Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies) |
12 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Dec. 31, 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Accounting Policies [Abstract] | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Basis of Presentation |
The accompanying consolidated financial statements of Holdings and its subsidiaries have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain numbers in our prior period consolidated financial statements and footnotes have been reclassified or consolidated to conform to our current period presentation.
Public companies are required to disclose certain information about their reportable operating segments. Operating segments are defined as significant components of an enterprise for which separate financial information is available and is evaluated on a regular basis by the chief operating decision makers in deciding how to allocate resources to an individual segment and in assessing performance of the segment. We have determined that we have one reportable segment as our chief operating decision maker, our Chief Executive Officer, assesses performance and allocates resources based on the consolidated results of operations of our business.
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| Use of Estimates |
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and footnotes. Estimates, by their nature, are based on judgment and available information. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. Significant estimates inherent in the preparation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements include asset impairment, depreciable lives of our satellites, share-based payment expense, and income taxes. |
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| Cash and Cash Equivalents |
Our cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand, money market funds, certificates of deposit, in-transit credit card receipts and highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less. |
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| Revenue Recognition |
We derive revenue primarily from subscribers, advertising and sales of radios and accessories.
Revenue from subscribers consists primarily of subscription fees and other ancillary subscription based revenues. Revenue is recognized as it is realized or realizable and earned. We recognize subscription fees as our services are provided. Consumers purchasing or leasing a vehicle with a factory-installed satellite radio typically receive between a three and twelve month subscription to our service. In certain cases, the subscription fee for these consumers are prepaid by the applicable automaker. Prepaid subscription fees received from certain automakers are recorded as deferred revenue and amortized to revenue ratably over the service period which commences upon retail sale and activation. There is no revenue recognized for unpaid trial subscriptions.
We recognize revenue from the sale of advertising as the advertising is transmitted. Agency fees are calculated based on a stated percentage applied to gross billing revenue for our advertising inventory and are reported as a reduction of advertising revenue. We pay certain third parties a percentage of advertising revenue. Advertising revenue is recorded gross of such revenue share payments as we are the primary obligor in the transaction. Advertising revenue share payments are recorded to Revenue share and royalties during the period in which the advertising is transmitted.
Equipment revenue and royalties from the sale of satellite radios, components and accessories are recognized upon shipment, net of discounts and rebates. Shipping and handling costs billed to customers are recorded as revenue. Shipping and handling costs associated with shipping goods to customers are reported as a component of Cost of equipment.
Other revenue primarily includes U.S. Music Royalty Fees which are recorded as other revenue and the cost component as Revenue share and royalties expense. Fees received from subscribers for the U.S. Music Royalty Fee are recorded as deferred revenue and amortized to revenue ratably over the service period.
We report revenues net of any tax assessed by a governmental authority that is both imposed on, and concurrent with, a specific revenue-producing transaction between a seller and a customer in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income.
Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 605, Revenue Recognition, provides guidance on how and when to recognize revenues for arrangements that may involve the delivery or performance of multiple products, services and/or rights to use assets, such as in our bundled subscription plans. Revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables are required to be divided into separate units of accounting if the deliverables in the arrangement meet certain criteria. Consideration must be allocated at the inception of the arrangement to all deliverables based on their relative selling price, which has been determined using vendor specific objective evidence of the selling price to self-pay customers.
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| Revenue Share |
We share a portion of our subscription revenues earned from self-pay subscribers and paid promotional subscribers with certain automakers. The terms of the revenue share agreements vary with each automaker, but are typically based upon the earned audio revenue as reported or gross billed audio revenue. Revenue share is recorded as an expense in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income and not as a reduction to revenue. |
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| Programming Costs |
Programming costs which are for a specified number of events are amortized on an event-by-event basis; programming costs which are for a specified season or include programming through a dedicated channel are amortized over the season or period on a straight-line basis. We allocate a portion of certain programming costs which are related to sponsorship and marketing activities to Sales and marketing expense on a straight-line basis over the term of the agreement. |
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| Advertising Costs |
Media is expensed when aired and advertising production costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising production costs include expenses related to marketing and retention activities, including expenses related to direct mail, outbound telemarketing and email communications. We also incur advertising production costs related to cooperative marketing and promotional events and sponsorships. |
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| Subscriber Acquisition Costs |
Subscriber acquisition costs consist of costs incurred to acquire new subscribers which include hardware subsidies paid to radio manufacturers, distributors and automakers, including subsidies paid to automakers who include a satellite radio and a prepaid subscription to our service in the sale or lease price of a new vehicle; subsidies paid for chipsets and certain other components used in manufacturing radios; device royalties for certain radios and chipsets; commissions paid to retailers and automakers as incentives to purchase, install and activate radios; product warranty obligations; freight; and provisions for inventory allowance attributable to inventory consumed in our OEM and retail distribution channels. Subscriber acquisition costs do not include advertising costs, loyalty payments to distributors and dealers of radios and revenue share payments to automakers and retailers of radios.
