesses. Use of Estimates The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") requires management to make estimates, judgments, and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes including, but not limited to, legal, tax and insurance accruals. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Principles of Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. Also included in the consolidated financial statements are entities for which the Company has a controlling financial interest or is the primary beneficiary. Investments in companies in which the Company owns 20 percent to 50 percent of the voting common stock or otherwise exercises significant influence over operating and financial policies of the Company are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. All significant intercompany accounts have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2011 presentation. The Company owns certain radio stations which, under current Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") rules, are not permitted or transferable. These radio stations were placed in a trust in order to comply with FCC rules at the time of the closing of the merger that resulted in the Company's acquisition of Clear Channel. The Company is the beneficial owner of the trust, but the radio stations are managed by an independent trustee. The Company will have to divest all of these radio stations unless any stations may be owned by the Company under then-current FCC rules, in which case the trust will be terminated with respect to such stations. The trust agreement stipulates that the Company must fund any operating shortfalls of the trust activities, and any excess cash flow generated by the trust is distributed to the Company. The Company is also the beneficiary of proceeds from the sale of stations held in the trust. The Company consolidates the trust in accordance with ASC 810-10, which requires an enterprise involved with variable interest entities to perform an analysis to determine whether the enterprise's variable interest or interests give it a controlling financial interest in the variable interest entity, as the trust was determined to be a variable interest entity and the Company is its primary beneficiary. Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and cash equivalents include all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less. Allowance for Doubtful Accounts The Company evaluates the collectability of its accounts receivable based on a combination of factors. In circumstances where it is aware of a specific customer's inability to meet its financial obligations, it records a specific reserve to reduce the amounts recorded to what it believes will be collected. For all other customers, it recognizes reserves for bad debt based on historical experience of bad debts as a percent of revenue for each business unit, adjusted for relative improvements or deteriorations in the agings and changes in current economic conditions. The Company believes its concentration of credit risk is limited due to the large number and the geographic diversification of its customers. Purchase Accounting The Company accounts for its business combinations under the acquisition method of accounting. The total cost of an acquisition is allocated to the underlying identifiable net assets, based on their respective estimated fair values. The excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair values of the net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. Determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed requires management's judgment and often involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions, including assumptions with respect to future cash inflows and outflows, discount rates, asset lives and market multiples, among other items. Various acquisition agreements may include contingent purchase consideration based on performance requirements of the investee. The Company accounts for these payments in conformity with the provisions of ASC 805-20-30, which establish the requirements related to recognition of certain assets and liabilities arising from contingencies. Property, Plant and Equipment Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method at rates that, in the opinion of management, are adequate to allocate the cost of such assets over their estimated useful lives, which are as follows: Buildings and improvements - 10 to 39 years Structures - 5 to 40 years Towers, transmitters and studio equipment - 7 to 20 years Furniture and other equipment - 3 to 20 years Leasehold improvements - shorter of economic life or lease term assuming renewal periods, if appropriate For assets associated with a lease or contract, the assets are depreciated at the shorter of the economic life or the lease or contract term, assuming renewal periods, if appropriate. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to operations as incurred, whereas expenditures for renewal and betterments are capitalized. The Company tests for possible impairment of property, plant, and equipment whenever events and circumstances indicate that depreciable assets might be impaired and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than the carrying amounts of those assets. When specific assets are determined to be unrecoverable, the cost basis of the asset is reduced to reflect the current fair market value. The Company impaired outdoor advertising structures in its Americas outdoor segment by $4.0 million during 2010. During 2009, the Company recorded a $21.0 million impairment to street furniture tangible assets in its International outdoor segment and an $11.3 million impairment of corporate assets. Land Leases and Other Structure Licenses Most of the Company's outdoor advertising structures are located on leased land. Americas outdoor land leases are typically paid in advance for periods ranging from one to 12 months. International outdoor land leases are paid both in advance and in arrears, for periods ranging from one to 12 months. Most International street furniture display faces are operated through contracts with municipalities for up to 20 years. The leased land and street furniture contracts often include a percent of revenue to be paid along with a base rent payment. Prepaid land leases are recorded as an asset and expensed ratably over the related rental term and license and rent payments in arrears are recorded as an accrued liability. Intangible Assets and Goodwill Definite-lived intangible assets include primarily transit and street furniture contracts, talent and representation contracts, customer and advertiser relationships, and site-leases, all of which are amortized over the respective lives of the agreements, or over the period of time the assets are expected to contribute directly or indirectly to the Company's future cash flows. The Company periodically reviews the appropriateness of the amortization periods related to its definite-lived intangible assets. These assets are recorded at cost. The Company tests for possible impairment of definite-lived intangible assets whenever events and circumstances indicate that amortizable long-lived assets might be impaired and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than the carrying amounts of those assets. When specific assets are determined to be unrecoverable, the cost basis of the asset is reduced to reflect the current fair market value. The Company impaired certain definite-lived