Basis of Presentation and Description of Business |
12 Months Ended | ||||
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| Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract] | |||||
| Basis of Presentation and Description of Business |
Starz, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Starz, LLC, provides premium subscription video programming to United States (“U.S.”) multichannel video programming distributors (“MVPDs”), including cable operators, satellite television providers and telecommunications companies, and online video providers (collectively, “Distributors”). Starz also develops, produces and acquires entertainment content and distributes this content to consumers in the U.S. and throughout the world.
Business
Starz’s business operations are conducted by its wholly-owned subsidiaries Starz, LLC, Starz Entertainment, LLC (“Starz Entertainment”), Starz Media Group, LLC (“Starz Media”) and certain other immaterial subsidiaries. In October 2015, Starz, LLC acquired the 25% interest in Starz Media which had previously been owned by The Weinstein Company LLC (“Weinstein”). In October 2015, Starz, LLC sold 100% of its wholly-owned subsidiary Film Roman, LLC (“Film Roman”), which made up 100% of the Starz Animation operating segment. Following the sale of Film Roman, Starz manages its operations through its Starz Networks and Starz Distribution operating segments.
Starz Networks
Starz Networks’ flagship premium networks are STARZ and ENCORE. STARZ exhibits first-run hit movies and original series. ENCORE airs first-run movies, classic contemporary movies and original series. Starz Networks’ third network, MOVIEPLEX, offers a variety of art house, independent films and classic movie library content. STARZ and ENCORE, along with MOVIEPLEX, air across 17 linear networks complemented by on-demand and online services. Starz Networks’ premium networks are offered by Distributors to their subscribers either on a fixed monthly price as part of a programming tier or package or on an a la carte basis.
Starz Distribution
Starz Distribution includes the Anchor Bay Entertainment, Starz Digital and Starz Worldwide Distribution businesses.
Anchor Bay Entertainment
Anchor Bay Entertainment is the global home video sales arm of Starz and distributes DVDs (standard definition and Blu-ray™) under the ANCHOR BAY brand, in the U.S., Canada and other international territories to the extent it has home entertainment rights to such content in international territories. Anchor Bay Entertainment acquires and licenses various titles from third parties and also develops and produces certain of its content. Certain of the titles acquired by Anchor Bay Entertainment air on Starz Networks’ STARZ and ENCORE networks. Anchor Bay Entertainment also distributes Starz Networks’ original series and Weinstein’s titles. Each of these titles are sold to and distributed by regional and national retailers and other companies, including Amazon, Best Buy, Ingram Entertainment, Netflix, Redbox, Target and Wal-Mart.
Starz Digital
Starz Digital is the global digital and on-demand licensing arm of Starz and distributes content on pay-per-view, video-on-demand, subscription video-on-demand (“SVOD”), ad-supported video-on-demand (“AVOD”), electronic sell-through and other digital formats for Starz’s owned content, including Starz Networks’ original series, Weinstein’s titles and content licensed from third-parties in the U.S. and throughout the world to the extent it has rights to such content in international territories. Certain of the titles acquired by Starz Digital air on Starz Networks’ STARZ and ENCORE networks. Starz Digital receives fees for its content from a wide array of partners ranging from traditional MVPDs to online and mobile distributors.
Starz Worldwide Distribution
Starz Worldwide Distribution is the global television licensing arm of Starz and distributes movies, television series, documentaries, children’s programming and other video content. Starz Worldwide Distribution exploits Starz’s owned content, including Starz Networks’ original series, and content for which it has licensed rights on free or pay television in the U.S. and throughout the world to the extent it has rights to such content in international territories. Starz Worldwide Distribution receives fees for its content primarily from various U.S. and international programming networks.
LMC Spin-Off
In January 2013, Starz (formerly known as Liberty Media Corporation (“Old LMC”)) completed the spin off (the “LMC Spin-Off”) of its wholly-owned subsidiary Liberty Media Corporation (formerly known as Liberty Spinco, Inc. (“Liberty Media”)). Following the LMC Spin-Off, Starz retained the businesses of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Starz, LLC, and all other businesses, assets and liabilities of Old LMC were included in Liberty Media. As a result, Liberty Media became a separate public company on January 11, 2013.
In accordance with U. S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), Liberty Media was determined to be the accounting successor to Old LMC for financial reporting purposes following the LMC Spin-Off. Accordingly, Starz’s historical financial information is deemed to be the financial information of Starz, LLC. As Starz’s common stock did not begin publicly trading until January 14, 2013 (following the LMC Spin-Off), Starz’s statement of equity as of December 31, 2012 does not reflect common stock and additional paid in capital, but shows member’s interest, identical to that of Starz, LLC.
On January 10, 2013, in connection with the LMC Spin-Off, Starz, LLC distributed $1.2 billion in cash to Old LMC which was funded by a combination of cash on hand and borrowings under Starz, LLC’s 2011 Credit Agreement (as defined in Note 5). Additionally, in connection with the LMC Spin-Off, Starz, LLC distributed its Englewood, Colorado corporate office building and related building improvements at its net book value of $45.7 million to Old LMC and then leased back the use of such facilities from a subsidiary of Old LMC. Following the LMC Spin-Off, Liberty Media and Starz operate independently, and neither have any stock ownership, beneficial or otherwise, in the other. In addition, in connection with the LMC Spin-Off, state net operating losses, foreign tax credit carryforwards and other tax attributes of $11.5 million were allocated to Starz.
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