program license agreement

This Subtopic tells a broadcaster (licensee) how to account for rights acquired under a license agreement for program material: when to recognize the asset and related liability, at what amounts to record them, and how to amortize and test them for impairment. The core rule is that the license is treated as a purchase of a right or group of rights, recognized when the license period begins and three cost/acceptance/availability conditions are met, then amortized based on estimated future showings and carried at the lower of unamortized cost or fair value. It also governs accounting for terminated network affiliation agreements.

This Subtopic governs disclosure by broadcasters of program license agreements that have been signed (executed) but that do not yet qualify for recognition as an asset and liability on the balance sheet. The single rule is that such executory license commitments must be disclosed in the notes, even though they are not recorded, because the recognition conditions in 920-350-25-2 have not been met.