Form 10-K
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

 

FORM 10-K

ANNUAL REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

 

(Mark One)

 

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012

or

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from             to             

Commission file number 001-32352

 

 

NEWS CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

 

Delaware   26-0075658

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

  (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

1211 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York   10036
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (212) 852-7000

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of Each Class

 

Name of Each Exchange On Which Registered

Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

  The NASDAQ Global Select Market

Class B Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

  The NASDAQ Global Select Market

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

(Title of class)

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.    Yes  ¨    No  x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by a check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer  x             Accelerated filer  ¨            Non-accelerated filer  ¨            Smaller reporting company  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).    Yes  ¨    No  x

As of December 30, 2011, which was the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, the aggregate market value of News Corporation’s Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, held by non-affiliates was approximately $29,789,221,367, based upon the closing price of $17.84 per share as quoted on the NASDAQ Stock Market on that date, and the aggregate market value of News Corporation’s Class B Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, held by non-affiliates was approximately $8,745,888,596, based upon the closing price of $18.18 per share as quoted on the NASDAQ Stock Market on that date.

As of August 6, 2012, 1,568,816,267 shares of Class A Common Stock and 798,520,953 shares of Class B Common Stock were outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Certain information required for Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K is incorporated by reference to the News Corporation definitive Proxy Statement for its 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which shall be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, within 120 days of News Corporation’s fiscal year end.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  

PART I

     

Item 1.

  

Business

     1   

Item 1A.

  

Risk Factors

     30   

Item 1B.

  

Unresolved Staff Comments

     35   

Item 2.

  

Properties

     35   

Item 3.

  

Legal Proceedings

     37   

Item 4.

  

Mine Safety Disclosures

     42   

PART II

     

Item 5.

  

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

     43   

Item 6.

  

Selected Financial Data

     45   

Item 7.

  

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

     47   

Item 7A.

  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

     79   

Item 8.

  

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

     81   

Item 9.

  

Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

     167   

Item 9A.

  

Controls and Procedures

     167   

Item 9B.

  

Other Information

     167   

PART III

     

Item 10.

  

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

     168   

Item 11.

  

Executive Compensation

     168   

Item 12.

  

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholders Matters

     169   

Item 13.

  

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

     169   

Item 14.

  

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

     169   

PART IV

     

Item 15.

  

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

     170   
  

Signatures

     171   


Table of Contents

PART I

 

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

Background

News Corporation, a Delaware corporation, is a diversified global media company with operations in the following six industry segments: (i) Cable Network Programming; (ii) Filmed Entertainment; (iii) Television; (iv) Direct Broadcast Satellite Television; (v) Publishing; and (vi) Other. The activities of News Corporation are conducted principally in the United States, the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, Australia, Asia and Latin America. For financial information regarding News Corporation’s segments and operations in geographic areas, see “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.” Unless otherwise indicated, references in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012 (the “Annual Report”) to “we,” “us,” “our,” “News Corporation” or the “Company” means News Corporation and its subsidiaries.

In June 2012, the Company announced that it intends to pursue the separation of its publishing and its media and entertainment businesses into two distinct publicly traded companies. The global media and entertainment company would consist of the Company’s cable and television assets, filmed entertainment, and direct satellite broadcasting businesses. The global publishing company that would be created through the proposed transaction would consist of the Company’s current publishing businesses as well as its education division. Following the separation, each company would maintain two classes of common stock: Class A Common and Class B Common Voting Shares. The separation is expected to be completed in approximately one year. In addition to final approval from the Board of Directors and stockholder approval, the completion of the separation will be subject to receipt of regulatory approvals, opinions from tax counsel and favorable rulings from certain tax jurisdictions regarding the tax-free nature of the transaction to the Company and to its stockholders, further due diligence as appropriate, and the filing and effectiveness of appropriate filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). See “Item 1A. Risk Factors” for certain risk factors relating to the proposed separation transaction.

In July 2011, the Company announced that it would close its publication, The News of the World, after allegations of phone hacking and payments to public officials. The Company is subject to several ongoing investigations by U.K. and U.S. regulators and governmental authorities, including investigations into whether similar conduct may have occurred at the Company’s subsidiaries outside of the U.K. The Company is fully cooperating with these investigations. In addition, the Company has admitted liability in a number of civil cases related to the phone hacking allegations and has settled a number of cases. The Company has taken steps to solve the problems relating to The News of the World including the creation of an independently-chaired Management & Standards Committee (the “MSC”), which operates independently from NI Group Limited (“News International”) and has full authority to ensure complete cooperation with all relevant investigations and inquiries into The News of the World matters and all other related issues across News International. The MSC conducts its own internal investigation where appropriate. The MSC has an independent Chairman, Lord Grabiner QC, and reports directly to Gerson Zweifach, Senior Executive Vice President and Group General Counsel of the Company. Mr. Zweifach reports to the independent members of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) through their representative Viet Dinh, an independent director and Chairman of the Company’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The independent directors of the Board have retained independent outside counsel and are actively engaged in these matters. The MSC conducted an internal investigation of the three other titles at News International and engaged independent outside counsel to advise it on these investigations and all other matters it handles. News International has instituted governance reforms and issued certain enhanced policies to its employees. The Company has also engaged independent outside counsel to assist it in responding to U.S. governmental inquiries.

In June 2010, the Company announced that it had proposed to the board of directors of British Sky Broadcasting Group plc (“BSkyB”), in which the Company currently has an approximate 39% interest, to make a

 

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cash offer of 700 pence per share for the BSkyB shares that the Company does not already own. Following the allegations regarding The News of the World, on July 13, 2011, the Company announced that it no longer intended to make an offer for the BSkyB shares that the Company does not already own. As a result of the July 2011 announcement, the Company paid BSkyB a breakup fee of approximately $63 million in accordance with a cooperation agreement between the parties.

The Company maintains a 52-53 week fiscal year ending on the Sunday nearest to June 30 in each year. Through its predecessor, the Company was incorporated in 1979 under the Company Act 1961 of South Australia, Australia. At June 30, 2012, the Company had approximately 48,000 full-time employees. The Company’s principal executive offices are located at 1211 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036 and its telephone number is (212) 852-7000. The Company’s website is www.newscorp.com. The Company’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), are available, free of charge, through the Company’s website as soon as reasonably practicable after the material is electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC. Such reports may also be obtained without charge from the Company, and paper copies of any exhibits to such reports are also available for a reasonable fee per page charge to the requesting stockholder. Any materials that the Company filed with the SEC also may be read and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC (http://www.sec.gov).

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This document and the documents incorporated by reference into this Annual Report, including “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” contain statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Exchange Act and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The words “expect,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “predict,” “believe” and similar expressions and variations thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements appear in a number of places and include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company, its directors or its officers with respect to, among other things, trends affecting the Company’s financial condition or results of operations and the outcome of contingencies such as litigation and investigations. Readers are cautioned that any forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties. More information regarding these risks, uncertainties and other factors is set forth under the heading “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in this Annual Report. The Company does not ordinarily make projections of its future operating results and undertakes no obligation (and expressly disclaims any obligation) to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Readers should carefully review this document and the other documents filed by the Company with the SEC. This section should be read together with the Consolidated Financial Statements of News Corporation and related notes set forth elsewhere in this Annual Report.

BUSINESS OVERVIEW

The Company is a diversified global media company, which manages and reports its businesses in the six segments described below.

Cable Network Programming

The Company produces and licenses news, business news, sports, general entertainment and movie programming for distribution primarily through cable television systems and direct broadcast satellite operators in the United States and internationally.

 

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FOX News. FOX News owns and operates the FOX News Channel, the top rated 24/7 all news national cable channel currently available to approximately 98 million U.S. households according to Nielsen Media Research, as well as the FOX Business Network which is currently available in over 68 million U.S. households.

FOX News also produces a weekend political commentary show, FOX News Sunday, for broadcast on local FOX television stations throughout the United States. FOX News, through its FOX News Edge service, licenses news feeds to FOX Affiliates and other subscribers to use as part of local news broadcasts throughout the United States and abroad. FOX News also produces and runs the websites, FOXNews.com and FOXBusiness.com, and owns and produces the national FOX News Radio Network, which licenses news updates, long form programs and the FOX News Talk Channel to local radio stations and to satellite radio providers.

FSN. Fox Sports Net, Inc. (“FSN, Inc.”) is the largest regional sports network (“RSN”) programmer in the United States, focusing on live professional and major collegiate home team sports events. FSN, Inc.’s sports programming business currently consists primarily of ownership interests in 13 RSNs, including numerous sub-regional feeds (the “FSN RSNs”) and National Sports Programming, which operates FSN (“FSN”), a national sports programming service. FSN, Inc. also is affiliated with, through FSN, an additional four RSNs that are not owned by FSN, Inc. (the “FSN Affiliated RSNs”). FSN provides the FSN RSNs and the FSN Affiliated RSNs with national sports programming, featuring original and licensed sports-related programming, as well as live and replay sporting events. The FSN RSNs and the FSN Affiliated RSNs currently have approximately 67 million subscribers and have rights to telecast live games of 51 of 81 U.S. professional sports teams in Major League Baseball (“MLB”), the National Basketball Association and the National Hockey League; collegiate conferences; and numerous college and high school sports teams.

FX. Currently reaching close to 100 million U.S. households according to Nielsen Media Research, FX is a general entertainment network that telecasts a growing roster of original series, as well as acquired television series and motion pictures. FX’s lineup for the 2012-2013 season includes the critically acclaimed Sons of Anarchy (season five), Justified (season four) and American Horror Story (season two). Also included in the 2012-2013 season line-up are the eighth season of the comedy series It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, the fourth seasons of Archer and The League, the third season of Louie, the second season of Wilfred and the premiere season of Anger Management. Current syndicated series include Two and a Half Men and How I Met Your Mother. During the 2012-2013 season, FX will also showcase the television premieres of theatrical motion pictures, including Twilight New Moon, Twilight Eclipse, Iron Man II, Karate Kid, Grown Ups, True Grit, How to Train Your Dragon and X-Men: First Class. FX also recently acquired the telecast premiere rights to 2012’s number one movie The Avengers, as well as Prometheus, Watchmen, Men In Black 3, The Lorax, Taken 2, Madagascar 3, Act of Valor and Bourne Legacy, among others. The Company also produces and distributes FX HD, a 24-hour national programming service produced and distributed in high definition. In 2011, FX began airing Saturday college football games as part of the Fox Sports on FX package. FX is also airing The Ultimate Fighter, the weekly signature reality show of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (“UFC”), as well as an additional four to six live UFC events annually.

SPEED. Currently reaching more than 81 million households in the United States according to Nielsen Media Research, SPEED brings viewers season-long coverage of the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing (“NASCAR”) races, events and original programming (including exclusive coverage of the annual NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and NASCAR Hall of Fame ceremonies). In addition, SPEED delivers programming from other top racing series, such as Formula One, Grand American Road Racing, The 24 Hours of Le Mans, World of Outlaws, AMA Pro Racing, AMA Supercross, Monster Jam, World Superbike and MotoGP. In the spring of 2012, SPEED premiered the new enthusiast series, Hard Parts: South Bronx. SPEED also is distributed by Fox Latin America Channels to subscribers in Mexico, Canada and Latin America and by Premier Media Group in Australia. The Company also produces and distributes SPEED HD, a 24-hour national programming service produced and distributed in high definition. SPEED’s broadband network SPEED2 features live and on-demand streaming of over 200 hours of motorsports events and enthusiast programming online and is expected to reach more than 30 million households in 2012.

 

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FUEL TV. FUEL TV is a domestic 24-hour programming service dedicated to thrill seeking sports, as well as high energy entertainment programming, and the lifestyle surrounding it. FUEL TV covers both competitive and performance action in the arenas of UFC, surfing, BMX and freestyle motocross. Programming includes U.S. and international action sports events and competitions, as well as original series and specials about top action sports athletes and their music, art and culture from a global perspective.

Fox College Sports. Fox College Sports consists of three regionally-aligned networks, FCS Pacific, FCS Central and FCS Atlantic. Fox College Sports provides live and delayed collegiate events from the nation’s top collegiate conferences, coaches’ shows and collegiate highlight and magazine-format programming from the FSN RSNs across the country.

Fox Movie Channel. Beginning in January 2012, Fox Movie Channel split its programming into two day parts. From 3AM to 3PM, the network is branded as FMC and airs films from the historic library of Twentieth Century Fox, uncut and commercial free. From 3PM to 3AM, the network is branded as FXM and utilizes FX’s roster of box office blockbuster modern day films with revenue generated from advertising. Also featured throughout both day parts are documentaries and original series that explore the moviemaking process from script to screen.

