Vivendi S.A. – Annual report – 31 December 2020
Industry: film and television
Note 1 Accounting policies and valuation methods (extract)
1.3.5 Assets (extract)
1.3.5.3 Content assets (extract)
Canal+ Group
Film, television or sports broadcasting rights
When entering into contracts for the acquisition of film, television or sports broadcasting rights, the rights acquired are classified as contractual commitments. They are recorded in the Statement of Financial Position and classified as content assets as follows:
- film and television broadcasting rights are recognized at their acquisition cost when the program is available for screening and are expensed over their broadcasting period;
- sports broadcasting rights are recognized at their acquisition cost at the opening of the broadcasting period of the related sports season or upon the first significant payment and are expensed over their broadcasting period; and
- expensing of film, television or sports broadcasting rights is included in cost of revenues.
Theatrical films and television rights produced or acquired to be sold to third parties
Theatrical films and television rights produced or acquired before their initial exhibition to be sold to third parties, are recorded as a content asset at capitalized cost (mainly direct production and overhead costs) or at their acquisition cost. The cost of theatrical films and television rights are amortized, and other related costs are expensed, pursuant to the estimated revenue method (i.e., based on the ratio of the current period’s gross revenues to estimated total gross revenues from all sources on an individual production basis). Vivendi considers that amortization pursuant to the estimated revenue method reflects the rate at which the entity plans to consume the future economic benefits related to the asset, and there is a high correlation between revenue and the consumption of the economic benefits embodied in the intangible assets.
Where appropriate, estimated losses in value are provided in full against earnings for the period in which the losses are estimated, on an individual product basis.
Film and television rights catalogs
Catalogs comprise film rights acquired for a second television screening, or produced or acquired film and television rights that are sold to third parties after their first television screening (i.e., after their first broadcast on a free terrestrial channel). They are recognized as an asset at their acquisition or transfer cost and amortized as groups of films, or individually, based respectively on the estimated revenue method.
Accounts examples 