Summary of Significant Accounting Policies |
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Jun. 30, 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Accounting Policies [Abstract] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Principles of Consolidation The Financial Statements include the accounts of all majority-owned and controlled subsidiaries. In addition, the Company evaluates its relationships with other entities to identify whether they are variable interest entities and whether the Company is the primary beneficiary. Consolidation is required if both of these criteria are met. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions within the Company’s consolidated businesses have been eliminated in consolidation. Any change in the Company’s ownership interest in a consolidated subsidiary, where a controlling financial interest is retained, is accounted for as an equity transaction. When the Company ceases to have a controlling financial interest in a consolidated subsidiary, the Company recognizes a gain or loss in net income upon deconsolidation. The Company’s fiscal year ends on June 30 (“fiscal”) of each year. Reclassifications and Adjustments Certain fiscal 2024 and 2023 amounts have been reclassified to conform to the fiscal 2025 presentation. Use of Estimates The preparation of the Company’s Financial Statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts that are reported in the Financial Statements and accompanying disclosures. Although these estimates are based on management’s best knowledge of current events and actions that the Company may undertake in the future, actual results may differ from those estimates. Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand and marketable securities with original maturities of three months or less. Receivables Receivables are presented net of an allowance for credit losses, which is an estimate of amounts that may not be collectible. The allowance for credit losses is estimated based on historical experience, receivable aging, current expected collections, current economic trends and specific identification of certain receivables that are at risk of not being paid. Receivables, net consist of:
Inventories Licensed and Owned Programming The Company incurs costs to license programming rights and to produce owned programming. Licensed programming includes costs incurred by the Company for access to content owned by third parties. The Company has single and multi-year contracts for sports and non-sports programming. Licensed programming is recorded at the earlier of payment or when the license period has begun, the cost of the program is known or reasonably determinable and the program is accepted and available for airing. Advances paid for the right to broadcast sports events within one year and programming with an initial license period of one year or less are classified as current inventories included within Inventories, net in the Balance Sheets, and license fees for programming with an initial license period of greater than one year are classified as non-current inventories included within Other non-current assets in the Balance Sheets. Licensed programming is predominantly amortized as the associated programs are made available over the shorter of the license period or the period in which an economic benefit is expected to be derived. The costs of multi-year sports contracts are primarily amortized based on the ratio of each contract’s current period attributable revenue to the estimated total remaining attributable revenue. Estimates can change and, accordingly, are reviewed periodically and amortization is adjusted as necessary. Such changes in the future could be material. Owned programming, included within Other non-current assets in the Balance Sheets, includes content internally developed and produced as well as co-produced content. Capitalized costs for owned programming, including direct costs, production overhead and development costs, are predominantly amortized using the individual-film-forecast-computation method, which is based on the ratio of current period revenue to estimated total future remaining revenue, and related costs are expensed as incurred. Future remaining revenue includes imputed license fees for content used by FOX as well as revenue expected to be earned based on distribution strategy and historical performance of similar content. Changes to estimated future revenues may result in impairments or changes in amortization patterns. When production partners distribute owned programming on the Company’s behalf, the net participation in profits is recorded as content license revenue. Projects in-process are written off at the earlier of abandonment or three years after initial capitalization. The Company may receive government incentives in connection with the production of owned programming. The Company records government incentives as a reduction of capitalized costs for owned programming when the monetization of the incentive is probable, and as a receivable included within Other non-current assets in the Balance Sheets. Government incentives were not material in fiscal 2025, 2024 and 2023. Inventories are evaluated for recoverability when an event or circumstance occurs that indicates that fair value may be less than unamortized costs. The Company will determine if there is an impairment by evaluating the fair value of the inventories, which are primarily supported by internal forecasts as compared to unamortized costs. Where an evaluation indicates unamortized costs, including advances on multi-year sports rights contracts, are not recoverable, amortization of rights is accelerated in an amount equal to the amount by which the unamortized costs exceed fair value. Owned programming is predominantly monetized and tested for impairment on an individual basis. Licensed programming is predominantly monetized as a group and tested for impairment on a channel, network, or daypart basis. The recoverability of certain sports rights is assessed on an aggregate basis. Investments Investments in and advances to entities or joint ventures in which the Company has significant influence over the investee’s operating and financial policies, but less than a controlling financial interest, are accounted for using the equity method. Significant influence generally exists when the Company owns an interest between 20% and 50%. Additionally, investments in partnerships or limited liability companies are accounted for using the equity method when specific ownership accounts are maintained, unless the Company has virtually no influence over the investee’s operating and financial policies. Equity method investments are initially recorded at fair value and will increase as a result of additional contributions and will decrease as a result of cash distributions received from the equity method investee, amortization of identifiable intangible assets of the investee resulting from the transaction and impairments. Additionally, the Company’s share of the equity method investee’s net income or loss will increase and decrease the investment, respectively. Equity investments, including investments in equity securities, in which the