Fox Soccer Channel. Fox Soccer Channel is an English-language programming service offering comprehensive coverage of world-class soccer. Top properties include the UEFA Champions League and European League, England’s Barclays Premier League, FA Cup, the CONCACAF Champions League and the CONCACAF Gold Cup, along with daily soccer news programs, magazine shows and in depth coverage on the world’s most popular sport. The Company also produces and distributes Fox Soccer Channel HD, a 24-hour national programming service produced and distributed in high definition.

Fox Soccer Plus. Launched in fiscal 2010, Fox Soccer Plus is a premium cable network showcasing nearly 700 exclusive live soccer and rugby competitions. Soccer events include matches from the UEFA Champions League, England’s Barclays Premier League, and FA Cup. Rugby coverage includes matches from the Heineken Cup, Aviva Premiership and RaboDirect Pro 12.

Big Ten Network. The Company owns an approximate 51% interest in the Big Ten Network, a 24-hour national programming service dedicated to the Big Ten Conference and Big Ten athletics, academics and related programming, and Big Ten Network HD, a 24-hour national programming service produced and distributed in HD.

National Geographic U.S. The Company holds an approximate 70% interest in NGC Network US LLC (“NGC Network”), which produces and distributes the National Geographic Channel and National Geographic Channel HD, Nat Geo Wild and Nat Geo Wild HD in the United States, with NGHT, LLC, a subsidiary of the National Geographic Society (“NGHT”), holding the remaining interest. National Geographic Channel and National Geographic Channel HD currently reach more than 84 million households in the United States and Nat Geo Wild and Nat Geo Wild HD reach more than 57 million subscribers in the United States according to Nielsen Media Research.

The National Geographic Channels air non-fiction and documentary programming on such topics as natural history, adventure, science, exploration and culture. The Nat Geo Wild channels air non-fiction and documentary programming featuring natural history. In July 2011, NGC Network launched Nat Geo Mundo, a Spanish-language national programming service airing non-fiction and documentary programming on topics similar to those featured on the National Geographic Channels.

Fox International Channels (“FIC”). FIC operates, develops and distributes primarily factual and general entertainment channels in various countries in Europe, Latin America, Africa and Asia, including the Fox Channel, Fox Life, FX, SPEED, Utilisima (which is also distributed in the United States), Fox Crime, NEXT,

 

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FOX Traveller, the Voyage Channel, FOX Sports, STAR World, STAR Movies (also known as Fox Movies Premium in certain countries) and Chinese language television programming targeted at Chinese-speaking audiences in Asia. These channels are distributed either in HD or in standard definition (“SD”) or in certain cases, in both HD and SD.

FIC also owns a 52.2% interest in NGC Network International LLC and NGC Network Latin America LLC (collectively “NGC International”), with NGHT holding a 26.8% interest and a subsidiary of BSkyB holding a 21% interest. NGC International produces and distributes the National Geographic Channel in various international markets. NGC International also produces and distributes the National Geographic Channel HD, the Nat Geo Adventure channel (in both HD and SD), the Nat Geo Wild channel (in both HD and SD) and the Nat Geo Music channel in international markets. The National Geographic Channel is currently shown in 37 languages and in approximately 173 countries internationally, including the United States.

FIC owns a 77.5% equity interest in LAPTV, a partnership that distributes nine premium pay television channels (Moviecity Premieres HD, Moviecity Premieres, Moviecity Action HD, Moviecity Action, Moviecity Family, Moviecity Hollywood HD, Moviecity Hollywood, Moviecity Classics and Moviecity Mundo and their multiplexes) and four basic television channels (The Film Zone HD, The Film Zone, Cinecanal and Cinecanal HD) in Latin America (excluding Brazil). Such channels primarily feature theatrical motion pictures of Twentieth Century Fox and three other studio partners in the English language with Spanish subtitles.

FIC also owns a majority equity interest in Elite Sports Limited, a company that owns and distributes BabyTV, a 24-hour channel dedicated to infants and toddlers under three years old to over 100 countries, including the United States.

In December 2011, the Company acquired the 67% equity interest in Fox Pan American Sports LLC (“FPAS”) that it did not already own for approximately $400 million. FPAS is an international sports programming and production entity, which owns and operates Fox Sports Latin America network, a Spanish and Portuguese-language sports network distributed to subscribers in certain Caribbean and Central and South American nations. Also as a result of this transaction, the Company now owns 100% of Fox Deportes, a Spanish-language sports programming service distributed in the United States. Fox Deportes (formerly known as Fox Sports en Español), has more than 2,100 hours of live and exclusive programming, including exclusive coverage of premiere soccer matches (such as Copa Santander Libertadores and Copa Bridgestone Sudamericana) and MLB, including All-Star, NLCS and World Series games. Fox Deportes reaches more than 20 million cable and satellite households in the United States, of which almost 6 million are U.S. Latino.

FIC owns a 50% interest in Mundofox Broadcasting, LLC, a joint venture with RCN MF Holdings, Inc., a Latin American television network and production company. In August 2012, the joint venture launched Mundofox, a new Spanish-language broadcast television network targeted at the U.S. Hispanic market. Mundofox will feature original news and entertainment content as well as access to sporting events and programming.

FIC also manages Channel [V] Thailand in which the Company owns a 49% interest. Channel [V] Thailand owns a Thai language music channel. FIC licenses its Channel [V] brand to a third party in Australia to operate a music channel.

In addition, FIC has a joint venture with CJ E&M (formerly CJ Media), a Korean media conglomerate for the distribution of the tvN channel, a 24-hour general entertainment channel featuring Korean content, such as original dramas, variety shows, reality and lifestyle programs.

STAR India. STAR India develops, produces and broadcasts 34 channels in eight languages, which are distributed primarily via satellite to local cable, internet protocol television (“IPTV”) and direct-to-home (“DTH”) operators for distribution throughout Asia, the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, North America and parts of Africa to their subscribers. STAR India’s primary sources of programming for its channels include

 

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original programming produced, commissioned or acquired by STAR India. STAR India also owns a Hindi film library comprised of approximately 1,286 titles, a South Indian languages film library comprised of approximately 2,544 titles, a Bengali film library comprised of approximately 41 titles, a Marathi film library comprised of approximately 129 titles, a Hindi television program library comprised of approximately 727 titles, a South Indian languages program library comprised of approximately 3,939 titles, a Bengali program library comprised of approximately 128 titles and a Marathi program library comprised of approximately 67 titles. STAR India’s channels include the flagship Hindi general entertainment channels STAR Plus and Life OK, the Hindi movie channels Star Gold and Movies OK, the English general entertainment channel Star World, the English movie channel Star Movies, the Bengali general entertainment channel STAR Jalsha, the Marathi general entertainment channel STAR Pravah and the South Indian languages general entertainment channels Asianet and Vijay TV.

In April 2012, STAR India acquired media rights to the BCCI Domestic and International Cricket Series in India for the period from 2012 to 2018.

In January 2009, the Company expanded into South India regional programming by forming Asianet Communications Limited, a joint venture with Asianet TV Holdings Private Limited to provide television services for South Indian audiences. The joint venture consists of the Company’s approximate 81% interest in the Tamil language channel Vijay and the Company’s approximate 75% interest in the Malayalam language channels Asianet and Asianet Plus, the Kannada language channel Suvarna and the Telugu language channel Sitara.

The Company also owns an approximate 26% stake in Balaji Telefilms Limited (“Balaji”), which is one of the largest television content production companies in India, the shares of which are listed on The Stock Exchange, Mumbai and the National Stock Exchange of India. Balaji currently produces serials broadcast on general entertainment channels in India.

The Company also holds an approximate 30% interest in Tata Sky Limited which owns and operates a DTH platform in India. The Company has a 50/50 joint venture, Star Den, with Den Networks Limited to perform channel placement services in India. In May 2011, Star Den entered into a 50/50 joint venture with Zee Turner Limited and Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (“ZEEL”) to distribute and market all channels owned by the Company and ZEEL, their respective affiliated channels and other third party channels in India, Nepal and Bhutan. The joint venture company, Media Pro Enterprises India Private Limited, commenced operations July 1, 2011.

Middle East. The Company has an approximate 19% interest in Rotana Holding FZ-LLC (“Rotana”), which operates a diversified film, television, audio, advertising and entertainment business across the Middle East and North Africa. The Company also has an approximate 33% interest in Moby Group Holdings Limited (“MGH”). MGH operates television, radio, production and other media businesses in Afghanistan and also broadcasts Farsi language general entertainment programming across the Middle East under the “Farsi1” and “Zemzemeh” brands.

ESPN STAR Sports. The Company owns a 50% interest in ESPN STAR Sports, with ESPN, Inc. owning the remainder. ESPN STAR Sports is the leading sports broadcaster in Asia and operates 25 channels in different languages. In June 2012, the Company entered into an agreement to acquire the remaining 50% interest in ESPN STAR Sports it did not already own. The acquisition is subject to regulatory clearances and other customary closing conditions.

Phoenix. The Company owns an approximate 18% interest in Phoenix, a company listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited. Phoenix owns and operates Chinese language general entertainment, movie and current affairs channels, all of which are targeted at Chinese audiences around the world and are primarily distributed on a free or an encrypted basis via pay television platforms in Asia and Europe and in the United States. Phoenix also operates a new media business which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and an outdoor advertising business.

 

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PT Visi Media Asia. The Company owns an approximate 6.7% interest in PT Visi Media Asia, a company which listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in November 2011. PT Visi Media Asia owns and operates television channels and an online news portal, all of which are targeted at audiences in Indonesia.

Competition

General. Cable network programming is a highly competitive business. Cable networks compete for distribution and, when distribution is obtained, for viewers and advertisers with free-to-air broadcast television, radio, print media, motion picture theaters, DVDs, Blu-ray high definition format discs (“Blu-rays”), Internet, wireless and portable viewing devices and other sources of information and entertainment. Important competitive factors include the prices charged for programming, the quantity, quality and variety of programming offered and the effectiveness of marketing efforts.

FOX News. FOX News Channel’s primary competition comes from the cable networks CNN, HLN (CNN’s Headline News), and MSNBC. Fox Business Network’s primary competition comes from the cable networks CNBC and Bloomberg Television. FOX News Channel and FOX Business Network also compete for viewers and advertisers within a broad spectrum of television networks, including other non-news cable networks and free-to-air broadcast television networks.

Sports programming operations. A number of basic and pay television programming services, such as ESPN and NBC Sports Network, as well as free-to-air stations and broadcast networks, provide programming that also targets the FSN RSNs’ audience. FSN is the leading programming service distributing a full range of sports programming on both a national and regional level. On a national level, FSN’s primary competitor is ESPN and, to a lesser extent, ESPN2, NBC Sports Network and CBS Sports Net. In regional markets, the FSN RSNs compete with other regional sports networks, including those operated by team owners, cable television systems, local broadcast television stations and other sports programming providers and distributors.

In addition, the FSN RSNs and FSN compete, to varying degrees, for sports programming rights. The FSN RSNs compete for local and regional rights with local broadcast television stations, other local and regional sports networks, including sports networks launched by team owners, and distribution outlets, such as cable television systems. FSN competes for national rights principally with a number of national cable services that specialize in or carry sports programming, including sports networks launched by the leagues and conferences, and television “superstations” that distribute sports. Independent syndicators also compete by acquiring and reselling such rights nationally, regionally and locally. Distribution outlets, such as cable television systems, sometimes contract directly with the sports teams in their service area for the right to distribute a number of those teams’ games on their systems. In certain markets, the owners of distribution outlets, such as cable television systems, also own one or more of the professional teams in the region, increasing their ability to launch competing networks and also limiting the professional sports rights available for acquisition by FSN RSNs.

FX. FX faces competition from a number of basic cable and pay television programming services, such as USA, TNT, Spike TV, Home Box Office, Inc. (“HBO”) and Showtime Networks Inc. (“Showtime”), as well as free-to-air broadcast networks that provide programming that targets the same viewing audience as FX. FX also faces competition from these programming services in the acquisition of distribution rights to movie and series programming.

National Geographic U.S. National Geographic Channel and Nat Geo Wild face competition for viewers and advertising from a number of basic cable and broadcast television channels, such as Discovery Channel, History Channel, Animal Planet, Travel Channel, Science Channel, History International, Military Channel, Biography and Tru TV, as well as free-to-air broadcast networks and sports, news and general entertainment networks which have acquired or produced competing programming.

International. Internationally, the Company’s cable businesses compete with various local and foreign television services providers and distribution networks for audiences, content acquisition and distribution platforms.

