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Related Party Transactions | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011
Related Party Transactions [Abstract] |  |
Related Party Transactions | Note 11. Related Party Transactions The Company provides services to and receives services from Cablevision and MSG. Until the Distribution date, the consolidated financial statements of the Company reflect the application of certain cost allocation policies of Cablevision. Management believes that these allocations were made on a reasonable basis. However, it is not practicable to determine whether the charged amounts represent amounts that might have been incurred on a stand-alone basis, including as a separate independent publicly owned company, as there are no company-specific or comparable industry benchmarks with which to make such estimates. Further, as many of these transactions are conducted between subsidiaries under common control of the Dolan Family, amounts charged for these services may not represent amounts that might have been received or incurred if the transactions were based upon arm's length negotiations. The following is a summary of the revenues and expenses included in the Company's consolidated statements of income related to transactions with or charges from Cablevision:
| Three Months Ended March 31,
| 2012 | 2011
Revenues, net | $ | 5,856 | $ | 5,700
Operating expenses: |  |  |  |
Technical and operating expenses: |  |  |  |
Other support functions | $ | - | $ | 118
Health and welfare plans |  | - |  | 1,087
Total technical and operating expenses | $ | - | $ | 1,205
Selling, general and administrative expenses: |  |  |  |
Corporate general and administrative costs, net | $ | 858 | $ | 8,001
Management fees |  | - |  | 6,740
Health and welfare plans |  | - |  | 1,040
Advertising expense |  | 1,263 |  | 325
Other support functions |  | 391 |  | 72
Sales support and other functions, net |  | - |  | 1,302
Cablevision allocations of share-based |  |  |  |
compensation expense |  | - |  | 3,977
Cablevision allocations of long-term incentive plans |  |  |  |
expense |  | - |  | 3,318
Total selling, general and administrative expenses | $ | 2,512 | $ | 24,775
The following is a summary of the revenues and expenses included in the Company's consolidated statements of income related to transactions with or charges from MSG:
| Three Months Ended March 31,
| 2012 | 2011
Revenues, net | $ | 2,217 |  | $ | 2,240 |
Operating expenses: |  |  |  |  |  |
Selling, general and administrative expenses: |  |  |  |  |  |
Corporate general and administrative and other credits | $ | (516 | ) | $ | (456 | )
Sales support and other functions |  | - |  |  | (28 | )
Total selling, general and administrative credits | $ | (516 | ) | $ | (484 | )
Operating Expenses Share-based Compensation and Long-Term Incentive Plans Expense Cablevision charged the Company through the Distribution date its proportionate share of expenses or benefits related to Cablevision's employee stock plans and Cablevision's long-term incentive plans. Such amounts are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statement of income for the three months ended March 31, 2011. The 2009 Cablevision three-year long-term incentive plan performance awards to certain executive officers and other members of the Company were paid in cash in March 2012. Transition Services Agreement In connection with the Distribution, Cablevision and AMC Networks entered into a Transition Services Agreement under which, in exchange for the fees specified in such agreement, Cablevision agreed to provide transition services with regard to such areas as accounting, information systems, risk management and employee services, compensation and benefits. Under the Transition Services Agreement, AMC Networks also provides certain services to Cablevision and to MSG on behalf of Cablevision. The Company incurred net fees of $843 under the Transition Services Agreement for the three months ended March 31, 2012, which were recorded as a charge to selling, general and administrative expenses. | Note 19. Related Party Transactions Allocations The Company provides services to and receives services from Cablevision and MSG. Until the Distribution date, the consolidated financial statements of the Company reflect the application of certain cost allocation policies of Cablevision. Management believes that these allocations were made on a reasonable basis. However, it is not practicable to determine whether the charged amounts represent amounts that might have been incurred on a stand-alone basis, including as a separate independent publicly owned company, as there are no company-specific or comparable industry benchmarks with which to make such estimates. Further, as many of these transactions are conducted between subsidiaries under common control of the Dolan Family, amounts charged for these services may not represent amounts that might have been received or incurred if the transactions were based upon arm's length negotiations. The following is a summary of the revenues and expenses included in the Company's consolidated statements of income related to transactions with or charges from Cablevision:
|  | Years Ended December 31,
|  | 2011 |  | 2010 |  | 2009
Revenues, net | $ | 23,052 | $ | 21,031 | $ | 23,314
Operating expenses: |  |  |  |  |  |
Technical and operating expenses: |  |  |  |  |  |
Other support functions | $ | 367 | $ | 561 | $ | 376
Health and welfare plans |  | 4,673 |  | 4,180 |  | 4,109
Total technical and operating expenses | $ | 5,040 | $ | 4,741 | $ | 4,485
Selling, general and administrative expenses: |  |  |  |  |  |
Corporate general and administrative costs, net | $ | 19,016 | $ | 33,398 | $ | 33,132
Management fees |  | 13,958 |  | 26,511 |  | 23,773
Health and welfare plans |  | 5,046 |  | 4,029 |  | 4,493
