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Revenue (Notes) | 6 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2019
Revenue Footnote [Abstract] |
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Policy Text Block] | On October 1, 2018, we adopted the new revenue recognition accounting pronouncement, using the modified retrospective method applied to those contracts which were not completed as of the adoption date. Results for reporting periods beginning after October 1, 2018 are presented under the new guidance while prior period amounts are not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with legacy accounting under the old guidance. We did not record any adjustments to beginning retained earnings at October 1, 2018 as a result of adopting the new guidance. The following table presents our revenues disaggregated by source:
| 13 Weeks Ended |  | 26 Weeks Ended |
(Thousands of Dollars) | March 31 2019 |  | March 25 2018 |  | March 31 2019 |  | March 25 2018 |
Advertising and marketing services revenues | 62,934 |  | 71,553 |  | 138,897 |  | 156,213 |
Subscription Revenues | 45,076 |  | 45,972 |  | 91,345 |  | 94,241 |
TownNews and other digital services revenues | 4,744 |  | 3,815 |  | 9,421 |  | 7,476 |
Other revenues | 9,950 |  | 6,465 |  | 19,242 |  | 13,660 |
Total operating revenue | 122,704 |  | 127,805 |  | 258,905 |  | 271,590 |
Recognition principles: Revenues are recognized when a performance obligation is satisfied by the transfer of control of the contracted goods or services to our customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to receive in exchange for those goods or services. Advertising and marketing services revenues: Advertising and marketing services revenues include amounts charged to customers for retail or classified advertising space purchased in our newspapers, retail or classified advertisements placed on our digital platforms, and other print advertising products such as preprint inserts and direct mail. Advertising and marketing services revenues also include amounts charged to customers for digital marketing services which include: Audience extension, Search Engine Optimization ("SEO"), Search Engine Marketing ("SEM"), web and mobile production, social media services and reputation monitoring and management. The following define the timing of revenue recognition for each general revenue category:
• | Print advertising revenues are recognized at the point in time the associated publication has been delivered.
• | Digital advertising revenues are recognized at the point in time that impressions are delivered.
• | Digital marketing services revenues are recognized over the period of time which the service is performed.
Advertising and marketing services contract transaction prices consist of fixed consideration. We recognize revenue when control of the related performance obligation transfers to the customer. Payments for advertising revenues are due upon completion of our performance obligations at previously agreed upon rates. In instances where the timing of revenue recognition differs from the timing of invoicing, such timing differences are not large. As a result, we have determined that our contracts do not include a significant financing component. Subscription revenues: Subscription revenues include revenues for content delivered to consumers via print and digital products purchased by readers or distributors. Single copy revenues are also included in subscription revenues. Subscription revenues from single-copy and home delivery subscriptions are recognized at the point in time the publications are delivered. Digital subscription revenues are recognized over time as performance obligations are met via on-demand availability of online content made available to customers throughout the contract term. Payments for subscription revenues are typically collected in advance, are for contract periods of one year or less and result in an unearned revenue liability that is reduced when revenue is recognized. Other revenues: Other revenues are primarily comprised of digital services, Management Agreement revenues, commercial printing and delivery of third party products. Digital services revenues, which are primarily delivered through TownNews, are primarily comprised of contractual agreements to provide webhosting and content management services. As such, digital services revenues are recognized over the contract period. Prices for digital services are agreed upon in advance of the contract beginning and are typically billed in arrears on a monthly basis, with the exception of implementation fees which are recognized as deferred revenue and amortized over the contract period. Management Agreement revenues, consisting of fees collected from our Management Agreement, are recognized based on BH Media's financial progress toward contractual performance goals related to certain financial benchmarks. BH Media provides historical and projected financial reports, which serve as the basis for our revenue recognition. Fixed Management Agreement revenues are recognized over time and paid quarterly and variable fees are paid annually. Variable fees are recognized when the fees are deemed earned and it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is subsequently resolved. Commercial printing and delivery revenues are recognized when the product is delivered to the customer. Arrangements with multiple performance obligations: We have various advertising and subscription agreements which include both print and digital performance obligations. Revenues from sales agreements that contain multiple performance obligations are allocated to each obligation based on the relative standalone selling price. We determine standalone selling prices based on observable prices charged to customers. Contract Assets and Liabilities: The Company’s primary source of unearned revenue is from subscriptions paid in advance of the service provided. The Company expects to recognize the revenue related to unsatisfied performance obligations over the next twelve months in accordance with the terms of the subscriptions and other contracts with customers. The unearned revenue balances described herein are the Company's only contract liability. Unearned revenues were $25,325,000 as of March 31, 2019 and $23,895,000 as of September 30, 2018. Revenues recognized in the 13 weeks and the 26 weeks ended March 31, 2019 that were included in the contract liability as of September 30, 2018 were $4,784,000 and $20,511,000, respectively. Contract asset balances relate to our Management Agreement revenues and were $3,461,000 as of March 31, 2019 and $0 as of September 30, 2018 and consisted solely of the variable portion of the contract. These contract asset balances are included in accounts receivable and contract assets, net. There are no other contract assets recorded. Accounts receivable, excluding allowance for doubtful accounts and contract assets, was $45,689,000 and $48,517,000 as of March 31, 2019 and September 30, 2018, respectively. Allowance for doubtful accounts was $5,473,000 and $4,806,000 as of March 31, 2019 and September 30, 2018, respectively. Practical expedients and exemptions: Sales commissions are expensed as incurred as the associated contractual periods are one year or less. These costs are recorded within compensation. The vast majority of our contracts have original expected lengths of one year or less and revenue is earned at a rate and amount that corresponds directly with the value to the customer.

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