 

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STAR India. In India, the pay television broadcasting industry has several participants, and STAR India’s entertainment channels compete with both pay and free-to-air channels since they are delivered by common cable. STAR India also competes in India to acquire Hindi and other Indian languages film and programming rights, and internationally for English film and programming rights.

Filmed Entertainment

The Company is engaged in the production and acquisition of live-action and animated motion pictures for distribution and licensing in all formats in all entertainment media worldwide, and the production and licensing of television programming worldwide.

Feature Film Production and Distribution

One of the world’s largest producers and distributors of motion pictures, Fox Filmed Entertainment (“FFE”) produces, acquires and distributes motion pictures throughout the world under a variety of arrangements. During fiscal 2012, FFE placed 25 motion pictures in general release in the United States. The motion pictures of FFE are produced and/or distributed by the following units of FFE: Twentieth Century Fox and Fox 2000, which produce and acquire motion pictures for mainstream audiences; Fox Searchlight Pictures, which produces and acquires specialized motion pictures; and Twentieth Century Fox Animation, which produces feature length animated motion pictures. In addition, Fox International Productions, Inc. co-produces, co-finances and acquires local-language motion pictures for distribution outside the United States. The motion pictures produced and/or distributed by FFE in the United States and international territories in fiscal 2012 included Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked!, Chronicle, Titanic 3D, Prometheus, The Descendants and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. FFE has already released or currently plans to release approximately 25 motion pictures in the United States in fiscal 2013, including Ice Age: Continental Drift, The Watch, Taken 2, Life of Pi, Parental Guidance, A Good Day to Die Hard, Epic, Hitchcock and Trance.

Pursuant to an agreement with Monarchy Enterprises Holdings B.V. (“MEH”), the parent company of New Regency in which the Company has a 20% interest, and certain of MEH’s subsidiaries, FFE distributes certain New Regency films and all films co-financed by FFE and New Regency in all media worldwide, excluding a number of international territories with respect to television rights. Among its fiscal 2013 releases, FFE currently expects to distribute two New Regency films.

Motion picture companies, such as FFE, typically seek to generate revenues from various distribution channels. FFE derives its worldwide motion picture revenues primarily from four basic sources (set forth in general chronology of exploitation): (i) distribution of motion pictures for theatrical exhibition in the United States and Canada and markets outside of the United States and Canada (“international” markets); (ii) distribution of motion pictures in various home media formats, including electronic distribution; (iii) distribution of motion pictures for exhibition on premium pay, subscription video-on-demand, pay-per-view and video-on-demand programming services; and (iv) distribution of motion pictures for exhibition on free television networks, other broadcast program services, independent television stations and basic cable programming services, including certain services which are affiliates of the Company. The Company does not always have rights in all media of exhibition to all motion pictures that it releases, and does not necessarily distribute a given motion picture in all of the foregoing media in all markets.

The Company believes that the pre-release marketing of a feature film is an integral part of its motion picture distribution strategy and generally begins marketing efforts three to six months in advance of a film’s release date in any given territory. The Company markets and distributes its films worldwide principally through its own distribution and marketing companies.

Through Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment LLC, the Company distributes motion pictures and other programming produced by units of FFE, its affiliates and other producers in the United States, Canada and international markets in all home media formats, including the sale and rental of DVDs and Blu-rays. In fiscal

 

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2012, the domestic home entertainment division released or re-released approximately 1,162 produced and acquired titles, including 31 new FFE film releases, approximately 820 catalog titles and approximately 311 television and non-theatrical titles. In international markets, the Company distributed, produced and acquired titles both directly and through foreign distribution channels, with approximately 926 releases in fiscal 2012, including approximately 33 new FFE film releases, approximately 684 catalog titles and approximately 209 television and non-theatrical releases. In fiscal 2012, the Company continued its worldwide home video distribution arrangement with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (“MGM”), releasing approximately 995 MGM home entertainment theatrical, catalog and television programs domestically and 664 internationally. The Company also continued its domestic home video distribution arrangements with Lions Gate (U.S. only) and Anchor Bay Entertainment, LLC (“Anchor Bay”) (U.S. and Canada), releasing approximately 1,520 Lions Gate home entertainment theatrical, catalog and television programs and approximately 566 Anchor Bay home entertainment theatrical, catalog and television programs. During fiscal 2012, the domestic home entertainment division released 323 Blu-ray titles, including 24 new FFE film releases, 246 catalog titles and 53 television and non-theatrical releases. In international markets, the Company released 264 Blu-ray titles, including 27 new FFE film releases and 237 catalog titles. The Company also distributed 161 Blu-ray titles from MGM domestically and 102 titles internationally, 253 Blu-ray titles from Lions Gate domestically, and 149 Blu-ray titles from Anchor Bay domestically.

Units of FFE license motion pictures and other programs in the United States and international markets to various third party and certain affiliated subscription pay television, subscription video-on-demand, pay-per-view, video-on-demand and electronic sell-through services as well as to free television networks and basic cable programming services for distribution by means of various media, which may include direct broadcast satellite (“DBS”), cable television systems and the Internet. The license agreements reflecting the subscription pay television arrangements generally provide for a specified number of exhibitions of the program during a fixed term in exchange for a license fee that is based on a variety of factors, including the box office performance of each program and the number of subscribers to the service or system. Among third party license arrangements that units of FFE have in place in the United States for subscription pay television exhibition of motion pictures is an exclusive license agreement with HBO, providing for the licensing of films initially released for theatrical exhibition. Units of FFE also license programming to subscription video-on-demand services in the United States. Such licenses enable the consumer to view individual programming selected by the viewer for a subscription fee, typically on a monthly basis. The license agreements reflecting the pay-per-view and video-on-demand services generally provide for a license fee based on a percentage of the licensee’s gross receipts from the exhibition of the program, and in some cases, a guaranteed minimum fee. In addition, these agreements generally provide for a minimum number of scheduled pay-per-view exhibitions per program and for continuous video-on-demand availability of each program to consumers during a fixed period. Units of FFE license motion pictures and other programs to third parties for distribution for electronic sell-through which enables consumers to acquire the right to retain such programs on a permanent basis. In international markets, units of FFE license motion pictures and other programming to subscription pay television, subscription video-on-demand, pay-per-view, video-on-demand and electronic sell-through services operated by leading third parties, as well as to such services operated by various affiliated entities. In addition, units of FFE license motion pictures in international markets for exhibition on free television networks, including basic cable programming services, both to independent third party broadcasters as well as to services operated by affiliated entities of the Company.

Competition. Motion picture production and distribution are highly competitive businesses. The Company competes with other film studios, independent production companies and others for the acquisition of artistic properties, the services of creative and technical personnel, exhibition outlets and the public’s interest in its products. The number of motion pictures released by the Company’s competitors, particularly the other major film studios, in any given period may create an oversupply of product in the market, which may reduce the Company’s shares of gross box office admissions and may make it more difficult for the Company’s motion pictures to succeed. The commercial success of the motion pictures produced and/or distributed by the Company is affected substantially by the public’s unpredictable response to them. The competitive risks affecting the

 

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Company’s home entertainment business include the number of home entertainment titles released by the Company’s competitors that may create an oversupply of product in the market, competition among home media formats, such as DVDs and Blu-rays, and other methods of distribution, such as electronic sell-through and video-on-demand services.

The Company faces ongoing risks associated with controlling unauthorized copying and distribution of the Company’s programs. For a further discussion of issues relating to unauthorized copying and distribution of the Company’s programs, see “—Intellectual Property.”

Television Programming, Production and Distribution

Twentieth Century Fox Television (“TCFTV”). During fiscal 2012, TCFTV produced television programs for the FOX Broadcasting Company (“FOX”), FX Networks, LLC (“FX”), ABC Television Network (“ABC”), CBS Broadcasting, Inc. (“CBS”), NBC Television Network (“NBC”), Comedy Partners (“Comedy Central”), Showtime and A&E Network. TCFTV currently produces, or has orders to produce, episodes of the following television series: American Dad, Ben and Kate, Bob’s Burgers, Bones, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, Glee, The Goodwin Games, New Girl, Raising Hope, The Simpsons and Touch for FOX; Sons of Anarchy and American Horror Story for FX; Don’t Trust the B—in Apartment 23, How to Live With Your Parents for the Rest of Your Life, Last Man Standing and Modern Family for ABC; 1600 Penn and The New Normal for NBC; How I Met Your Mother for CBS; Brickleberry and Futurama for Comedy Central; Arrested Development for Netflix; Homeland for Showtime and Out There for Independent Film Channel. Generally, a television network or cable network will license a specified number of episodes for exhibition during the license period. All other distribution rights, including international and off-network syndication rights, are typically retained by TCFTV, utilized by other units of the Company or sold to third parties.

Television programs generally are produced under contracts that provide for license fees that may cover only a portion of the anticipated production costs. As these costs have increased in recent years, the resulting deficit between production costs and license fees for domestic first-run programming also has increased. Therefore, additional licensing is often critical to the financial success of a series. Successful U.S. network television series are typically (i) licensed for first-run exhibition in international markets, (ii) released in DVD and Blu-ray box sets, (iii) licensed for subscription video-on-demand, video-on-demand and pay-per-view services, (iv) licensed for off-network exhibition in the United States (including in syndication and to cable programmers), (v) licensed for further television exhibition in international markets and (vi) made available for electronic sell-through and streaming, including individual episodes and full series. Typically, a series must be broadcast for at least three to four television seasons for there to be a sufficient number of episodes to offer the series in syndication or to cable and DBS programmers in the United States. The decision of a television network to continue a series through an entire television season or to renew a series for another television season depends largely on the series’ audience ratings.

Twentieth Television. Twentieth Television licenses both television programming and feature films for domestic syndication to television stations and basic cable services in the United States. Twentieth Television distributes a program portfolio that includes the Company’s library of television and film assets, and first-run programming produced by its production companies for sales to local stations, including stations owned and operated by the Company, as well as to basic cable networks. First-run programs distributed by Twentieth Television include: the court shows Divorce Court and Judge Alex and, premiering in September 2012, The Ricki Lake Show and Dish Nation.

Twentieth Television derives revenue from off-network, theatrical and first-run program sales in the form of cash license fees paid by both broadcast and cable licensees, and from the sales of national advertising units retained by Twentieth Television in its programs. Twentieth Television licenses such shows as Modern Family, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Burn Notice, Family Guy, The Simpsons, Bones, How I Met Your Mother, The Cleveland Show, and Glee to cable and broadcast networks. Twentieth Television also manages and distributes the long running series COPS and sells national advertising on behalf of other third party syndicators.

 

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Fox Television Studios (“FtvS”). FtvS is a program supplier to the major U.S. and international broadcast and cable networks. FtvS is currently producing the series Burn Notice and White Collar for USA Network, The Glades for A&E, The Killing for AMC, and The Great Escape for TNT, as well as the television movies Home Alone: The Holiday Heist for ABC Family and Prosecuting Casey Anthony for Lifetime.

Shine Limited (“Shine”). Shine is an international television production and distribution group with 28 production companies across 12 countries creating and exploiting scripted and non-scripted content in the global marketplace. Shine companies include award-winning genre specialists such as U.K.-based Kudos (drama), Dragonfly (factual), Princess Productions (entertainment and multi-genre) and Shine TV (factual and factual entertainment); U.S. producer Shine America (formerly Reveille); and Metronome Film & Television, the Nordic region’s largest production group. Shine International, the international distribution arm, was responsible for distributing a catalogue of more than 3,500 hours of broadcast content in fiscal 2012. Shine has also established businesses in Germany, France, Australia, Spain and Portugal. Shine has recently enhanced its digital and direct to consumer business with the additions of the social gaming producer Bossa Studios and the online original content producers, ChannelFlip Media, as well as expanded into the children’s genre. Internationally renowned shows from the Shine group include MasterChef, The Biggest Loser, One Born Every Minute, Minute to Win It and fantasy drama Merlin.

Competition. Similar to motion picture production and distribution, production and distribution of television programming is extremely competitive. The Company competes with other film studios, independent production companies and others for the acquisition of artistic properties, the services of creative and technical personnel, exhibition outlets and the public’s interest in its products. In addition, television networks have affiliated production companies from which they are increasingly obtaining their programming, which has reduced the demand for programming from other non-affiliated parties.

Motion Picture and Television Library

The Company’s motion picture and television library (the “Fox Library”) consists of varying rights to several thousand previously released motion pictures and many well-known television programs. Motion pictures in the Fox Library include many successful and well-known titles, such as The Sound of Music, Mrs. Doubtfire, Dr. Dolittle, Home Alone, the Star Wars series, the X-Men series, Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow, the Ice Age series, Sideways, Walk the Line, The Devil Wears Prada, Little Miss Sunshine, the Night at the Museum series, the Alvin and the Chipmunks series, Slumdog Millionaire and Taken, as well as five of the top 20 domestic box office grossing films of all time, which are Avatar, Titanic (together with Paramount Pictures Corporation), Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.

