XML 37 R27.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.25.3
Description of Business, Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
 6 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2025
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
Use of Estimates
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions, that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. The most significant estimates made by management in the preparation of the accompanying financial statements relate to the intangible asset associated with the customer relationships with U.S. MVPDs ("Starz Traditional Affiliates"), which is amortized in the proportion that current period revenue bears to management’s estimate of future revenue over the remaining estimated useful life of the asset; estimates of future viewership used for the amortization of programming content; the allocation of costs to the Starz Business for certain corporate and shared service functions prior to Studio Separation; income taxes including the assessment of valuation allowances for deferred tax assets; and impairment assessments for licensed program rights and intangible assets. Actual results could differ from such estimates.
Segments
Segments
Following the Separation, Starz manages and reports its operating results through one reportable segment, Starz Networks, which includes our consolidated operations. The continuing operations outside the U.S. and Canada, which primarily consist of our operations in India and Southeast Asia, are reported as International. Effective April 1, 2025, we transferred our operations in India and Southeast Asia to New Lionsgate. Given that Starz and New Lionsgate were under common control at the time of the transfer, no gain or loss was recorded related to the transfer.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Internal-Use Software: In September 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-06, which modernizes the accounting guidance for internal-use software under ASC 350-40. The update eliminates the previous “project stage” model and introduces a principles-based framework that better aligns with contemporary software development practices. Under the new guidance, entities may begin capitalizing internal-use software costs when two conditions are met: (1) management has authorized and committed to funding the software project, and (2) it is probable that the project will be completed and the software will be used for its intended purpose (the “probable-to-complete” threshold). The ASU also consolidates website development cost guidance into ASC 350-40 and clarifies disclosure requirements for capitalized software costs. This guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
Income Taxes: In December 2023, the FASB issued guidance which expanded income tax disclosures by requiring public business entities, on an annual basis, to disclose specific categories in the rate reconciliation and provide additional information for reconciling items that meet a quantitative threshold. Additionally, this guidance required all public business entities to disaggregate disclosures by jurisdiction on the amount of income taxes paid (net of refunds received), income or loss from continuing operations before income tax expense (or benefit) and income tax expense (or benefit) from continuing operations. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, and therefore will be effective beginning with the Company’s financial statements issued for the calendar year ending December 31, 2025 with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
Income Statement: In November 2024, the FASB issued guidance requiring public business entities to disclose additional information about specific expense categories in the notes to financial statements for interim and annual reporting periods. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, and therefore will be effective beginning with the Company’s financial statements issued for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2027 and interim reporting periods beginning in fiscal 2029, with early adoption permitted. The disclosures required under the guidance can be applied either prospectively to financial statements issued for reporting periods after the effective date or retrospectively to any or all periods presented in the financial statements. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
Fair Value Hierarchy
Fair Value Hierarchy
Fair value hierarchy requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. A financial instrument’s categorization within the fair value hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The accounting guidance and standards establish three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:
•Level 1 — Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
•Level 2 — Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets with insufficient volume or infrequent transactions (less active markets); or model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are observable or can be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
•Level 3 — Unobservable inputs to the valuation methodology that are significant to the measurement of fair value of assets or liabilities.