intangible assets primarily related to a talent contract in its CCME segment by $3.9 million during 2010. The Company impaired definite-lived intangible assets related to certain street furniture and billboard contract intangible assets in its Americas outdoor and International outdoor segments by $55.3 million during 2009. The Company's indefinite-lived intangible assets include FCC broadcast licenses in its CCME segment and billboard permits in its Americas outdoor advertising segment. The Company's indefinite-lived intangible assets are not subject to amortization, but are tested for impairment at least annually. The Company tests for possible impairment of indefinite-lived intangible assets whenever events or changes in circumstances, such as a significant reduction in operating cash flow or a dramatic change in the manner for which the asset is intended to be used indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. The Company performs its annual impairment test for its FCC licenses and permits using a direct valuation technique as prescribed in ASC 805-20-S99. The Company engages Mesirow Financial Consulting LLC ("Mesirow Financial"), a third party valuation firm, to assist the Company in the development of these assumptions and the Company's determination of the fair value of its FCC licenses and permits. The Company performed its annual impairment test on its indefinite-lived intangible assets as of October 1, 2011, which resulted in a non-cash impairment charge of $6.5 million related to permits in one specific market. The Company performed impairment tests during 2010 and 2009, which resulted in non-cash impairment charges of $5.3 million and $935.6 million, respectively, related to its indefinite-lived FCC licenses and permits. See Note 2 for further discussion. At least annually, the Company performs its impairment test for each reporting unit's goodwill. Beginning with its annual impairment testing in the fourth quarter of 2011, the Company utilized the option to assess qualitative factors under ASC 350-20-35 to determine whether it was more likely than not that the fair value of its reporting units was less than their carrying amounts, including goodwill. The Company has identified its reporting units in accordance with ASC 350-20-55. The U.S. radio markets are aggregated into a single reporting unit and the Company's U.S. outdoor advertising markets are aggregated into a single reporting unit for purposes of the goodwill impairment test. The Company also determined that within its Americas outdoor segment, Canada, Mexico, Peru, and Brazil constitute separate reporting units and each country in its International outdoor segment constitutes a separate reporting unit. If, after the qualitative approach, further testing is required, the Company uses a discounted cash flow model to determine if the carrying value of the reporting unit, including goodwill, is less than the fair value of the reporting unit. The Company recognized a non-cash impairment charge of $1.1 million to reduce goodwill in one country within its International outdoor segments for 2011, which is further discussed in Note 2. The Company performed its annual goodwill impairment test during 2010, and recognized a non-cash impairment charge of $2.1 million related to a specific reporting unit in its International outdoor segment. See Note 2 for further discussion. The Company performed its impairment tests during 2009 and recognized non-cash impairment charges of $3.1 billion. See Note 2 for further discussion. Nonconsolidated Affiliates In general, investments in which the Company owns 20 percent to 50 percent of the common stock or otherwise exercises significant influence over the investee are accounted for under the equity method. The Company does not recognize gains or losses upon the issuance of securities by any of its equity method investees. The Company reviews the value of equity method investments and records impairment charges in the statement of operations as a component of "Equity in earnings (loss) of nonconsolidated affiliates" for any decline in value that is determined to be other-than-temporary. For 2010 and 2009, the Company recorded non-cash impairment charges of $8.3 million and $22.9 million, respectively, related to certain equity investments in its International outdoor segment. Other Investments Other investments are composed primarily of equity securities. These securities are classified as available-for-sale or trading and are carried at fair value based on quoted market prices. Securities are carried at historical value when quoted market prices are unavailable. The net unrealized gains or losses on the available-for-sale securities, net of tax, are reported in accumulated other comprehensive loss as a component of shareholders' equity. In addition, the Company holds investments that do not have quoted market prices. The Company periodically assesses the value of available-for-sale and non-marketable securities and records impairment charges in the statement of operations for any decline in value that is determined to be other-than-temporary. The average cost method is used to compute the realized gains and losses on sales of equity securities. The Company periodically assesses the value of its available-for-sale securities. Based on these assessments, the Company concluded that other-than-temporary impairments existed at December 31, 2011, 2010 and September 30, 2009 and recorded non-cash impairment charges of $4.8 million, $6.5 million and $11.3 million, respectively, during each of these years. Such charges are recorded on the statement of operations in "Loss on marketable securities". Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities The provisions of ASC 815-10 require the Company to recognize its interest rate swap agreement as either an asset or liability in the consolidated balance sheet at fair value. The accounting for changes in the fair value of a derivative instrument depends on whether it has been designated and qualifies as part of a hedging relationship, and further, on the type of hedging relationship. The interest rate swap is designated and qualifies as a hedging instrument, and is characterized as a cash flow hedge. The Company formally documents all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as its risk management objectives and strategies for undertaking various hedge transactions. The Company formally assesses, both at inception and at least quarterly thereafter, whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting changes in either the fair value or cash flows of the hedged item. If a derivative ceases to be a highly effective hedge, the Company discontinues hedge accounting. Financial Instruments Due to their short maturity, the carrying amounts of accounts and notes receivable, accounts payable, accrued liabilities, and short-term borrowings approximated their fair values at December 31, 2011 and 2010. Income Taxes The Company accounts for income taxes using the liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between financial reporting bases and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the periods in which the deferred tax asset or liability is expected to be realized or settled. Deferred tax assets are reduced by valuation allowances if the Company believes it is more likely than not that some portion or the entire asset will not be realized. As all earnings from the Company's foreign operations