# ASC 720-922-25: Other Expenses — Entertainment—Cable Television — 25 Recognition

Source: FASB Accounting Standards Codification, Basic View

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## ASC 720-922-25: 25 Recognition

[Read section](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/720/922/#25-recognition)

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#### Prematurity Period

##### [720-922-25-1](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/720/922/#720-922-25-1)

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During the [prematurity period](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/glossary/p/#prematurity-period "During the prematurity period, the cable television system is partially under construction and partially in service. The prematurity period begins when revenue from the first subscriber is recognized in accordance with Topic 606 on revenue from contracts with customers.Its end will vary with circumstances of the system but will be determined based on plans for completion of the first major construction period or achievement of a specified predetermined subscriber level at which no additional investment will be required for other than cable television plant. The construction period of a cable television system varies with the size of the franchise area, density of population, and difficulty of physical construction. The construction period is not completed until the head-end, main cable, and distribution cables are installed, and includes a reasonable time to provide for installation of subscriber drops and related hardware. During the construction period, many system operators complete installation of drops and begin to provide service to some subscribers in some parts of the system while construction continues. Providing the signal for the first time is referred to as energizing the system. The length of the prematurity period varies with the franchise development and construction plans. Such plans may consist of any of the following: Small franchise that is characterized by the absence of free television signal and a short construction period. The entire system is energized at one time near the end of the construction period. Medium-size franchise that is characterized by some direct competition from free television and by a more extensive geographical franchise area lending itself to incremental construction. Some parts of the system are energized as construction progresses. Large metropolitan franchise that is characterized by heavy direct competition from free television and fringe area signal inadequacy, high cost, and difficult construction. Many parts of the system are energized as construction progresses. Except in the smallest systems, programming is usually delivered to portions of the system and some revenues are obtained before construction of the entire system is complete. Thus, virtually every cable television system experiences a prematurity period during which it is receiving some revenue while continuing to incur substantial costs related to the establishment of the total system."), any [subscriber-related costs](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/glossary/s/#subscriber-related-costs "Costs incurred to obtain and retain subscribers to the cable television system, including costs of billing and collection, bad debts, and mailings; repairs and maintenance of taps and connections; franchise fees related to revenues or number of subscribers; general and administrative system costs, such as salary of the system manager and office rent; programming costs for additional channels used in the marketing effort or costs related to revenues from, or number of subscribers to, per-channel or per-program service; and direct selling costs.") and general and administrative expenses shall be expensed as period costs.

##### [720-922-25-2](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/720/922/#720-922-25-2)

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For guidance on accounting during the prematurity period for certain programming costs and other system costs, see paragraph [922-350-25-1](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/350/922/#350-922-25-1).

#### Hookup Costs

##### [720-922-25-3](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/720/922/#720-922-25-3)

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After the initial installation as described in paragraph [922-360-25-7](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/360/922/#360-922-25-7), costs incurred for disconnecting and reconnecting shall be charged to expense.

#### Unsuccessful Franchise Applications and Abandoned Franchises

##### [720-922-25-4](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/720/922/#720-922-25-4)

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Costs of unsuccessful franchise applications and abandoned franchises shall be charged to expense.

Refer to paragraph [922-350-25-3](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/350/922/#350-922-25-3) for guidance on the accounting for the costs of successful franchise applications.