Advertising expense |  | 2,542 |  | 2,391 |  | 1,391
Other support functions |  | 794 |  | 23 |  | 23
Sales support and other functions, net |  | 2,176 |  | 1,603 |  | 1,200
Cablevision allocations of share-based |  |  |  |  |  |
compensation expense |  | 8,490 |  | 17,206 |  | 14,723
Cablevision allocations of long-term incentive plans |  |  |  |  |  |
expense |  | 7,285 |  | 16,207 |  | 12,955
Total selling, general and administrative expenses | $ | 59,307 | $ | 101,368 | $ | 91,690
The following is a summary of the revenues and expenses included in the Company's consolidated statements of income related to transactions with or credits from MSG:
|  | Years Ended December 31, |
|  | 2011 |  |  | 2010 |  |  | 2009 |
Revenues, net | $ | 8,833 |  | $ | 8,172 |  | $ | 8,482 |
Operating expenses: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Technical and operating expenses: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Program rights and production services credits | $ | - |  | $ | (770 | ) | $ | (6,528 | )
Total technical and operating expenses | $ | - |  | $ | (770 | ) | $ | (6,528 | )
Selling, general andadministrative expenses: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Corporate general and administrative and other |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
credits | $ | (2,189 | ) | $ | (1,029 | ) | $ | (4,346 | )
Sales support and other functions |  | (114 | ) |  | (109 | ) |  | (105 | )
Total selling, general and administrative credits | $ | (2,303 | ) | $ | (1,138 | ) | $ | (4,451 | )
Revenues, net The Company recorded affiliation fee revenues earned, net of amortization of deferred carriage fees, under affiliation agreements with subsidiaries of Cablevision. In addition, AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology has entered into agreements with MSG to provide various transponder, technical and support services through 2020. Operating Expenses Production Services The Company provides various studio production services to MSG, for which the charges are reflected as a reduction of the related expenses. Other Support Functions Certain related parties provide various digital media and administrative support functions which primarily include salaries and facilities costs charged to the Company. Health and Welfare Plans Through December 31, 2011, employees of the Company participated in health and welfare plans sponsored by Cablevision. Health and welfare benefit costs have generally been charged by Cablevision based upon the proportionate number of participants in the plans. Corporate General and Administrative Costs, net Through the Distribution date, general and administrative costs, including costs of maintaining corporate headquarters, facilities and common support functions (such as executive management, human resources, legal, finance, tax, accounting, audit, treasury, risk management, strategic planning, information technology, etc.), have been charged to the Company by Cablevision. Additionally, the Company charges MSG for a portion of the Company's leased facilities utilized by MSG. Such costs allocated to the Company have been included in selling, general and administrative expenses and such cost reimbursements are recorded as a reduction to selling, general and administrative expenses. Subsequent to the Distribution date, amounts charged by Cablevision represent charges pursuant to a transition services agreement. See also Transition Services Agreement discussion below. Management Fees Through the Distribution date, the Company paid Cablevision a management fee pursuant to a consulting agreement between Cablevision and certain of the Company's subsidiaries. The consulting agreement was terminated on the Distribution date and the Company did not replace it. Advertising The Company incurs advertising expenses charged by subsidiaries of Cablevision. Sales Support and Other Functions, net Through the Distribution date, subsidiaries of Cablevision provided advertising sales support functions to the Company, which primarily included salaries and general and administrative costs, which were recorded as a charge to selling, general and administrative expenses. Additionally, the Company provides affiliation support functions to MSG, which primarily includes salaries, facilities, and general and administrative costs. These charges are recorded as a reduction to selling, general and administrative expenses. Share-based Compensation and Long-Term Incentive Plans Expense Cablevision charged the Company through the Distribution date its proportionate share of expenses or benefits related to Cablevision's employee stock plans and Cablevision's long-term incentive plans. Such amounts are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of income. The long-term incentive plans are funded by the Company and aggregate liabilities of $18,137 (which includes $3,475 attributable to the Company's 2011 long-term incentive plan) and $28,934 related to these plans are included in accrued employee related costs and other liabilities in the Company's consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively. These liabilities include certain performance-based awards for which the performance criteria had not been met as of December 31, 2011 as such awards are based on achievement of certain performance criteria through December 31, 2013. The Company has accrued the pro-rata amount earned that it currently believes will ultimately be paid based upon the performance criteria established for these performance-based awards. If it is subsequently determined that the performance criteria for such awards is not probable of being achieved, the Company would reverse the accrual in respect of such award at that time. As the obligations related to stock option and restricted share awards under the Cablevision stock plans are satisfied by Cablevision, the allocation