The Fox Library contains varying rights to many television series and made-for-television motion pictures. The television programming in the Fox Library consists of such classic series as 24, King of the Hill, Prison Break, Boston Legal, My Name is Earl, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, M*A*S*H, Hill Street Blues, Doogie Howser, M.D., L.A. Law, The Wonder Years, The Practice, Ally McBeal, Angel, Dharma & Greg, In Living Color, The X-Files, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and NYPD Blue, as well as prior seasons of such current series as The Simpsons, Bones, Family Guy, The Cleveland Show, Glee, Modern Family, Futurama, How I Met Your Mother, Sons of Anarchy, American Dad and Arrested Development.

Television

The Company is engaged in the operation of broadcast television stations and the broadcasting of network programming in the United States.

 

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Fox Television Stations

Fox Television Stations, Inc. (“Fox Television Stations”) owns and operates 27 full power stations, including stations located in nine of the top ten largest designated market areas (“DMAs”). Fox Television Stations owns and operates duopolies in nine DMAs, including the three largest DMAs, New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.

Of the 27 full power stations, 17 stations are affiliates of FOX (“FOX Affiliates”). For a description of the programming offered to FOX Affiliates, see “—FOX Broadcasting Company.” In addition, Fox Television Stations owns and operates 10 stations affiliated with Master Distribution Service, Inc. (“MyNetworkTV”).

The following table lists certain information about each of the television stations owned and operated by Fox Television Stations. Unless otherwise noted, all stations are FOX Affiliates.

Fox Television Stations

 

     DMA/Rank      Station     Digital
Channel
    Type      Percentage of U.S.
Television
Households
Reached (1)
 

New York, NY

     1         WNYW        44 (5     UHF         6.4
        WWOR (2)      38 (9     UHF      

Los Angeles, CA

     2         KTTV        11 (11     VHF         4.9
        KCOP (2)      13 (13     VHF      

Chicago, IL

     3         WFLD        31 (32     UHF         3.0
        WPWR (2)      51 (50     UHF      

Philadelphia, PA

     4         WTXF        42 (29     UHF         2.6

Dallas, TX

     5         KDFW        35 (4     UHF         2.2
        KDFI (2)      36 (27     UHF      

Boston, MA

     7         WFXT        31 (25     UHF         2.1

Washington, DC

     8         WTTG        36 (5     UHF         2.1
        WDCA (2)      35 (20     UHF      

Atlanta, GA

     9         WAGA        27 (5     UHF         2.0

Houston, TX

     10         KRIV        26 (26     UHF         1.9
        KTXH (2)      19 (20     UHF      

Detroit, MI

     11         WJBK        7 (2     VHF         1.6

Phoenix, AZ

     13         KSAZ        10 (10     VHF         1.6
        KUTP (2)      26 (45     UHF      

Tampa, FL

     14         WTVT        12 (13     VHF         1.6

Minneapolis, MN (3)

     15         KMSP        9 (9     VHF         1.5
        WFTC (2)      29 (29     UHF      

Orlando, FL

     19         WOFL        22 (35     UHF         1.3
        WRBW (2)      41 (65     UHF      

Baltimore, MD

     27         WUTB (2)      41 (24     UHF         1.0

Austin, TX

     47         KTBC        7 (7     VHF         0.6

Memphis, TN

     49         WHBQ        13 (13     VHF         0.6

Gainesville, FL

     163         WOGX        31 (51     UHF         0.1

TOTAL

               37.1

 

Source: Nielsen Media Research, January 2012

(1) 

VHF television stations transmit on Channels 2 through 13 and UHF television stations on Channels 14 through 51. The Federal Communications Commission (the “FCC”) applies a discount (the “UHF Discount”) which attributes only 50% of the television households in a local television market to the

 

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audience reach of a UHF television station for purposes of calculating whether that station’s owner complies with the national station ownership cap imposed by FCC regulations and by statute; in making this calculation, only the station’s actual (digital) broadcast channel is considered. In addition, the coverage of two commonly owned stations in the same market is counted only once. The percentages listed are rounded and do not take into account the UHF Discount. For more information regarding the FCC’s national station ownership cap, see “Government Regulation—Television” in this Annual Report.

(2) 

MyNetworkTV affiliate.

(3) 

The Company also owns and operates full power station KFTC, Channel 26, Bemidji, MN as a satellite station of WFTC, Channel 29, Minneapolis, MN. Station KFTC is in addition to the 27 full power stations described in this section.

FOX Broadcasting Company (“FOX”)

FOX has 205 FOX Affiliates, including the 17 stations owned and operated by the Company, which reach approximately 99% of all U.S. television households. In general, each week FOX regularly delivers to its affiliates 15 hours of prime-time programming and 90 minutes of late-night programming on Saturday. FOX’s prime-time programming features such series as New Girl, Raising Hope, The Simpsons, Bones, Fringe and Glee; unscripted series such as American Idol, The X Factor and So You Think You Can Dance; and various specials. In addition, a significant component of FOX’s programming consists of sports programming, with FOX providing to its affiliates live coverage (including post-season) of the National Football Conference of the National Football League (the “NFL”) and MLB, as well as live coverage of the Sprint Cup Series of the NASCAR. For the upcoming 2013 season, FOX has also secured rights to college football. FOX also airs a two-hour block of direct response programming on Saturday mornings provided by Worldlink Ventures (“Worldlink”), a media sales firm. FOX’s agreement with Worldlink extends through the 2013-2014 broadcast season.

FOX’s prime-time line-up is intended to appeal primarily to target audiences of 18 to 49-year old adults, the demographic group that advertisers seek to reach most often. During the 2011-2012 traditional September to May broadcast season, FOX ranked first in prime-time programming based on viewership of adults ages 18 to 49 (based on Live+7 ratings, FOX had a 3.2 rating and a 9 share, CBS had a 3.0 rating and an 8 share, ABC had a 2.5 rating and a 7 share and NBC had a 2.5 rating and a 7 share). The median age of the FOX viewer is 41 years, as compared to 49 years for NBC, 50 years for ABC and 55 years for CBS.

FOX obtains programming from major television studios and independent television production companies pursuant to license agreements. The terms of those agreements generally provide FOX with the right to broadcast a television series for a minimum of four seasons.

National sports programming, such as the NFL, MLB, college football and NASCAR programming, is obtained under license agreements with professional or collegiate sports leagues or organizations. FOX’s current licenses with the NFL, MLB, college football and NASCAR extend until the 2022 NFL season, the 2013 MLB season, the 2023 college football season and the 2014 NASCAR season. Additionally, in fiscal 2012, FOX acquired the rights to air FIFA Men’s and Women’s World Cup events starting in 2015, with certain matches during the term scheduled to air on Fox Soccer Channel, as well as on other FOX cable networks.

FOX provides programming to the FOX Affiliates in accordance with affiliation agreements of varying durations, which grant to each affiliate the right to broadcast network television programming on the affiliated station. Such agreements typically run three or more years and have staggered expiration dates. These affiliation agreements generally require FOX Affiliates to carry FOX programming in all time periods in which FOX programming is offered to those affiliates, subject to certain exceptions stated in the affiliation agreements.

 

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MyNetworkTV

At the beginning of the 2009-2010 television season, MyNetworkTV transitioned to a new programming distribution service, Master Distribution Service, Inc., distributing two hours per night of original and off- network programming from Twentieth Television and other third party syndicators to its affiliates. As of June 30, 2012, MyNetworkTV had 181 affiliates, including 10 stations owned and operated by the Company, reaching approximately 97% of U.S. households.

Competition. The network television broadcasting business is highly competitive. FOX and MyNetworkTV compete with other broadcast networks, such as ABC, NBC, CBS and The CW Television Network, independent television stations, cable and DBS program services, as well as other media, including DVDs, Blu-rays, digital video recorders (“DVR”), video games, print and the Internet for audiences, programming and, in the case of FOX, advertising revenues. In addition, FOX and MyNetworkTV compete with other broadcast networks and other programming distribution services to secure affiliations with independently owned television stations in markets across the United States. ABC, NBC and CBS each broadcasts a significantly greater number of hours of programming than FOX and, accordingly, may be able to designate or change time periods in which programming is to be broadcast with greater flexibility than FOX. In addition, future technological developments may affect competition within the television marketplace.

Each of the stations owned and operated by Fox Television Stations also competes for advertising revenues with other television stations and radio and cable systems in its respective market area and with other advertising media, such as newspapers, magazines, outdoor advertising, direct mail and Internet websites. All of the stations owned and operated by Fox Television Stations are located in highly competitive markets. Additional elements that are material to the competitive position of each of the television stations include management experience, authorized power and assigned frequency of that station. Competition for sales of broadcast advertising time is based primarily on the anticipated and actually delivered size and demographic characteristics of audiences as determined by various rating services, price, the time of day when the advertising is to be broadcast, competition from the other broadcast networks, cable television systems, DBS services and other media and general economic conditions. Competition for audiences is based primarily on the selection of programming, the acceptance of which is dependent on the reaction of the viewing public, which is often difficult to predict.

Direct Broadcast Satellite Television

The Company engages in the direct broadcast satellite business through its subsidiary, SKY Italia. The Company also owns significant equity interests in BSkyB and Sky Deutschland AG (“Sky Deutschland”), which are engaged in the DBS business (for a description of the businesses of these equity interests, please see discussion under heading “Equity Interests”).

SKY Italia

SKY Italia currently distributes more than 180 channels of basic, premium and pay-per-view programming services via satellite and broadband directly to subscribers in Italy. This programming includes exclusive rights to popular sporting events, newly-released movies and SKY Italia’s original programming, such as SKY TG 24, Italy’s first 24-hour news channel. As of June 30, 2012, SKY Italia had approximately 4.90 million subscribers.

Competition. SKY Italia’s competition includes companies that offer video, audio, interactive programming, telephony, data and other information and entertainment services, including broadband Internet providers, digital terrestrial transmission (“DTT”) services, wireless companies and companies that are developing new media technologies. Under a commitment made to the European Commission (the “EC”), through December 31, 2011, SKY Italia was required to wholesale its premium programming, to limit the length and exclusivity of certain of its premium programming contracts and to provide third parties with access to the SKY Italia platform. In addition, SKY Italia had been prohibited from owning a DTT frequency or providing a pay television DTT offer.

 

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Publishing

The Company is engaged in the publishing business, primarily through its subsidiaries News International, News Limited, Dow Jones, The New York Post, The Daily, HarperCollins Publishers and News America Marketing Group. The Company evaluates these businesses collectively as a result of evolving trends in the overall publishing industry including digital distribution.

News International

News International publishes The Times, The Sunday Times, The Sun and, until July 2011, The News of the World in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Sales of these four newspapers account for approximately one-third of all national newspapers sold in the United Kingdom. Both The Times, a daily published Monday through Saturday, and The Sunday Times, are leading quality newspapers. The Sun, published each morning Monday through Saturday, and on Sunday as of February 25, 2012, is a popular, mass market newspaper, as was The News of the World, which until July 10, 2011 was published on Sunday. The average paid circulation for each of these national newspapers for the six months ended June 30, 2012 was approximately: The Times—397,395; The Sunday Times—935,235; The Sun—2,622,123; and The Sun on Sunday—2,474,001. News International recognizes the challenges to its traditional business model from new technology and considers itself a multi-platform news provider, continually investing in its digital products. As readers use these new channels to access content, News International recognizes the importance of maximizing revenues from these new channels, both in terms of paid-for content and new advertising models.

On July 7, 2011, News International announced that July 10, 2011 would be the last issue of The News of the World after allegations of phone hacking and inappropriate payments to public officials.

The printing of News International’s national newspapers (except Saturday and Sunday supplements) takes place principally in its printing facilities located in England, Scotland and Ireland.

News International also publishes The Times Literary Supplement, a weekly literary review.

News Limited

News Limited is the largest newspaper publisher in Australia by readership and circulation, owning approximately 142 daily, Sunday, weekly, bi-weekly and tri-weekly newspapers, of which three are free commuter titles and 98 are suburban publications (including 16 of which News Limited has a 50% interest). News Limited publishes the only nationally distributed general interest newspaper in Australia, the leading metropolitan newspapers in each of the major Australian cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Hobart and Darwin and the leading suburban newspapers in the suburbs of Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth. News Limited’s daily and Sunday newspapers account for more than 68% of the total circulation of all daily and Sunday newspapers (excluding suburban and regional newspapers) published in Australia.

