Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Business & Basis of Presentation

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Business & Basis of Presentation
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Business & Basis of Presentation
Business & Basis of Presentation
This Annual Report on Form 10-K presents information for Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (“Holdings”).  The terms “Holdings,” “we,” “us,” “our,” and “our company” as used herein and unless otherwise stated or indicated by context, refer to Sirius XM Holdings Inc. and its subsidiaries, and “Sirius XM” refers to our wholly-owned subsidiary Sirius XM Radio Inc. Holdings has no operations independent of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Sirius XM.
Business
We transmit music, sports, entertainment, comedy, talk, news, traffic and weather channels, as well as infotainment services, in the United States on a subscription fee basis through our two proprietary satellite radio systems.  Subscribers can also receive music and other channels, plus features such as SiriusXM On Demand, over our Internet radio service, including through applications for mobile devices, home devices and other consumer electronic equipment.  We also provide connected vehicle services.  Our connected vehicle services are designed to enhance the safety, security and driving experience for vehicle operators while providing marketing and operational benefits to automakers and their dealers.
We have agreements with every major automaker (“OEMs”) to offer satellite radio in their vehicles, through which we acquire the majority of our subscribers. We also acquire subscribers through marketing to owners and lessees of previously owned vehicles that include factory-installed satellite radios that are not currently subscribing to our services. Our satellite radios are primarily distributed through automakers, retailers, and our website. Satellite radio services are also offered to customers of certain rental car companies.
Our primary source of revenue is subscription fees, with most of our customers subscribing to annual, semi-annual, quarterly or monthly plans.  We offer discounts for prepaid, longer-term subscription plans, as well as a multiple subscription discount.  We also derive revenue from activation and other fees, the sale of advertising on select non-music channels, the direct sale of satellite radios and accessories, and other ancillary services, such as our weather, traffic and data services.
In certain cases, a subscription to our radio services is included in the sale or lease price of new or previously owned vehicles. The length of these subscriptions varies but is typically three to twelve months.  We receive payments for these subscriptions from certain automakers.  We also reimburse various automakers for certain costs associated with satellite radios installed in new vehicles and pay revenue share to various automakers.
During the year ended December 31, 2017, we entered into several strategic transactions:
On April 18, 2017, Sirius XM acquired Automatic Labs Inc. (“Automatic”). Refer to Note 2 for information on this transaction.
On May 25, 2017, Sirius XM completed a recapitalization of Sirius XM Canada Holdings Inc. (“Sirius XM Canada”). Refer to Note 11 for information on this transaction.
On September 22, 2017, Sirius XM completed a $480,000 investment in Pandora Media, Inc. (“Pandora”). Refer to Note 11 for information on this transaction.
As of December 31, 2017, Liberty Media Corporation (“Liberty Media”) beneficially owned, directly and indirectly, approximately 70% of the outstanding shares of our common stock.  As a result, we are a “controlled company” for the purposes of the NASDAQ corporate governance requirements.
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.
We have evaluated events subsequent to the balance sheet date and prior to the filing of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and have determined that no events have occurred that would require adjustment to our consolidated financial statements.  For a discussion of subsequent events that do not require adjustment to our consolidated financial statements refer to Note 17.
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.