to the Company of its proportionate share of the related expenses through June 30, 2011 is reflected as capital contributions in the consolidated financial statements. Treatment of Long-Term Incentive Plans After the Distribution In 2011, 2010 and 2009, Cablevision granted three-year performance awards to certain executive officers and other members of the Company's management under Cablevision's 2006 Cash Incentive Plan. The 2009 awards were paid in March 2012. The Cablevision performance metrics in the awards granted in 2010 to certain executive officers and other employees of the Company were replaced with Company performance metrics. The awards granted to certain executive officers and other employees of the Company in March 2011 under the Cablevision 2006 Cash Incentive Plan were replaced in July 2011 by awards granted under the Company's 2011 Cash Incentive Plan, and the Cablevision performance metrics related to those awards were replaced with Company performance metrics. Amounts applicable to employees of the Company are and will continue to be reflected as liabilities, based on achievement of certain performance criteria as noted above, in the Company's consolidated balance sheets until settled. Deferred compensation awards granted by Cablevision pursuant to Cablevision's Long-Term Incentive Plan (which was superseded by the Cablevision Cash Incentive Plan in 2006) are unaffected by the Distribution. Amounts applicable to employees of the Company are reflected as liabilities in the Company's consolidated balance sheets until settled. Transition Services Agreement In connection with the Distribution, Cablevision and AMC Networks entered into a Transition Services Agreement under which, in exchange for the fees specified in such agreement, Cablevision agreed to provide transition services with regard to such areas as accounting, information systems, risk management and employee services, compensation and benefits. Under the Transition Services Agreement, AMC Networks also provides certain services to Cablevision and MSG on behalf of Cablevision. The Company incurred net fees of $2,435 under the Transition Services Agreement for the year ended December 31, 2011, which were recorded as a charge to selling, general and administrative expenses. Under the Transition Services Agreement, AMC Networks provides transition services to Cablevision and MSG with regard to its information technology systems that AMC Networks, Cablevision and MSG may share. AMC Networks and Cablevision, as parties receiving services under the agreement, have agreed to indemnify the party providing services for losses incurred by such party that arise out of or are otherwise in connection with the provision by such party of services under the agreement, except to the extent that such losses result from the providing party's gross negligence, willful misconduct or breach of its obligations under the agreement. Similarly, each party providing services under the agreement has agreed to indemnify the party receiving services for losses incurred by such party that arise out of or are otherwise in connection with the indemnifying party's provision of services under the agreement if such losses result from the providing party's gross negligence, willful misconduct or breach of its obligations under the agreement.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for related party transactions, including the nature of the relationship(s), a description of the transactions, the amount of the transactions, the effects of any change in the method of establishing the terms of the transaction from the previous period, stated interest rate, expiration date, terms and manner of settlement per the agreement with the related party, and amounts due to or from related parties. If the entity and one or more other entities are under common ownership or management control and this control affects the operating results or financial position, disclosure includes the nature of the control relationship even if there are no transactions between the entities. Disclosure may also include the aggregate amount of current and deferred tax expense for each statement of earnings presented where the entity is a member of a group that files a consolidated tax return, the amount of any tax related balances due to or from affiliates as of the date of each statement of financial position presented, the principal provisions of the method by which the consolidated amount of current and deferred tax expense is allocated to the members of the group and the nature and effect of any changes in that method. Examples of related party transactions include transactions between (a) a parent company and its subsidiary; (b) subsidiaries of a common parent; (c) and entity and its principal owners; and (d) affiliates. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(k)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6881521&loc=d3e23780-122690 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Article 3A -Section 04 -Paragraph b Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 57 -Paragraph 1-4 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 850 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39678-107864 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Article 4 -Section 08 -Paragraph k Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 850 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39691-107864 Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 850 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39549-107864 Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 850 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39622-107864 Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 850 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39603-107864 + Details
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