News Limited’s principal daily newspapers in Australia are: The Australian; The Daily Telegraph, published in Sydney; the Herald Sun, published in Melbourne; The Courier-Mail, published in Brisbane; The Advertiser, published in Adelaide; The Mercury, published in Hobart; and the Northern Territory News, published in Darwin. The Australian, which is Australia’s only general interest national daily newspaper, is printed in seven cities and distributed nationwide. News Limited’s other principal daily newspapers in Australia are mass circulation, regional newspapers with broad-based readerships and are published and distributed regionally. The average Monday to Friday paid circulation of each of these daily newspapers for the nine months ended March 31, 2012 was approximately as follows: The Australian—131,000; The Daily Telegraph—345,000; the Herald Sun—475,000; The Courier-Mail—192,000; The Advertiser—176,000; The Mercury—42,000; and the Northern Territory News—19,000. The average Saturday paid circulation of each of these daily newspapers

 

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for the nine months ended March 31, 2012 was approximately as follows: The Weekend Australian—293,000; The Daily Telegraph—324,000; the Herald Sun—472,000; The Courier-Mail—261,000; The Advertiser—235,000; The Mercury—58,000; and the Northern Territory News—29,000.

News Limited’s principal Sunday newspapers in Australia are: The Sunday Telegraph, published in Sydney; the Sunday Herald Sun, published in Melbourne; The Sunday Mail, published in Brisbane; the Sunday Mail, published in Adelaide; The Sunday Times, published in Perth; the Sunday Tasmanian, published in Hobart; and the Sunday Territorian, published in Darwin. All these newspapers are mass circulation, metropolitan Sunday newspapers with broad-based readerships reflecting the diversity of the populations of the cities in which they are published. The average paid circulation of each of these Sunday newspapers for the nine months ended March 31, 2012 was approximately as follows: The Sunday Telegraph—612,000; the Sunday Herald Sun—550,000; The Sunday Mail (Brisbane)—469,000; the Sunday Mail (Adelaide)—279,000; The Sunday Times—282,000; the Sunday Tasmanian—55,000; and the Sunday Territorian—21,000.

The other newspapers that News Limited owns and publishes in Australia are distributed to a wide range of readers in urban, suburban and rural areas and are principally weekly publications. The majority of such newspapers are free-distribution suburban publications. In the Sydney suburban markets, News Limited owns 21 weekly newspapers; in Melbourne, 33 weekly newspapers; in Brisbane, 17 weekly newspapers; in Adelaide, 11 weekly newspapers; and in Perth, News Limited’s 50% owned suburban group publishes 16 weekly newspapers. The aggregate average weekly circulations of these suburban newspapers for the six months ended March 31, 2012 was approximately 4,956,000 homes.

In addition to these newspapers, News Limited also publishes two other monthly publications with an average circulation for the six months ended March 31, 2012 of approximately 111,000 homes.

News Limited’s suburban newspapers are leading publications in terms of advertising and circulation in each of their respective markets. News Limited’s other newspapers in Australia are regional newspapers, circulating throughout broader, less densely populated areas. In line with shifting consumer preferences, News Limited continues to invest in a variety of digital products and content across multiple platforms. In addition, News Limited has launched paid-for digital platforms across a number of its major mastheads including the introduction of paywalls around The Australian and The Herald Sun websites.

Except for 30 of its suburban newspapers, News Limited’s Australian newspapers are produced and printed in facilities owned by the Company.

Dow Jones

Dow Jones is a global provider of news and business information, with newspaper, newswire, website, mobile, newsletter, magazine, database, conference, radio and video businesses. Dow Jones offers products targeting individual consumer and business and institutional customers, including The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones Newswires, Factiva, Barron’s, MarketWatch, SmartMoney, Financial News and other products. Products targeting business and institutional customers, including Dow Jones Newswires and Factiva, combine news and information with technology and tools designed to inform decisions and to aid awareness, research and understanding. The Dow Jones Local Media business publishes community newspapers, websites and other products in seven U.S. states.

The Wall Street Journal. The Wall Street Journal is available in print, online at WSJ.com, and across multiple mobile and tablet devices. The Wall Street Journal is the leading circulation daily newspaper in the United States, with total average print and digital circulation in fiscal 2012 of more than 2.0 million based on Audit Bureau of Circulations data. WSJ.com, which offers both free and premium content, averaged more than 34 million visitors per month during fiscal 2012 according to Adobe Omniture. The Wall Street Journal is printed at plants around the United States, including nine owned by the Company. The Wall Street Journal also publishes print editions in Europe and Asia and WSJ.com includes local language editions in Chinese, Japanese, German, Spanish and Portuguese.

 

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Barron’s. Barron’s is available in print, online at Barrons.com, and on mobile devices. Barron’s caters to financial professionals, individual investors and others interested in financial markets. Its print edition is published weekly. In fiscal 2012, Barron’s had an average paid weekly circulation of more than 300,000 based on Audit Bureau of Circulations data and Barrons.com had more than 160,000 paid subscribers. Barron’s is printed at plants around the United States, including at nine owned by the Company.

SmartMoney. SmartMoney, the personal finance magazine from The Wall Street Journal, is available online at SmartMoney.com and on mobile devices. In June 2012, the Company announced it would cease production of SmartMoney’s print edition after the September 2012 issue. In addition to SmartMoney.com, all content and tools from SmartMoney.com will also be available on an expanded co-branded personal finance section on MarketWatch.com. In fiscal 2012, SmartMoney had average monthly paid circulation of more than 800,000, based on Audit Bureau of Circulations data.

The Wall Street Journal Digital Network (“WSJDN”). WSJDN comprises business and financial news websites and mobile applications. In addition to WSJ.com, Barrons.com and SmartMoney.com, discussed above, WSJDN includes MarketWatch, AllThingsD, WSJ Live and related services. WSJDN had more than 1.3 million paid subscribers as of June 30, 2012 and, during fiscal 2012, averaged more than 54 million visitors per month with more than 540 million page views according to Adobe Omniture. MarketWatch comprises an investing and financial news site targeting active investors, and averaged 14 million visitors per month during fiscal 2012 according to Adobe Omniture. AllThingsD is a personal technology site that features breaking technology news, in-depth coverage of Silicon Valley and the media industry, and product reviews and analysis. WSJ Live is a video website enabling all users from across WSJDN to watch and share videos from a central platform.

Factiva. Factiva provides news and business information with search and discovery technology and tools to assist customers with research, awareness and decision-making. Factiva had nearly 1.9 million contracted users worldwide as of June 30, 2012.

Dow Jones Newswires. Dow Jones Newswires is a premier provider of real-time business news and information to financial professionals and online investors around the world via terminals, portals and intranet sites with hundreds of thousands of financial professionals and millions of online investors relying on this information each trading day. It publishes over 20,000 news items in multiple languages each day, including breaking news, analysis, commentary and statistical data.

Dow Jones Local Media. The Dow Jones Local Media business publishes community-focused print publications—including eight general interest daily newspapers—and related local websites in California, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon and Pennsylvania. In fiscal 2012, average print and digital circulation for these dailies was more than 188,000 with Sunday print and digital circulation of over 238,000. The Dow Jones Local Media business also publishes 13 weekly newspapers, performs commercial printing at its five printing locations and offers other products and services.

New York Post

The New York Post (the “Post”) is a mass circulation, metropolitan morning newspaper published seven days a week and primarily distributed in the New York metropolitan area, the Northeast, Florida and California. For the six month period ended March 31, 2012, average weekday circulation, including digital editions, was approximately 555,000. The Company prints the Post in a printing facility in the Bronx, New York and uses third party printers in its other markets in the United States. As readers use new distribution channels to access content, the Post continues to invest in its digital platforms and to seek to maximize revenues through paid-for content and new advertising models.

The Company’s Community Newspaper Group also owns several local newspapers and other publications distributed in the New York metropolitan area.

 

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The Daily

The Daily is a first-of-its-kind daily national news publication built exclusively as an application for tablet and mobile computing devices. The Daily is a subscription-based news product, published daily. The Daily launched on the iPad in February 2011 and as of June 30, 2012 has been downloaded more than 2 million times from the iTunes App Store. The Daily is available for iPad and iPhone and select Android tablet devices.

HarperCollins Publishers

HarperCollins Publishers (“HarperCollins”) is engaged in English language book publishing on a worldwide basis and is one of the world’s largest English language book publishers. HarperCollins’ principal businesses are HarperCollins Publishers LLC (“HarperCollins U.S.”), headquartered in New York, HarperCollins Publishers Limited, headquartered in London, and The Zondervan Corporation LLC, headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan. HarperCollins primarily publishes fiction and non-fiction, including religious books, for the general consumer. In the United Kingdom, HarperCollins publishes some titles for the educational market as well.

During fiscal 2012, HarperCollins U.S. had 144 titles on the New York Times bestseller list, with 17 titles hitting number one, including American Sniper by Chris Kyle with Scott McEwen and Jim DeFelice, The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Food from My Frontier by Ree Drummond, Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man by Steve Harvey, The Capture of the Earl of Glencrae by Stephanie Laurens, Loving by Karen Kingsbury, Divergent by Veronica Roth, If You Give a Dog a Donut by Laura Numeroff, Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin, Insurgent by Veronica Roth, Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes by Eric Litwin, The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore, The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore, Every Thing On It by Shel Silverstein, Pinkalicious and the Pink Pumpkin by Victoria Kann, Fancy Nancy and the Mermaid Ballet by Jane O’Connor, One Direction: Dare to Dream by One Direction, and The Fame Game by Lauren Conrad.

In October 2011, HarperCollins entered into an agreement to acquire Thomas Nelson, Inc., a leading trade publisher providing multiple forms of inspirational Christian content. The Company completed the acquisition in July 2012.

News America Marketing Group

News America Marketing Group (“NAMG”) publishes free-standing insert publications and provides in-store marketing products and services.

NAMG is one of the two largest publishers of free-standing inserts in the United States. Free-standing inserts are multiple-page marketing booklets containing coupons, rebates and other consumer offers, which are distributed to consumers through insertion primarily into local Sunday newspapers. Advertisers, primarily packaged goods companies, pay NAMG to produce free-standing inserts, and NAMG contracts with and pays, among others, newspapers to include the free-standing inserts primarily into the newspapers’ Sunday editions. NAMG produces approximately 74 million free-standing inserts more than 40 times a year, which are inserted in approximately 1,700 newspapers and other publications throughout the United States. NAMG, through an affiliate, also produces ten million free-standing inserts approximately 15 times annually, which are inserted into over 300 Canadian newspapers and other publications in Canada.

NAMG is a leading provider of in-store marketing products and services, primarily to consumer packaged goods manufacturers, with products in more than 55,000 supermarkets, drug stores, dollar stores, office supply stores and mass merchandisers worldwide.

SmartSource® is the brand name that is linked with NAMG’s assortment of marketing products, including, among others, free-standing inserts, NAMG’s instant coupon machines and various shelf advertising products. The SmartSource® brand currently reaches approximately 158 million consumers weekly.

 

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The SmartSource Digital manages NAMG’s portfolio of database and electronic marketing solutions. The database marketing business, branded SmartSource Direct, provides direct mail solutions via its national network of retailer frequent shopper card databases. SmartSource Direct uses frequent shopper card databases to access the purchase behavior of more than 100 million cardholders. The SmartSource Savings Network, which includes SmartSource.com and SmartSource Xpress, encompasses all of NAMG’s electronic couponing and sampling solutions accessed through the web, mobile and tablet-based programming and reaches an audience of more than 85 million consumers.

Competition

The newspapers, magazines and digital publications of the Company compete for readership and advertising with a variety of print and digital media. For the Company’s consumer products, the competition includes local and national newspapers, web and application-based media, social media sources and other traditional media such as television, magazines and radio.

Competition for print and digital subscriptions is based on the news and editorial content, subscription pricing, cover price and, from time to time, various promotions. The success of the newspapers and digital media published by the Company in competing for advertising depends upon advertisers’ judgments as to the most effective media for their advertising budgets. The Company competes for print and digital advertising based upon circulation volume, readership levels, audience demographics, advertising rates and advertising effectiveness results. Such judgments are based on factors such as cost, availability of alternative media, circulation and quality of readership demographics.

In recent years, the newspaper and publishing industry has experienced difficulty increasing or maintaining circulation volume and revenues. This is due to, among other factors, increased competition from new media formats and sources, and shifting preferences among some consumers to receive all or a portion of their news from sources other than a newspaper, including digital sources available free of charge to consumers. These new channels for distributing news and other content to consumers have impacted, and could continue to impact, performance, positively and negatively. News consumption via smart phones and tablet computers, including the growth of applications, has introduced new or different pricing schemes and may affect the relationship between publishers and customers. The Company believes that competition from new media formats and shifting consumer preferences will continue to pose opportunities and challenges within the newspaper and publishing industry.