Company has no significant influence (generally less than a 20% ownership interest) with readily determinable fair values are accounted for at fair value based on quoted market prices. Equity investments without readily determinable fair values are accounted for using the measurement alternative which is at cost minus impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment of the same issuer. All gains and losses on investments in equity investments are recognized in the Statements of Operations. Equity method investments are reviewed for impairment by comparing their fair value to their respective carrying amounts when events or circumstances suggest that the carrying amount of the investment may be impaired. The Company determines the fair value of its private company investments by considering available information, including recent investee equity transactions, discounted cash flow analyses, estimates based on comparable public company operating multiples and, in certain situations, balance sheet liquidation values. If the fair value of the investment has dropped below the carrying amount, management considers several factors when determining whether an other-than-temporary decline in market value has occurred, including the length of time and extent to which the market value has been below cost, the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer of the security, the intent and ability of the Company to retain its investment in the issuer for a period of time sufficient to allow for an anticipated recovery in market value and other factors influencing the fair market value, such as general market conditions. The Company regularly reviews equity investments not accounted for using the equity method or at fair value for impairment based on a qualitative assessment which includes, but is not limited to (i) significant deterioration in the earnings performance, credit rating, asset quality or business prospects of the investee, (ii) significant adverse changes in the regulatory, economic or technological environment of the investee and (iii) significant adverse changes in the general market condition of either the geographical area or the industry in which the investee operates. If an equity investment is impaired, an impairment loss is recognized in the Statements of Operations equal to the difference between the fair value of the investment and its carrying amount. Property, Plant and Equipment Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is provided using the straight-line method over an estimated useful life of to 40 years for buildings and leaseholds and to 10 years for machinery and equipment. Leasehold improvements are amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter of their useful lives or the life of the lease. Costs associated with the repair and maintenance of property are expensed as incurred. Changes in circumstances, such as technological advances, or changes to the Company’s business model or capital strategy, could result in the actual useful lives differing from the Company’s estimates. In those cases where the Company determines that the estimated useful life of property, plant and equipment should be shortened, the Company depreciates the asset over its revised remaining useful life, thereby increasing depreciation expense. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets The Company’s intangible assets include goodwill, Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) licenses, traditional and virtual multi-channel video programming distributor (“MVPD”) affiliate agreements and relationships, software and trademarks and other copyrighted products. Intangible assets other than goodwill acquired in business combinations are recorded at their estimated fair value at the date of acquisition. Goodwill is recorded as the difference between the consideration transferred to acquire entities and the estimated fair values assigned to their tangible and identifiable intangible net assets. Amounts recorded as goodwill are assigned to more than one reporting unit as of the acquisition date when more than one reporting unit is expected to benefit from the synergies of the combination. The Company’s goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, which primarily consist of FCC licenses, are tested annually for impairment, or earlier if events occur or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value below its carrying amount. The impairment assessment of indefinite-lived intangibles compares the fair value of the assets to their carrying value. Intangible assets with finite lives are generally amortized over their estimated useful lives. The weighted average original amortization period of amortizable intangible assets is approximately 10 years. Annual Impairment Review Goodwill Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level, which is an operating segment, or one level below. If the Company determines it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount after a qualitative assessment, the Company performs a quantitative impairment test to compare the fair value of each reporting unit to its carrying amount, including goodwill. In performing the quantitative assessment, the Company determines the fair value of a reporting unit primarily by using discounted cash flow analysis and market-based valuation approach methodologies. Determining fair value requires the exercise of significant judgments, including judgments about appropriate discount rates, long-term growth rates, asset lives, market multiples and relevant comparable transactions, as applicable, and the amount and timing of expected future cash flows. The cash flows employed in the analyses are based on the Company’s estimated outlook and various growth rates have been assumed for years beyond the long-term business plan period. Discount rate assumptions are based on an assessment of the risk inherent in the future cash flows of the respective reporting units. In assessing the reasonableness of its determined fair values, the Company evaluates its results against other value indicators, such as comparable public company trading values. If the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill of the reporting unit is not impaired. