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INVESTMENTS
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2026
Investments [Abstract]  
INVESTMENTS INVESTMENTS
The Company’s equity investments consisted of the following (in millions).
CategoryBalance Sheet LocationOwnershipMarch 31, 2026December 31, 2025
Equity method investments:
The Chernin Group (TCG) 2.0-A, LPOther noncurrent assets44%$276 $276 
nC+Other noncurrent assets32%153 153 
OtherOther noncurrent assets270 268 
Total equity method investments699 697 
Investments without readily determinable fair values
Other noncurrent assets(a)
349 348 
Total investments$1,048 $1,045 
(a) Investments without readily determinable fair values included $17 million as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025 that was recorded in prepaid expenses and other current assets.
Equity Method Investments
Certain of the Company’s other equity method investments are VIEs, for which the Company is not the primary beneficiary. As of March 31, 2026, the Company’s maximum exposure for all of its unconsolidated VIEs, including the investment carrying values and unfunded contractual commitments made on behalf of VIEs, was approximately $477 million. The Company’s maximum estimated exposure excludes the non-contractual future funding of VIEs. The aggregate carrying values of these VIE investments were $467 million and $481 million as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively. VIE gains and losses are recorded in loss from equity investees, net on the consolidated statements of operations, and were not material for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025.
Joint Venture
In January 2025, the Company contributed a 70% interest in its music catalog to a joint venture with Cutting Edge Group in exchange for net proceeds of $601 million. The Company retained a controlling financial interest and consolidated the joint venture as a VIE. The Company has determined that it is the primary beneficiary of the joint venture as the Company has certain operational rights that significantly impact the economic performance of the business including exploitation of the catalog works and selection of the administrator. As the primary beneficiary, the Company includes the joint venture assets, liabilities and results of operations in the Company's consolidated financial statements. As of March 31, 2026, the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities of the consolidated VIE were not material. During the three months ended March 31, 2026, it was determined that the Cutting Edge Group will receive an additional 9% economic interest in the venture based on the results of certain operational metrics.