Dow Jones’ print and digital publications compete with other media that offer coverage of business news, including the print and digital publications of The Financial Times, The New York Times, USA Today, TheStreet.com, Bloomberg, Forbes, Yahoo!Finance, Thomson Reuters, CNN Money, MSN Money, CNBC and Google. Dow Jones Newswires competes with other global financial newswires, including Thomson Reuters and Bloomberg L.P., as well as many Internet-based providers of financial news and information. Factiva competes with various business information service providers, including LexisNexis, Thomson Reuters, Hoover’s and OneSource. Factiva also competes with various Internet-based information search services such as those offered by Google, Microsoft and Yahoo!.

The book publishing business operates in a highly competitive market that is quickly changing and continues to see technological innovations, including electronic book devices sold by Amazon, Apple and Barnes & Noble. HarperCollins competes with other large publishers, such as Random House, Penguin Group, Simon & Schuster and Hachette Livre, as well as with numerous smaller publishers, for the rights to works by well-known authors and public personalities. In addition, HarperCollins competes for readership with other media formats and sources.

NAMG competes against other providers of advertising and marketing products and services, including those that provide promotional or advertising inserts and direct mailers of promotional or advertising materials,

 

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as well as those that provide trade and in-store advertisements and promotions. Competition is based on, among other things, rates, availability of traditional and digital markets, quality of products and services provided and their effectiveness, and rate of coupon redemption.

Other

Digital Media Businesses

The Company’s digital media businesses include IGN Entertainment, Inc. (“IGN”), and other internet properties. These businesses develop and promote content and experiences for internet audiences and generate revenue through internet advertising, sponsorships, subscriptions and e-commerce.

IGN’s network of video game, lifestyle and entertainment-related Internet properties represent many of the top web properties in their respective categories across the Internet. IGN Entertainment is one of the top gaming information networks on the Internet with over 20.1 million unique users and 399 million page views in the United States in June 2012 according to comScore Media Metrix. IGN’s IPL subsidiary, formed in September 2011, focuses on competitive gaming in both online and offline events. IGN has expanded its reach domestically through a significant presence on YouTube and other social media, and internationally, through partnerships with local operators in Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Germany, Sweden and other countries in Europe. IGN also owns and operates one of the leading men’s lifestyle websites, AskMen.com.

Making Fun, Inc. (“Making Fun”) is a social games developer and publisher acquired in December 2010. Making Fun makes games for various platforms, including Facebook, Android, and iOS, and has launched several games with additional ones in development.

Competition. These digital media businesses compete for advertisers, users and traffic with other online media and offline entertainment and advertising options. These businesses develop new tools and features to remain competitive. These new tools and features are key competitive factors in keeping users engaged with these digital media businesses.

Amplify

In July 2012, the Company launched Amplify, the brand for its education division. Amplify is dedicated to improving K-12 education by creating digital products and services that empower teachers, students and parents in new ways. Amplify is focused on transforming teaching and learning by creating and scaling digital innovations in three areas: analytics and assessment, content and curriculum and distribution and delivery.

Amplify focuses on educational analytics and formative assessment through Wireless Generation, Inc. (“Wireless Generation”), an Amplify company that serves more than 200,000 teachers and three million students in all 50 states. Its products and services help teachers and administrators assess learning progress throughout the year, differentiate instruction and adapt curricula to meet individual students’ needs.

Other Operations

The Company has an interest in FOX TV in Turkey, which is a free-to-air, general entertainment television station.

News Digital Media is the Company’s Australian online division. In addition to maintaining the Company’s Australian websites, News Digital Media is responsible for online advertising and transactions in Australia. News Digital Media sites include news.com.au, MOSHTIX.com.au, GetPrice.com.au and truelocal.com.au. News Digital Media also has a 50% stake in CareerOne.com.au and carsguide.com.au.

 

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Equity Interests

BSkyB

The Company holds an approximate 39% interest in BSkyB. BSkyB’s ordinary shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol “BSY”. BSkyB operates the leading pay television broadcast service in the United Kingdom and Ireland, as well as broadband and telephony services. BSkyB acquires and commissions programming to broadcast on its own channels and supplies certain of those channels to cable operators for retransmission by the cable operators to their subscribers in the United Kingdom and Ireland. BSkyB also retails channels (both its own and those of third parties) to DTH subscribers and to certain of its own channels to a limited number of DSL subscribers. In June 2010, the Company announced that it had proposed to the board of directors of BSkyB to make a cash offer of 700 pence per share for the BSkyB shares that the Company does not already own. Following the allegations regarding The News of the World, on July 13, 2011, the Company announced that it no longer intended to make an offer for the BSkyB shares that the Company does not already own. As a result of the July 2011 announcement, the Company paid BSkyB a breakup fee of approximately $63 million in accordance with a cooperation agreement between the parties.

NDS

NDS Group Limited (“NDS”) creates technologies and applications that enable pay television operators to deliver digital content to televisions, set-top boxes, DVRs, personal computers, portable media players, removable media and other mobile devices securely. In March 2012, the Company and funds advised by Permira Advisers LLP signed an agreement to sell NDS to Cisco Systems Inc. for approximately $5 billion, including the assumption of debt. The Company owned approximately 49% of NDS. The transaction was completed on July 30, 2012.

FOX Sports Australia

The Company holds a 50% interest in Premier Media Group, a producer of sports channels, more commonly referred to as FOX Sports Australia.

FOXTEL

The Company, Telstra Corporation Limited, an Australian telecommunications company, and Consolidated Media Holdings Ltd. (“CMH”), an Australian media investment company, own and operate FOXTEL, a cable and satellite television service in Australia with 25%, 50% and 25% interests, respectively. At June 30, 2012, FOXTEL had approximately 2.2 million residential subscribers (including subscribers to Optus, an Australian telecommunications company, and subscribers acquired as a result of FOXTEL’s acquisition of Austar United Communications Ltd in May 2012). In June 2012, the Company’s subsidiary News Limited made a conditional non-binding offer to acquire CMH for approximately $2 billion. If the proposal is implemented, the Company would double its stake in FOXTEL to 50% and would own 100% of FOX Sports Australia.

Other Investments

SkyNZ. The Company owns an approximate 44% interest in Sky Network Television Limited, a land-linked UHF network and digital DBS service in New Zealand.

Hulu. The Company has an approximate 32% equity interest in Hulu, LLC (“Hulu”) which operates an online video service that offers video content from Fox, NBC Universal, The Walt Disney Company and over 300 other third party content licensors. Hulu’s premium programming is available free of charge to viewers at Hulu.com and over 30 destination sites online, including AOL, IMDb, MSN, Myspace and Yahoo!. Additional premium programming is available on a monthly subscription basis at Hulu.com and through software applications on Internet-connected devices, including smart phones, tablets, gaming consoles and set-top boxes.

 

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Sky Deutschland. The Company owns a 49.9% equity interest in Sky Deutschland, the leading pay television operator in Germany and Austria. The core business of Sky Deutschland is subscription pay-tv and it offers a wide range of programming in Germany and Austria and can be received via Teleclub in Switzerland. Sky Deutschland’s program offering includes current feature films, new series, children’s channels, documentaries and live sports, such as the German Bundesliga and UEFA Champions League. Sky Deutschland has market leading HD offering with over 50 HD channels, and an additional service called “Sky Go” which is available on the web, iPhone and iPad.

In February 2012, the Company agreed to backstop €300 million (approximately $395 million) of financing measures that are being initiated by Sky Deutschland. The first step of the financing was completed in February 2012, in which Sky Deutschland raised approximately €155 million, and the Company acquired 35.3 million additional shares of Sky Deutschland maintaining its ownership at 49.9%. The aggregate cost of the shares acquired by the Company was approximately €80 million (approximately $100 million) and the shares were newly registered shares issued pursuant to the capital increase. The second capital measure of €145 million (approximately $195 million) is expected to be raised by Sky Deutschland by the end of September 2012 and is planned through any or a combination of the following measures: a rights offering, a private placement, a loan provided by the Company and/or a convertible bond underlying Sky Deutschland shares. In the event that a convertible bond is issued, the remaining €145 million funding will be increased by the amount of interest payable on the bond from the date of issue until December 31, 2013. The Company’s backstop commitment is subject to certain customary conditions such as the absence of a material adverse change in Sky Deutschland’s business.

As part of financing measures in fiscal 2011, the Company currently provides a loan to Sky Deutschland for approximately €58 million (approximately $80 million) and has further agreed to loan Sky Deutschland approximately $70 million to support the launch of a sports news channel which it expects to fund within one year. As part of the fiscal 2011 capital raising, the Company purchased a convertible bond for approximately $225 million in January 2011. The Company has the right to convert the bond into 53.9 million underlying Sky Deutschland shares, subject to certain black-out periods. If not converted, the Company will have the option to redeem the bond for cash upon its maturity in January 2015.

CMC-News Asia. The Company holds an approximate 47% interest in CMC-News Asia, a joint venture with China Media Capital, a media investment fund in China. CMC-News Asia develops and broadcasts the Chinese language Xing Kong and Channel [V] China channels primarily in China on a free-to-air basis to local cable operators in southern China and three-star and above hotels and other approved organizations and institutions, and sells television, new media, home video and other rights to its extensive contemporary Chinese film library comprised of over 750 titles.

Bona Film Group. In May 2012, the Company acquired a 17% interest in Bona Film Group, a film distributor in China listed on NASDAQ, for approximately $70 million in cash.

Government Regulation

General

Various aspects of the Company’s activities are subject to regulation in numerous jurisdictions around the world. The Company believes that it is in material compliance with the requirements imposed by those laws and regulations described herein. The introduction of new laws and regulations in countries where the Company’s products and services are produced or distributed (and changes in the enforcement of existing laws and regulations in those countries) could have a negative impact on the interests of the Company.

 

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Cable Network Programming and Direct Broadcast Satellite Television

United States. FCC regulations adopted pursuant to the Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992 (the “Program Access Rules”) prevent a cable operator that has an attributable interest (including voting or non-voting stock ownership of 5% or more or limited partnership equity interests of 5% or more) in a programming vendor from exercising undue or improper influence over the vendor in its dealings with competitors to cable. The Program Access Rules also prohibit a cable programmer in which a cable operator has an attributable interest from entering into exclusive contracts with any cable operator or from discriminating among competing Multichannel Video Programming Distributors in the price, terms and conditions of sale or delivery of programming. The cable networks operated by the Company are not currently subject to the Program Access Rules.

Asia. The Company broadcasts television programming over a “footprint” covering approximately 53 Asian countries. Most countries in which the Company operates have a regulatory framework for the satellite and cable television industry. Government regulation of direct reception and redistribution via cable or other means of satellite television signals, where it is addressed at all, is treated differently in each country. At one extreme are absolute bans on private ownership of satellite receiving equipment. Some countries, however, have adopted a less restrictive approach, opting to allow ownership of satellite receiving equipment by certain institutions and individuals but allowing them to receive only authorized broadcasts. At the opposite end of the spectrum are countries where private satellite dish ownership is allowed and laws and regulations have been adopted which support popular access to satellite services through local cable redistribution.

Most television services within Asia, whether free-to-air or pay television, are also subject to licensing requirements. In addition, most countries in which the Company operates control the content offered by local broadcast operators through censorship requirements to which program suppliers, such as the Company, are subject. Certain countries also require a minimum percentage of local content. Other countries require local broadcast operators to obtain government approval to retransmit foreign programming.

Additional categories of regulation of actual or potential significance to the Company are restrictions on foreign investment in distribution platforms, television programming production, limitations on exclusive arrangements for channel distribution and non-discrimination requirements for supply or carriage of programming and anti-competition or anti-trust legislation. Such restrictions are different in each country.

India. In India, private satellite dish ownership, including DTH, is allowed. Television viewers receive broadcast television signals primarily through terrestrial and cable delivery and, in more recent years, through DTH and IPTV delivery. Terrestrial broadcasting remains the domain of government-owned broadcast stations.

All cable television operators are required to carry certain government-operated channels. Retransmissions of foreign satellite channels, such as STAR India’s channels, are permitted, subject to licensing requirements and compliance with local applicable laws, including programming and advertisement codes. The Indian government requires that all cinematograph film and media content, whether produced in India or abroad, be certified by the Central Board of Film Certification prior to exhibition in India and also places certain restrictions on advertising content. The Indian Broadcasting Foundation has issued Self Regulatory Guidelines that apply to the programming on non-news and current affairs channels.