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess, limited to the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. FCC licenses The Company performs impairment reviews by comparing the estimated fair value of the Company’s FCC licenses with their carrying amount on a market-by-market basis. Fair value is determined using a discounted cash flow valuation method, assuming a hypothetical start-up scenario for a broadcast station in each of the markets the Company operates in. This method also involves the use of management’s judgment in estimating appropriate terminal growth rates, operating margins and discount rates reflecting the risk of a market participant in the broadcast industry, as well as industry data on future advertising revenues in the markets where the Company owns television stations. The resulting fair values for FCC licenses are sensitive to these long-term assumptions and any adverse changes to the assumptions used could result in an impairment to existing carrying values in future periods and such impairment could be material. During fiscal 2025, the Company recorded a non-cash impairment charge for intangible assets of approximately $70 million primarily related to FCC licenses in Restructuring, impairment and other corporate matters in the Statements of Operations within the Television segment. Based on the Company’s annual assessment, the carrying value of FCC licenses in certain markets exceeded their fair value primarily as a result of updated market data, including lower expected future advertising revenue. Additionally, the fair value of FCC licenses in certain markets exceeded their respective carrying value by less than 10% as of June 30, 2025. An increase to the discount rate of 0.5 percentage points, or a decrease to the terminal growth rate of 0.5 percentage points, assuming no changes to other long-term assumptions, would cause the aggregate fair value of FCC licenses to fall below the aggregate carrying value by approximately $80 million and $50 million, respectively. Further adverse changes in market conditions may result in additional non-cash impairment charges. During fiscal 2025, the Company determined that the goodwill included in the Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2025 was not impaired based on the Company’s annual assessment and there are no reporting units at risk of impairment. While the Company believes its judgments represent reasonably possible outcomes based on available facts and circumstances, adverse changes to the assumptions, including prevailing market conditions, discount rates, competitive factors, comparable public company trading values and expected future cash flows, could negatively impact the fair value of our reporting units and potentially result in a non-cash goodwill impairment charge in future periods. The Company will continue to monitor its goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for any possible future non-cash impairment charges. Leases The Company has lease agreements primarily for office facilities and other equipment. At contract inception, the Company determines if a contract is or contains a lease and, if so, whether it is an operating or finance lease. The Company does not separate lease components from nonlease components for real estate leases. For operating leases that have a lease term of greater than one year, the Company initially recognizes operating lease liabilities and right-of-use (“ROU”) assets at the lease commencement date, which is the date that the lessor makes an underlying asset available for use by the Company. ROU assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the present value of the Company’s obligation to make lease payments, primarily escalating fixed payments, over the lease term. The discount rate used to determine the present value of the lease payments is generally the Company’s incremental borrowing rate because the rate implicit in the lease is generally not readily determinable. The incremental borrowing rate for the lease term is determined by adjusting the Company’s unsecured borrowing rate for a similar term to approximate a collateralized borrowing rate. The Company’s lease terms for each of its leases represents the noncancelable period for which the Company has the right to use an underlying asset, together with all of the following: (i) periods covered by an option to extend the lease if the Company is reasonably certain to exercise that option; (ii) periods covered by an option to terminate the lease if the Company is reasonably certain not to exercise that option; and (iii) periods covered by an option to extend (or not to terminate) the lease in which exercise of the option is controlled by the lessor. The Company recognizes lease expense for operating leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company’s operating ROU assets are included in Other non-current assets and the Company’s current and non-current operating lease liabilities are included in Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities and Other liabilities, respectively, in the Company’s Balance Sheets (See Note 20—Additional Financial Information). Long-Lived Asset Impairments The Company periodically reviews the carrying amounts of its long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment, ROU assets and finite-lived intangible assets, to determine whether current events or circumstances indicate that such carrying amounts may not be recoverable. If the carrying amount of the asset or asset group is greater than the expected undiscounted cash flows to be generated by such asset or asset group, an impairment adjustment is recognized and is measured as the amount by which the carrying value of such asset or asset group exceeds its fair value. The Company generally measures fair value by considering sale prices for similar assets or by discounting estimated future cash flows using an appropriate discount rate. Considerable management judgment is necessary to estimate the fair value of assets; accordingly, actual results could vary significantly from such estimates. Assets to be disposed of are carried at the lower of their financial statement carrying amount or fair value less their costs to sell. Revenue Recognition Revenue is recognized when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to the Company’s customers in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. The Company considers the terms of each arrangement to determine the appropriate accounting treatment. The Company generates advertising revenue from sales of commercial time within the Company’s network programming, and from sales of advertising on the Company’s owned and operated television stations and various digital properties. Advertising revenue from customers is recognized as the commercials are aired. Certain of the Company’s advertising contracts have guarantees of a certain number of targeted audience views, referred to as impressions, where the performance obligation is the guarantee and revenue is recognized as the guarantee is satisfied. For contracts without guarantees, the individual advertising spots are the performance obligation and consideration is allocated based on its relative standalone selling price. Advertising contracts, which are generally short-term, are billed monthly for the spots aired during the month, with payments due shortly thereafter. The Company generates affiliate fee revenue from agreements with MVPDs for cable network programming and for the broadcast of the Company’s owned and operated television stations. In addition, the Company generates affiliate fee revenue from agreements with independently owned television stations that are affiliated with the FOX Network and receives retransmission consent fees from MVPDs for their signals. Affiliate fee revenue is recognized as the Company satisfies the performance obligation by continuously making the programming available to the customer over the term of the agreement. For contracts with affiliate fees based on the number of the affiliate’s subscribers, revenues are recognized based on the contractual rate multiplied by the estimated number