Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Property and Equipment

v3.10.0.1
Property and Equipment
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]  
Property and Equipment
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:
Satellite system
15 years
Terrestrial repeater network
5 - 15 years
Broadcast studio equipment
3 - 15 years
Capitalized software and hardware
2 - 7 years
Satellite telemetry, tracking and control facilities
3 - 15 years
Furniture, fixtures, equipment and other
2 - 7 years
Building
20 or 30 years
Leasehold improvements
Lesser of useful life or remaining lease term
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. We did not record any impairments during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016.
Property and equipment, net, consists of the following:
 
December 31, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
Satellite system
$
1,586,794

 
$
1,586,794

Terrestrial repeater network
98,093

 
123,254

Leasehold improvements
58,447

 
57,635

Broadcast studio equipment
111,031

 
96,582

Capitalized software and hardware
824,345

 
639,516

Satellite telemetry, tracking and control facilities
75,837

 
69,147

Furniture, fixtures, equipment and other
97,078

 
96,965

Land
38,411

 
38,411

Building
62,649

 
61,824

Construction in progress
411,503

 
301,153

Total property and equipment
3,364,188

 
3,071,281

Accumulated depreciation and amortization
(1,851,323
)
 
(1,608,515
)
Property and equipment, net
$
1,512,865

 
$
1,462,766


Construction in progress consists of the following:
 
December 31, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
Satellite system
$
296,281

 
$
183,243

Terrestrial repeater network
4,388

 
2,515

Capitalized software and hardware
76,980

 
94,456

Other
33,854

 
20,939

Construction in progress
$
411,503

 
$
301,153


Depreciation and amortization expense on property and equipment was $277,535, $261,147, and $220,434 for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.  We retired property and equipment of $35,122, $78,559 and $843,129 during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively, which included approximately $801,206 related to satellites during 2016. We recognized a loss on disposal of assets of $12,912, which was recorded in Satellite and transmission expense in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income, during the year ended December 31, 2016, which related to the disposal of certain obsolete spare parts for a future satellite.
We capitalize a portion of the interest on funds borrowed to finance the construction and launch of our satellites. Capitalized interest is recorded as part of the asset’s cost and depreciated over the satellite’s useful life. Capitalized interest costs were $11,864, $4,948 and $419 for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively, which related to the construction of our SXM-7 and SXM-8 satellites.
Satellites
As of December 31, 2018, we owned a fleet of five satellites.  The chart below provides certain information on our satellites as of December 31, 2018:
Satellite Description
 
Year Delivered
 
Estimated End of
Depreciable Life
SIRIUS FM-5
 
2009
 
2024
SIRIUS FM-6
 
2013
 
2028
XM-3
 
2005
 
2020
XM-4
 
2006
 
2021
XM-5
 
2010
 
2025

Each satellite requires an FCC license and prior to the expiration of each license, we are required to apply for a renewal of the FCC satellite licenses.  The renewal and extension of our licenses is reasonably certain at minimal cost, which is expensed as incurred.
The following table outlines the years in which each of our satellite licenses expires:
FCC satellite licenses
 
Expiration year
SIRIUS FM-5
 
2025
SIRIUS FM-6
 
2022
XM-3
 
2021
XM-4
 
2022
XM-5
 
2026