Limits are imposed by the Indian government on the increase in the year-on-year prices payable by cable operators to broadcasters for all pay and free-to-air channels, including the Company’s channels. Further, certain areas have been notified for pay channels to be compulsorily provided through conditional access systems where cable operators are required to provide such channels at a capped retail price, of which the broadcasters’ share is restricted to 45%. The wholesale and retail pricing tariffs are presently under review consequent to intervention by the Indian courts. While there is no tariff regulation for DTH at retail level, broadcasters are required to offer their channels to DTH platforms at 42% of the rates charged to analogue cable operators pursuant to an interim order by the Supreme Court of India. Broadcasters are also required to provide their channels on

 

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non-discriminatory terms to all distributors if no carriage charges are being sought from broadcasters. In October 2011, an ordinance was issued in India mandating that cable networks switch from analog to digital addressable systems. This ordinance was followed by a Notification outlining the timelines for switch off of analog cable systems in phases. When enacted, the ordinance amended the Cable Television Act and new rules were issued. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (“TRAI”) devised new Interconnect Regulations for digital addressable cable systems and issued amendments to the Tariff Order for digital addressable cable systems mandating that inter alia basic service tiers comprised of free-to-air channels be compulsorily offered to consumers. Regulations on consumer grievance redressal and quality of service were also issued by TRAI. When implemented, this new regime will replace the dispensation described above which capped in certain areas of India the retail prices and restricted broadcasters’ share to 45%. The first phase of this new regime is expected to be implemented in fiscal 2013 with the first compliance deadline extended by the Central Government to October 31, 2012 for the cities of Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai.

TRAI has also enacted regulations in May 2012 which would limit the amount of advertising time allowed on television channels. Such regulations have been challenged and the application of such regulations has been stayed by the Indian courts.

Latin America. The Company broadcasts television programming throughout approximately 18 Latin American countries, as well as the Caribbean. Certain countries in which the Company operates have a regulatory framework for the satellite and cable television industry. These regulations vary in each country as does their impact on the Company’s business. In Argentina, the government has required pay TV operators to carry certain government operated channels, imposed restrictions on the ability to effectuate price increases on rates charged to pay TV operators, reduced by half the available advertising inventory on the channels and enforced regulations affecting the withholding tax on advertisers purchasing advertising inventory on international channels. The Company is working to minimize the impact of the reduction of advertising inventory and tax implications on advertisers. In addition, the government in Argentina has implemented certain measures in currency exchange controls which have caused significant impediments and limitations to any person or entity moving money out of the country resulting in exposure to currency devaluation. In Mexico, the regulatory agency limited ad inventory to a strict six minutes per hour. In Brazil, a New Media Law requires, among other things: (i) that all channels distributed in the region contain at least three hours and thirty minutes per week of Brazilian content during prime time hours, half of which must be produced by a Brazilian independent producer; (ii) registration of all channels, programmers, local content and advertisements; (iii) website disclosure of programming and advertising content to ensure compliance with tax and other regulations; and (iv) mediation of local agency requirements and taxation on all advertising that is contracted abroad. While such tax shall primarily be paid by advertisers, programmers are ultimately responsible for the tax payment, and failure by advertisers to pay the required tax could subject programmers to fines or penalties. Compliance with the New Media Law increases the cost of doing business in the form of production/acquisition costs as well as third party administrative and legal expenses.

Europe. The sectors in which the Company operates in Europe are subject to both general competition laws and sector specific regulation. The regulatory regime applicable to the electronic communications and broadcasting sectors is, to a large extent, based on European Union (“EU”) law comprised in various EU directives that require EU member states to adopt national legislation to give effect to the directives’ objectives, while leaving the precise manner and form of the national legislation to the discretion of each member state. The Electronic Communications Directives regulate the provision of communication services, including networks and transmission services that are involved in the broadcasting of television services as well as the provisions of services and facilities associated with the operation of digital television platforms. The AudioVisual Media Services Directive sets out the basic principles for the regulation of television broadcasting activity, including broadcasting licensing, advertising and content regulation.

In connection with the Company’s acquisition of Telepiù Spa and Stream Spa to form SKY Italia in 2003, the EC placed on the operations of SKY Italia certain regulatory restrictions, which expired December 31, 2011.

 

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Filmed Entertainment

United States. FFE is subject to the provisions of so-called “trade practice laws” in effect in 25 states relating to theatrical distribution of motion pictures. These laws substantially restrict the licensing of motion pictures unless theater owners are first invited to attend a screening of the motion pictures and, in certain instances, also prohibit payment of advances and guarantees to motion picture distributors by exhibitors. Further, pursuant to various consent judgments, FFE and certain other motion picture companies are subject to certain restrictions on their trade practices in the United States, including a requirement to offer motion pictures for exhibition to theaters on a theater-by-theater basis and, in some cases, a prohibition against the ownership of theaters.

Other International Regulation. In countries outside of the United States, there are a variety of existing or contemplated governmental laws and regulations that may affect the ability of FFE to distribute and/or license its motion picture and television products to cinema, television or in-home media, including copyright laws and regulations that may or may not be adequate to protect its interests, cinema screen quotas, television quotas, contract term limitations, discriminatory taxes and other discriminatory treatment of U.S. products. The ability of countries to deny market access or refuse national treatment to products originating outside their territories is regulated under various international agreements, including the World Trade Organization’s General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and General Agreement on Trade and Services; however, these agreements have limited application with respect to preventing the denial of market access to audio-visual products originating outside the European Union.

Television

In general, the television broadcast industry in the United States is highly regulated by federal laws and regulations issued and administered by various federal agencies, including the FCC. The FCC regulates television broadcasting, and certain aspects of the operations of cable, satellite and other electronic media that compete with broadcasting, pursuant to the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the “Communications Act”).

The Communications Act permits the operation of television broadcast stations only in accordance with a license issued by the FCC upon a finding that the grant of the license would serve the public interest, convenience and necessity. The FCC grants television broadcast station licenses for specific periods of time and, upon application, may renew the licenses for additional terms. Under the Communications Act, television broadcast licenses may be granted for a maximum permitted term of eight years. Generally, the FCC renews broadcast licenses upon finding that: (i) the television station has served the public interest, convenience and necessity; (ii) there have been no serious violations by the licensee of the Communications Act or FCC rules and regulations; and (iii) there have been no other violations by the licensee of the Communications Act or FCC rules and regulations which, taken together, indicate a pattern of abuse. After considering these factors, the FCC may grant the license renewal application with or without conditions, including renewal for a lesser term than the maximum otherwise permitted, or hold an evidentiary hearing. Fox Television Stations has pending renewal applications for a number of its television station licenses. Seven of the pending applications have been opposed by third parties. On June 13, 2007 and May 15, 2008, Fox Television Stations entered into agreements with the FCC that preclude it from objecting, on the grounds that such action is barred by certain statutes of limitations, to FCC or other governmental action relating to (i) petitions to deny or complaints that have been filed against several owned and operated stations relating to programming that is alleged to violate the prohibition against indecent broadcasts or (ii) inquiries from the FCC regarding compliance with its sponsorship identification rules. For information on the television stations owned and operated by the Company, see “—Fox Television Stations” above.

In March 2010, the FCC delivered its national Broadband Plan to Congress, which reviews the nation’s broadband Internet infrastructure and recommends a number of initiatives to spur broadband deployment and use. In order to free up more spectrum for wireless broadband services, the Broadband Plan proposes to make

 

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spectrum available, including 120 megahertz of broadcast spectrum, by incentivizing current private-sector spectrum holders to return some of their spectrum to the government by 2015 through such initiatives as voluntary “incentive” spectrum auctions (with current licensees permitted to share in the auction proceeds) and “repacking” of channel assignments to increase efficient spectrum usage. If voluntary measures fail to yield the amount of spectrum the FCC deems necessary for wireless broadband deployment, the Broadband Plan proposes various mandates to reclaim spectrum, such as forced channel sharing. In response to the Broadband Plan, Congress passed legislation in February 2012 authorizing the FCC to conduct voluntary auctions of television broadcast station spectrum. Stations that continue their operations may have to change channels once the FCC “repacks” broadcast spectrum. The legislation requires the FCC to assist stations in retaining their current coverage areas, provides that no stations will be forced into the VHF band and establishes a fund to reimburse broadcasters for reasonable channel relocation expenses. The broadcast industry is exploring additional uses for currently allocated spectrum. In April 2010, Fox Television Stations and eleven other major broadcast station group owners formed Mobile Content Venture (“MCV”), a joint venture to develop a new national mobile content service utilizing the stations’ digital broadcast spectrum. MCV is expected to launch in 35 markets by the end of 2012. It is expected that FCC auctions and repacking will involve multiple rulemaking proceedings and may take several years to complete. It is not possible to predict the timing or outcome of implementation of the Broadband Plan, FCC spectrum auctions and repacking, or their effect on the Company.

On February 4, 2008, the FCC issued an order that concluded the quadrennial review of its broadcast ownership regulations required by the 1996 Telecom Act (the “February 2008 Order”). The FCC decided there should be no changes to its multiple ownership rules relating to the ownership of more than one television station in the same market. Those rules (i) permit the ownership of two television stations with overlapping coverage areas if the stations are in separate DMAs; and (ii) permit the ownership of two stations in the same DMA if their Grade B coverage areas do not overlap or if eight independently owned full power television stations will remain in the DMA after the stations that had been independently owned become commonly owned, and one of the merged stations is not among the top four-ranked stations in the market, based on audience share. The FCC modified its rule prohibiting common ownership of a broadcast station and a newspaper in the same market to allow such combinations in certain situations. The February 2008 Order was appealed by several parties, including the Company. On July 7, 2011, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit affirmed the FCC’s decision to retain its multiple ownership rules and vacated and remanded the revision to the newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership rule on the grounds the FCC failed to comply with procedural notice and comment requirements. On December 22, 2011, the FCC commenced the next quadrennial review, in which it proposed minor modifications to its ownership regulations. None of the proposed modifications would affect the impact of the FCC ownership rules on the Company’s current ownership of media properties. The Company has filed comments in the current proceeding, which is pending.

Fox Television Stations is in compliance with the rules governing ownership of multiple stations in the same market and with the national station ownership cap established by Congress. Fox Television Stations retains an attributable interest in the Post and two television stations in the New York DMA. On October 6, 2006, the FCC reaffirmed the Company’s permanent waiver of the newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership rule, which allows the common ownership of the Post and WNYW(TV), and granted a two-year temporary waiver of the rule to continue to allow the common ownership of the Post and WWOR-TV (the “October 2006 Order”). The Company has asked the FCC to extend the permanent waiver to WWOR-TV. The temporary waiver remains in effect pursuant to FCC precedent pending FCC action on this request. Parties opposed to the October 2006 Order filed a petition for reconsideration with the FCC, which was denied on May 22, 2009. Other opponents of the October 2006 Order have asked the FCC to reconsider its May 22, 2009 decision and have filed an opposition to the Company’s request for a permanent waiver. It is not possible to predict the timing or outcome of the FCC’s action on this request for reconsideration or its effect on the Company.

Under the Communications Act, no broadcast stations may be owned by a corporation if more than 25% of its stock is owned or voted by non-U.S. persons, their representatives, or by any other corporation organized under the laws of a foreign country. On April 18, 2012, the Company announced that it had determined that

 

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approximately 36% of the Company’s Class B Common Stock is owned by non-U.S. stakeholders, and the combined ownership of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock by non-U.S. stockholders is approximately 22% of the combined outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock. As authorized by the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation and in order to ensure compliance with the Communications Act, the Company suspended 50% of the voting rights of the Class B Common Stock held by non-U.S. stockholders. This suspension will remain in place for as long as the Company deems it necessary to maintain compliance with the Act. The FCC could review the Company’s compliance with the Act in connection with its consideration of Fox Television Stations’ license renewal applications.