of subscribers each period. For contracts with fixed affiliate fees, revenues are recognized based on the relative standalone selling price of the network programming provided over the contract term, which generally reflects the invoiced amount. Affiliate contracts are generally multi-year contracts billed monthly with payments due shortly thereafter. The Company classifies the amortization of cable distribution investments (capitalized fees paid to MVPDs to facilitate carriage of a cable network) against affiliate fee revenue. The Company amortizes the cable distribution investments on a straight-line basis over the contract period. Other revenue primarily includes revenue generated from the Company’s content licensing agreements and revenue from production services and rentals. Revenue from content licensing agreements is recognized when the content is made available under the content licensing agreements. Production services and rental revenues are recognized as the goods or services are delivered. Advertising Expenses The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred. The Company incurred advertising expenses of $694 million, $646 million and $680 million for fiscal 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Income Taxes The Company uses an asset and liability approach for financial accounting and reporting for income taxes. Under this approach, deferred taxes are provided for the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Valuation allowances are established where management determines that it is more likely than not that some portion or all of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. Earnings Per Share Basic earnings per share for FOX’s Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”), and Class B Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Class B Common Stock” and, together with the Class A Common Stock, the “Common Stock”) is calculated by dividing Net income attributable to Fox Corporation stockholders by the weighted average number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, including vested restricted stock units (“RSUs”), and Class B Common Stock. Diluted earnings per share for the Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock is calculated similarly, except that the calculation for the Class A Common Stock includes the dilutive effect of the assumed issuance of the shares issuable under the Company’s equity-based compensation plan. Equity-Based Compensation The Company applies a fair value-based measurement method in accounting for generally all share-based payment transactions with employees. The Company recognizes compensation cost for awards granted that have only service requirements and a graded vesting schedule on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award. The Company accounts for forfeitures when they occur. Financial Instruments The carrying value of the Company’s financial instruments exclusive of borrowings, such as cash and cash equivalents, receivables, payables and investments accounted for using the measurement alternative, approximates fair value. The fair value of financial instruments is generally determined by reference to market values resulting from trading on a national securities exchange or in an over-the-counter market. Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests Redeemable noncontrolling interests are presented outside of permanent equity on the Company’s Balance Sheets as their redemption is outside the control of the Company. The redeemable noncontrolling interests recorded are put rights held in Credible Labs Inc. (“Credible”), an entertainment production company and a digital media company. The Company accretes the changes in the redemption value of the redeemable noncontrolling interests over the period from issuance to the earliest redemption date. If a redeemable noncontrolling interest is redeemable at fair value, adjustments to the carrying amount are recorded in retained earnings. If a redeemable noncontrolling interest is redeemable at an amount in excess of fair value, the portion of the adjustment that reflects a redemption in excess of fair value is presented within net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Statements of Operations. Concentrations of Credit Risk Cash and cash equivalents are maintained with several financial institutions. The Company has deposits held with banks that exceed the amount of insurance provided on such deposits. Generally, these deposits may be redeemed upon demand and are maintained with financial institutions of reputable credit and, therefore, bear minimal credit risk. Generally, the Company does not require collateral to secure receivables. As of June 30, 2025 and 2024, the Company had no individual customers that accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s receivables. Recently Adopted and Recently Issued Accounting Guidance and Other Adopted Segment Reporting In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued guidance that enhances segment reporting by requiring the disclosure of significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker and included within the reported measure of segment profit or loss. The Company adopted the guidance for all periods presented in this Annual Report on Form 10-K (See Note 17—Segment Information). Issued Income Taxes In December 2023, the FASB issued updated guidance that enhances income tax disclosures, primarily requiring consistent categories and greater disaggregation of information in the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid by jurisdiction. The amendment is effective for the Company beginning with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026 on a prospective basis, with the option to use retrospective application. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the new guidance will have on our financial statement disclosures. Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses In November 2024, the FASB issued updated guidance that requires disclosure of specified information about certain costs and expenses. The amendment is effective for the Company beginning with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028 and for interim periods beginning with the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ending September 30, 2028 on a prospective basis, with the option to use retrospective application. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the new guidance will have on our financial statement disclosures. Other One Big Beautiful Bill Act On July 4, 2025, the U.S. government enacted The One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 which includes, among other provisions, changes to the U.S. corporate income tax system including the allowance of immediate expensing of qualified property and research and development expenses and permanent extensions of certain provisions within the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. These provisions generally will be applicable for the Company beginning in fiscal 2026. The Company is currently evaluating the future impact of these tax law changes on our financial statements.
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