are permanently reinvested and not distributed, the Company's income tax provision does not include additional U.S. taxes on foreign operations. It is not practical to determine the amount of Federal income taxes, if any, that might become due in the event that the earnings were distributed. Revenue Recognition CCME revenue is recognized as advertisements or programs are broadcast and is generally billed monthly. Outdoor advertising contracts typically cover periods of a few weeks up to one year and are generally billed monthly. Revenue for outdoor advertising is recognized ratably over the term of the contract. Advertising revenue is reported net of agency commissions. Agency commissions are calculated based on a stated percentage applied to gross billing revenue for the Company's broadcasting and outdoor operations. Payments received in advance of being earned are recorded as deferred income. Barter transactions represent the exchange of advertising spots or display space for merchandise or services. These transactions are recorded at the estimated fair market value of the advertising spots or display space or the fair value of the merchandise or services received, whichever is most readily determinable. Revenue is recognized on barter and trade transactions when the advertisements are broadcasted or displayed. Expenses are recorded ratably over a period that estimates when the merchandise or service received is utilized, or when the event occurs. Barter and trade revenues and expenses from continuing operations are included in consolidated revenue and selling, general and administrative expenses, respectively. Barter and trade revenues and expenses from continuing operations were as follows:
|  |  | $000.000 |  |  |  | $000.000 |  |  |  | $000.000 |
(In millions) |  | Years Ended December 31, |
|  | 2011 |  |  | 2010 |  |  | 2009 |
Barter and trade revenues |  | $ | 61.2 |  |  | $ | 67.0 |  |  | $ | 71.9 |
Barter and trade expenses |  |  | 63.4 |  |  |  | 66.4 |  |  |  | 86.7 |
Barter and trade expenses for 2009 include $14.9 million of trade receivables written off as it was determined they no longer had value to the Company. Advertising Expense The Company records advertising expense as it is incurred. Advertising expenses were $92.2 million, $82.0 million and $67.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Share-Based Compensation Under the fair value recognition provisions of ASC 718-10, share-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award. For awards that vest based on service conditions, this cost is recognized as expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. For awards that will vest based on market or performance conditions, this cost will be recognized when it becomes probable that the performance conditions will be satisfied. Determining the fair value of share-based awards at the grant date requires assumptions and judgments about expected volatility and forfeiture rates, among other factors. If actual results differ significantly from these estimates, the Company's results of operations could be materially impacted. Foreign Currency Results of operations for foreign subsidiaries and foreign equity investees are translated into U.S. dollars using the average exchange rates during the year. The assets and liabilities of those subsidiaries and investees are translated into U.S. dollars using the exchange rates at the balance sheet date. The related translation adjustments are recorded in a separate component of shareholders' equity, "Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)". Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are included in operations. New Accounting Pronouncements In April 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2011-04, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs. The amendments in this ASU change the wording used to describe many of the requirements in U.S. GAAP for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements. For many of the requirements, the FASB does not intend for the amendments in this ASU to result in a change in the application of the requirements in Topic 820. Some of the amendments clarify the FASB's intent about the application of existing fair value measurement requirements. Other amendments change a particular principle or requirement for measuring fair value or for disclosing information about fair value measurements. The amendments in this ASU are to be applied prospectively for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company does not expect the provisions of ASU 2011-04 to have a material effect on its financial position or results of operations. In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income. This ASU improves the comparability, consistency, and transparency of financial reporting and increases the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income by eliminating the option to present components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders' equity. The amendments require that all nonowner changes in stockholders' equity be presented either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The changes apply for interim and annual financial statements and should be applied retrospectively, effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is permitted. The Company currently complies with the provisions of this ASU by presenting the components of comprehensive income in a single continuous financial statement within its consolidated statement of operations for both interim and annual periods. In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-08, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing Goodwill for Impairment. Under the revised guidance, entities testing goodwill for impairment have the option of performing a qualitative assessment before calculating the fair value of the reporting unit (i.e., step 1 of the goodwill impairment test). If entities determine, on the basis of qualitative factors, that the fair value of the reporting unit is more likely than not less than the carrying amount, the two-step impairment test would be required. The ASU does not change how goodwill is calculated or assigned to reporting units, nor does it revise the requirement to test goodwill annually for impairment. The amendments are effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is permitted. The Company early adopted the provisions of this ASU as of October 1, 2011 with no material impact to its financial position or results of operations. Please refer to Note 2 for additional discussion. In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-12, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05. The ASU defers the requirement to present components of reclassifications of other comprehensive income on the face of the income statement in response to requests from some investors for greater clarity about the impact of reclassification adjustments on net income. The guidance in ASU 2011-05 called for reclassification adjustments from other comprehensive income to be measured and presented by income statement line item in net income and also in other comprehensive income. All other requirements in ASU 2011-05 are not affected by this Update. The amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company does not expect the provisions of ASU 2011-12 to have a material effect on its financial position or results of operations.

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