Subsidies paid to radio manufacturers and automakers are expensed upon installation, shipment, receipt of product or activation and are included in Subscriber acquisition costs because we are responsible for providing the service to the customers. Commissions paid to retailers and automakers are expensed upon either the sale or activation of radios. Chipsets that are shipped to radio manufacturers and held on consignment are recorded as inventory and expensed as Subscriber acquisition costs when placed into production by radio manufacturers. Costs for chipsets not held on consignment are expensed as Subscriber acquisition costs when the automaker confirms receipt.
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| Research and Development Costs |
Research and development costs are expensed as incurred and primarily include the cost of new product development, chipset design, software development and engineering. During the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, we recorded research and development costs of $96,917, $69,025 and $54,933, respectively. These costs are reported as a component of Engineering, design and development expense in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income.
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| Recent Accounting Pronouncements |
We elected to early adopt Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, in the third quarter of 2016, which required that any adjustments be reflected as of January 1, 2016, the beginning of the annual period that includes the interim period of adoption. The areas for simplification in this ASU involve several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, forfeiture calculations, and classification on the statement of cash flows. The primary impact of adoption of ASU 2016-09 was the recognition of excess tax benefits in our provision for income taxes.
Additionally, we recognized net operating losses related to excess share-based compensation tax return deductions that were previously tracked off balance sheet but not recorded in our financial statements. As of January 1, 2016, $293,896, net of a $1,946 reserve for an uncertain tax position, was recorded as an increase to our Deferred tax assets and decrease to our Accumulated deficit in our consolidated balance sheets as a result of the cumulative effect of this change in accounting principle.
Additional amendments to this ASU related to income taxes and minimum statutory withholding tax requirements had no impact to Accumulated deficit, where the cumulative effect of these changes are required to be recorded. Further, there was no impact to our classification of awards as either equity or liabilities. We also elected to true-up forfeitures in the period of adoption and now recognize forfeitures as they occur. This ASU also required excess tax benefits to be separated from other income tax cash flows and classified as an operating activity, however, prior to adoption, there was no impact to the consolidated statement of cash flows as we have not had any excess tax benefits (windfalls) recorded for book purposes. The presentation requirements for cash flows related to employee taxes paid for withheld shares had no impact to any of the periods presented in our consolidated statement of cash flows as such cash flows have historically been presented as a financing activity.
In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350). This ASU eliminates Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Under the new guidance, entities should perform its annual or interim goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount and recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value. Additionally, this ASU eliminates the requirements for any reporting unit with a zero or negative carrying amount to perform a qualitative assessment and, if it fails that qualitative test, to perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test. The amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years, and is applied on a prospective basis. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017. We elected to early adopt ASU 2017-04 in the fourth quarter of 2017, which did not have an impact on our consolidated financial statements. Refer to Note 8 for information on this adoption.
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). This ASU is a comprehensive new revenue recognition model that requires a company to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to a customer at an amount that reflects the consideration it expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. This ASU also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments and assets recognized from costs incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14 which amended the effective date of this ASU to fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and early adoption was permitted only for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. In 2016, the FASB issued additional guidance which clarified principal versus agent considerations, identification of performance obligations and the implementation guidance for licensing. In addition, the FASB issued guidance regarding practical expedients related to disclosures of remaining performance obligations, as well as other amendments to the guidance on transition, collectibility, non-cash consideration and the presentation of sales and other similar taxes. The two permitted transition methods under the new standard are the full retrospective method, in which case the standard would be applied to each prior reporting period presented, or the modified retrospective method, in which case the cumulative effect of applying the standard would be recognized at the date of initial application. We will adopt this ASU under the modified retrospective method.
We have completed our evaluation of the impact this ASU will have on our revenue streams. Based on our assessment of the impact of adopting this ASU on January 1, 2018, the most significant impact of the ASU relates to the reclassification of approximately $90,000 of Subscriber revenue to offset Revenue share and royalties and certain subsidy payments made to automakers associated with a paid promotional subscription and the impact of the timing of recognition of activation revenues.
The adoption will not have a significant impact to our Net income. Within our consolidated balance sheets, upon adoption, the amount of revenue share associated with a paid promotional subscription to an automaker will be classified as a liability separate from deferred revenue. We expect the adjustment to our opening balance of Accumulated deficit to be approximately $19,000, net of tax, upon adoption.
We have implemented the necessary changes to our business processes, systems and controls to support recognition and disclosure of this ASU upon adoption on January 1, 2018.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). This ASU requires a company to recognize lease assets and liabilities arising from operating leases in the statement of financial position. This ASU does not significantly change the previous lease guidance for how a lessee should recognize the recognition, measurement, and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease. Additionally, the criteria for classifying a finance lease versus an operating lease are substantially the same as the previous guidance. The amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years, and early adoption is permitted. This ASU must be adopted using a modified retrospective approach. We plan to adopt this ASU on January 1, 2019. We are in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption of this ASU on our consolidated financial statements. We currently believe that the most significant changes will be related to the recognition of right-of-use assets and lease liability on our consolidated balance sheets for operating leases.
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| Fair Value Measurements |
Investments are periodically reviewed for impairment and an impairment is recorded whenever declines in fair value below carrying value are determined to be other than temporary. In making this determination, we consider, among other factors, the severity and duration of the decline as well as the likelihood of a recovery within a reasonable timeframe. |
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| Earnings per Share |
Basic net income per common share is calculated by dividing the income available to common stockholders by the weighted average common shares outstanding during each reporting period. Diluted net income per common share adjusts the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the potential dilution that could occur if common stock equivalents (stock options and restricted stock units) were exercised or converted into common stock, calculated using the treasury stock method. |
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| Receivables, net |
Receivables, net, includes customer accounts receivable, receivables from distributors and other receivables.
Customer accounts receivable, net, includes receivables from our subscribers and other customers, including advertising, and is stated at amounts due, net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. Our allowance for doubtful accounts is based upon our assessment of various factors. We consider historical experience, the age of the receivable balances, current economic conditions and other factors that may affect the counterparty’s ability to pay. Bad debt expense is included in Customer service and billing expense in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income.
Receivables from distributors primarily include billed and unbilled amounts due from OEMs for services included in the sale or lease price of vehicles, as well as billed amounts due from wholesale distributors of our satellite radios. Other receivables primarily include amounts due from manufacturers of our radios, modules and chipsets where we are entitled to subsidies and royalties based on the number of units produced. We have not established an allowance for doubtful accounts for our receivables from distributors or other receivables as we have historically not experienced any significant collection issues with OEMs or other third parties.
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| Inventory, net |
Inventory consists of finished goods, refurbished goods, chipsets and other raw material components used in manufacturing radios and connected vehicle devices. Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or market. We record an estimated allowance for inventory that is considered slow moving or obsolete or whose carrying value is in excess of net realizable value. The provision related to products purchased for resale in our direct to consumer distribution channel and components held for resale by us is reported as a component of Cost of equipment in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income. The provision related to inventory consumed in our OEM channel is reported as a component of Subscriber acquisition costs in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income. |
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| Goodwill |
Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair value of the net tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired in business combinations. Our annual impairment assessment of our single reporting unit is performed as of the fourth quarter of each year, and an assessment is performed at other times if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. We adopted ASU 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350), during the fourth quarter of 2017. ASC 350 states that an entity should perform its annual or interim goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount and recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value. Under the updated guidance, the requirements for any reporting unit with a zero or negative carrying amount to perform a qualitative assessment is eliminated.
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| Indefinite Life Intangible Assets |
ASC 350-30-35, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other, provides for an option to first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that an asset is impaired. If the qualitative assessment supports that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the asset exceeds its carrying value, a quantitative impairment test is not required. If the qualitative assessment does not support the fair value of the asset, then a quantitative assessment is performed. Our annual impairment assessment of our identifiable indefinite lived intangible assets is performed as of the fourth quarter of each year. An assessment is performed at other times if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of the asset below its carrying value. If the carrying value of the intangible assets exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess.
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| Definite Life Intangible Assets |
Definite-lived intangible assets are amortized over their respective estimated useful lives to their estimated residual values, in a pattern that reflects when the economic benefits will be consumed, and are reviewed for impairment under the provisions of ASC 360-10-35, Property, Plant and Equipment/Overall/Subsequent Measurement. We review intangible assets subject to amortization for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If the sum of the expected cash flows, undiscounted and without interest, is less than the carrying amount of the asset, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its fair value.
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| Property and Equipment |
Property and equipment, including satellites, are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Equipment under capital leases is stated at the present value of minimum lease payments. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful life of the asset:
We review long-lived assets, such as property and equipment, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds the estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized in an amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the fair value of the asset.
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| Equity Method Investments |
Sirius XM Canada is accounted for as an equity method investment, and its results are not consolidated in our consolidated financial statements. Sirius XM Canada does not meet the requirements for consolidation as we do not have the ability to direct the most significant activities that impact Sirius XM Canada's economic performance.
The difference between our investment and our share of the fair value of the underlying net assets of Sirius XM Canada is first allocated to either finite-lived intangibles or indefinite-lived intangibles and the balance is attributed to goodwill. We follow ASC 350, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other, which requires that equity method finite-lived intangibles be amortized over their estimated useful life while indefinite-lived intangibles and goodwill are not amortized. The amortization of equity method finite-lived intangible assets is recorded in Other income in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income. We periodically evaluate our equity method investments to determine if there has been an other-than temporary decline in fair value below carrying value. Equity method finite-lived intangibles, indefinite-lived intangibles and goodwill are included in the carrying amount of the investment.
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| Benefit Plans |
We account for equity instruments granted to employees in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation. ASC 718 requires all share-based compensation payments to be recognized in the financial statements based on fair value. Upon adoption of ASU 2016-09 as of January 1, 2016 we recorded actual forfeitures and no longer estimate forfeitures. For the year ended December 31, 2015, we estimated forfeitures at the time of the grant. We use the Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing model to value stock option awards and have elected to treat awards with graded vesting as a single award. Share-based compensation expense is recognized ratably over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period. We measure restricted stock awards and units using the fair market value of the restricted shares of common stock on the day the award is granted. Stock-based awards granted to employees, non-employees and members of our board of directors include stock options, stock awards and restricted stock units. We apply variable accounting to our non-employee stock-based awards, whereby we remeasure the value of such awards at each balance sheet date.
Fair value as determined using the Black-Scholes-Merton model varies based on assumptions used for the expected life, expected stock price volatility, expected dividend yield and risk-free interest rates. For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, we estimated the fair value of awards granted using the hybrid approach for volatility, which weights observable historical volatility and implied volatility of qualifying actively traded options on our common stock. The expected life assumption represents the weighted-average period stock-based awards are expected to remain outstanding. These expected life assumptions are established through a review of historical exercise behavior of stock-based award grants with similar vesting periods. Where historical patterns do not exist, contractual terms are used. Dividend yield is based on the current expected annual dividend per share and our stock price. The risk-free interest rate represents the daily treasury yield curve rate at the grant date based on the closing market bid yields on actively traded U.S. treasury securities in the over-the-counter market for the expected term. Our assumptions may change in future periods.
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| Legal Reserves |
We record a liability when we believe that it is both probable that a liability will be incurred, and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. We evaluate developments in legal matters that could affect the amount of liability that has been previously accrued and make adjustments as appropriate. Significant judgment is required to determine both probability and the estimated amount of a loss or potential loss. We may be unable to reasonably estimate the reasonably possible loss or range of loss for a particular legal contingency for various reasons, including, among others, because: (i) the damages sought are indeterminate; (ii) the proceedings are in the relative early stages; (iii) there is uncertainty as to the outcome of pending proceedings (including motions and appeals); (iv) there is uncertainty as to the likelihood of settlement and the outcome of any negotiations with respect thereto; (v) there remain significant factual issues to be determined or resolved; (vi) the relevant law is unsettled; or (vii) the proceedings involve novel or untested legal theories. In such instances, there may be considerable uncertainty regarding the ultimate resolution of such matters, including a possible eventual loss, if any. |
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| Income Taxes |
Deferred income taxes are recognized for the tax consequences related to temporary differences between the carrying amount of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for tax purposes at each year-end, based on enacted tax laws and statutory tax rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences can be carried forward under tax law. Our evaluation of the realizability of deferred tax assets considers both positive and negative evidence, including historical financial performance, scheduled reversal of deferred tax assets and liabilities, projected taxable income and tax planning strategies. The weight given to the potential effects of positive and negative evidence is based on the extent to which it can be objectively verified. A valuation allowance is recognized when, based on the weight of all available evidence, it is considered more likely than not that all, or some portion, of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
ASC 740, Income Taxes, requires a company to first determine whether it is more likely than not that a tax position will be sustained based on its technical merits as of the reporting date, assuming that taxing authorities will examine the position and have full knowledge of all relevant information. A tax position that meets this more likely than not threshold is then measured and recognized at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely to be realized upon effective settlement with a taxing authority. If the tax position is not more likely than not to be sustained, the gross amount of the unrecognized tax position will not be recorded in the financial statements but will be shown in tabular format within the uncertain income tax positions. Changes in recognition or measurement are reflected in the period in which the change in judgment occurs due to the following conditions: (1) the tax position is “more likely than not” to be sustained, (2) the tax position, amount, and/or timing is ultimately settled through negotiation or litigation, or (3) the statute of limitations for the tax position has expired. A number of years may elapse before an uncertain tax position is effectively settled or until there is a lapse in the applicable statute of limitations. We record interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in Income tax expense in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income.
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