FCC regulations implementing the Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992 require each television broadcaster to elect, at three-year intervals, either to (i) require carriage of its signal by cable systems in the station’s market (“must carry”) or (ii) negotiate the terms on which that broadcast station would permit transmission of its signal by the cable systems within its market (“retransmission consent”). Generally, the Company has elected retransmission consent for the stations owned and operated by Fox Television Stations. The Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act of 1999 requires satellite carriers to carry upon request all television stations located in markets in which the satellite carrier retransmits at least one local station pursuant to the copyright license provided in the statute (“Carry One, Carry All”). FCC regulations implementing this statutory provision require affected stations to elect either mandatory carriage at the same three year intervals applicable to cable “must carry” or negotiate carriage terms with the satellite operators. Several cable and satellite operators filed a petition for rulemaking with the FCC seeking changes in the retransmission consent regulations, including the imposition of mandatory arbitration and required interim carriage in the event the broadcaster and distributor fail to reach a carriage agreement. In March 2011, the FCC responded by initiating a rulemaking to explore changes to its retransmission consent regulations. The FCC tentatively concluded that it does not have the power to order mandatory arbitration or interim carriage and instead sought comment on modifications to its rules affecting retransmission consent negotiations, including providing more guidance under the FCC’s “good faith negotiation” standard, improving notice to consumers in advance of possible disruptions of TV station carriage and eliminating program exclusivity rules that restrict cable and satellite operators’ ability to negotiate for alternative access to network programming. Among other things, the FCC sought comment on whether it should be a per se violation of “good faith negotiation” requirements for a station to agree to give its network the right to approve retransmission consent agreements or to comply with such an approval requirement in the network affiliation agreement. The broadcast industry, including Fox Entertainment Group and Fox Television Stations, has filed comments opposing changes to the current retransmission consent regime. It is not possible to predict the timing or outcome of the rulemaking or its effect on the Company.

Legislation enacted in 1990 limits the amount of commercial matter that may be broadcast during programming designed for children 12 years of age and younger. In addition, under FCC license renewal processing guidelines, television stations are generally required to broadcast a minimum of three hours per week of programming, which, among other requirements, must serve, as a “significant purpose,” the educational and informational needs of children 16 years of age and under. A television station found not to have complied with the programming requirements or commercial limitations could face sanctions, including monetary fines and the possible non-renewal of its license.

FCC rules prohibit the broadcast by television and radio stations of indecent or profane material between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Beginning in March 2004, the FCC implemented a new policy regarding this prohibition and generally stepped up its enforcement of indecency violations. Under the new policy, the single use of certain forbidden expletives, or variations of those expletives, were deemed “indecent” and “profane.” The FCC also warned broadcasters that serious multiple violations of the indecency prohibition could lead to license revocation proceedings, and that fines could be imposed for each incident in a single broadcast. Under the new FCC policy, both complaints about indecency and FCC enforcement actions have increased, and several complaints alleging the broadcast of alleged indecent or profane material by Fox Television Stations are pending at the FCC. As of June 2006, the law authorizes the FCC to impose fines of up to $325,000 per incident for violation of the prohibition against indecent and profane broadcasts.

 

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On March 15, 2006, the FCC determined that the 2002 and 2003 Billboard Music Awards programs, both live broadcasts on FOX, violated the prohibitions against indecent and profane broadcasts because they contained isolated uses of the forbidden expletives (the “March 15 Order”). However, since these broadcasts preceded the FCC’s March 2004 policy, no forfeiture or other penalty was imposed. Nonetheless, in April 2006, Fox Television Stations appealed the March 15 Order to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals (the “Second Circuit”). On June 4, 2007, the Second Circuit granted Fox’s appeal, vacating the March 15 Order as well as the FCC’s new policy on “fleeting expletives” in its entirety on the grounds that both were arbitrary and capricious. The United States obtained review by the U.S. Supreme Court, which reversed the Second Circuit’s decision and remanded the case back to the Second Circuit for consideration of the constitutional issues that had been raised before but not yet decided by that court. On June 13, 2010, the Second Circuit vacated the March 15 Order and the FCC’s indecency policy underlying it on the grounds that the policy is unconstitutionally vague and violates the First Amendment. On June 21, 2012, the Supreme Court decided that the FCC failed to give FOX fair notice that the isolated use of expletives could violate the indecency prohibition and therefore the Commission’s standards as applied to the broadcasts in question were unconstitutionally vague. The Court vacated the violations for the Billboard Music Awards broadcasts and reversed the Second Circuit’s decision on the constitutionality of the FCC’s underlying indecency policy. It is not possible to predict the implications of the Supreme Court’s action for future FCC enforcement of its indecency rules.

On February 22, 2008, the FCC issued an order imposing forfeitures of $7,000 each on 13 FOX Affiliates, including five stations owned and operated by the Company, on the grounds that an April 7, 2003 episode of the program Married by America violated the prohibition against indecent broadcasts. On April 4, 2008, the United States commenced an action in federal district court in the District of Columbia against the five Company-owned stations to collect the forfeitures imposed by the FCC. One of the stations, WDAF-TV, subsequently paid the $7,000 forfeiture and was dismissed from the case in connection with the sale of that station by the Company to Oak Hill Capital Partners in July 2008. The Company moved to dismiss the suit on several grounds, including that the FCC’s forfeiture order is unconstitutional. It is not possible to predict the timing or outcome of this case or its effect on the Company.

Modifications to the Company’s programming to reduce the risk of indecency violations could have an adverse effect on the competitive position of Fox Television Stations and FOX. If indecency regulation is extended to cable and satellite programming, and such extension was found to be constitutional, some of the Company’s cable programming services could be subject to additional regulation that might affect subscription and viewership levels.

The FCC continues to enforce strictly its regulations concerning political advertising, children’s television, environmental concerns, equal employment opportunity, technical operating matters and antenna tower maintenance. FCC rules require the closed captioning of almost all broadcast and cable programming. A federal law enacted in late 2010 requires affiliates of the four largest broadcast networks in the 25 largest markets to carry 50 hours of prime time or children’s programming per calendar quarter with video descriptions, i.e., a verbal description of key visual elements is inserted into natural pauses in the audio and broadcast over a separate audio channel. Cable and satellite operators with 50,000 or more subscribers must do the same on each of the top five non-broadcast networks they carry. Compliance is required by July 1, 2012 and will apply to FOX affiliates in the Top 25 markets. Fox News Channel, which is among the top five non-broadcast networks, falls within the statutory exemption for “live or near-live” programming. The same statute requires programming that was captioned on television to retain captions when distributed via the Internet Protocol. Although not required by FCC regulation, the Company has committed to provide program ratings information for its broadcast network programming for use in conjunction with V Chip technology, which blocks the display of television programming based on its rating. The Company has also agreed to make this ratings information available for all full-length entertainment programs that stream on websites the Company controls. FCC regulations governing network affiliation agreements mandate that television broadcast station licensees retain the right to reject or refuse network programming in certain circumstances or to substitute programming that the licensee reasonably believes to be of greater local or national importance. Violation of FCC regulations can result in substantial monetary forfeitures, periodic reporting conditions, short-term license renewals and, in egregious cases, denial of license renewal or revocation of license.

 

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Internet

The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (“COPPA”) prohibits websites from collecting personally identifiable information online from children under age 13 without prior parental consent. The Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003 (“CAN-SPAM”) regulates the distribution of unsolicited commercial emails, or “spam.” Online services provided by the Company may be subject to COPPA and CAN-SPAM requirements.

Federal regulators’ interest in issues of privacy, cybersecurity and data security has been steadily increasing. On February 23, 2012, the Administration issued a white paper on consumer data privacy that includes a Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights. The Administration is convening a multi-stakeholder process to implement the Bill of Rights through industry codes of conduct that would be enforceable by the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) and State Attorneys General. The Administration also announced it would work with Congress to implement these rights through legislation. On March 26, 2012, the FTC released a report on consumer privacy, which sets forth a detailed privacy framework and urges industry to accelerate the pace of adoption of self-regulatory measures, including more widespread adoption of a Do-Not-Track browser mechanism. The report also recommends that Congress consider baseline privacy legislation incorporating the principles articulated in the framework. A number of privacy and data security bills have been introduced in both Houses of Congress that address the collection, maintenance and use of personal information, web browsing and geolocation data, data security and breach notification requirements, and cybersecurity. Several Congressional hearings have examined privacy implications for online, offline and mobile data. Some state legislatures have already adopted legislation that regulates how businesses operate on the Internet, including measures relating to privacy, data security and data breaches. The industry released a set of self-regulatory online behavioral advertising principles in 2009, which have been implemented by web publishers, online advertisers and online advertising networks. In November 2011, these principles were extended to the use of online consumer data for purposes other than advertising. It is unclear whether these and other industry self-regulatory efforts alone will address the concerns expressed by some federal and state officials about the collection of anonymous data online or via mobile applications to serve targeted content and advertising. It is not possible to predict whether proposed privacy and data security legislation will be enacted or to determine what effect such legislation might have on the Company’s business.

Foreign governments are raising similar privacy and data security concerns. In particular, the EU has proposed a new privacy regulation (the “EU Regulation”) that would replace the current Data Protection Directive, would tighten regulation of the collection, use and security of online data and would continue to restrict the trans-border flow of data. European industry has implemented a self-regulatory regime for online behavioral advertising that is largely consistent with the U.S. self-regulatory framework. The proposed EU Regulation will not be effective for at least three or four years and may undergo many changes before it is adopted. It is unclear how the final EU Regulation would affect the Company’s business.

The Company monitors pending legislation and regulatory initiatives to ascertain relevance, analyze impact and develop strategic direction surrounding regulatory trends and developments.

Raw Materials

As a major publisher of newspapers, magazines, free-standing inserts and books, the Company utilizes substantial quantities of various types of paper. In order to obtain the best available prices, substantially all of the Company’s paper purchasing is done on a centralized, volume purchase basis, and draws upon major paper manufacturing countries around the world. The Company believes that under present market conditions, its sources of paper supply used in its publishing activities are adequate.

 

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Intellectual Property

The Company’s intellectual property assets include: copyrights in motion pictures, television programming, newspapers, books, magazines, websites and technologies; trademarks in names, logos and characters; domain names; patents or patent applications for inventions related to its products, business methods and/or services; and licenses of intellectual property rights of various kinds. The Company derives value from these assets through the theatrical release of films and the production, distribution and/or licensing of its films and television programming to domestic and international television and cable networks, pay television services, pay-per-view, video-on-demand services and DTH satellite services, operation of websites, and through the sale of products, such as DVDs, Blu-rays, books, newspapers and magazines, among others.

The Company devotes significant resources to protecting its intellectual property in the United States and other key foreign territories. To protect these assets, the Company relies upon a combination of copyright, trademark, unfair competition, patent, trade secret and other laws and contract provisions. However, there can be no assurance of the degree to which these measures will be successful in any given case. Policing unauthorized use of the Company’s products and services and related intellectual property is often difficult and the steps taken may not in every case prevent the infringement by unauthorized third parties of the Company’s intellectual property. The Company seeks to limit that threat through a combination of approaches, including offering legitimate market alternatives, deploying digital rights management technologies, pursuing legal sanctions for infringement, promoting appropriate legislative initiatives and international treaties and enhancing public awareness of the meaning and value of intellectual property and intellectual property laws. Piracy, including in the digital environment, continues to present a threat to revenues from products and services based on intellectual property.

Third parties may challenge the validity or scope of the Company’s intellectual property from time to time, and such challenges could result in the limitation or loss of intellectual property rights. Irrespective of their validity, such claims may result in substantial costs and diversion of resources that could have an adverse effect on the Company’s operations. Moreover, effective intellectual property protection may be either unavailable or limited in certain foreign territories. Therefore, the Company engages in efforts to strengthen and update intellectual property protection around the world, including efforts to ensure the effective enforcement of intellectual property laws and remedies for infringement.

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

Prospective investors should consider carefully the risk factors set forth below before making an investment in the Company’s securities.

A Decline in Advertising Expenditures Could Cause the Company’s Revenues and Operating Results to Decline Significantly in any Given Period or in Specific Markets.

The Company derives substantial revenues from the sale of advertising on or in its television stations, broadcast and cable networks, newspapers, integrated marketing services, digital media properties and direct broadcast satellite services. Expenditures by advertisers tend to be cyclical, reflecting overall economic conditions, as well as budgeting and buying patterns. A decline in the economic prospects of advertisers or the economy in general could alter current or prospective advertisers’ spending priorities. Demand for the Company’s products is also a factor in determining advertising rates. For example, ratings points for the Company’s television stations, broadcast and cable networks and circulation levels for the Company’s newspapers are factors that are weighed when determining advertising rates, and with respect to the Company’s television stations and broadcast and television networks, when determining the affiliate rates received by the Company. In addition, newer technologies, including new video formats, streaming and downloading capabilities via the Internet, video-on-demand, personal video recorders, digital distribution models for books and other devices and technologies are increasing the number of media and entertainment choices available to audiences. Some of these devices and technologies allow users to view television or motion pictures from a remote location

 

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or on a time-delayed basis and provide users the ability to fast-forward, rewind, pause and skip programming and advertisements. These technological developments are increasing the number of media and entertainment choices available to audiences and may cause changes in consumer behavior that could affect the attractiveness of the Company’s offerings to viewers, advertisers and/or distributors. A decrease in advertising expenditures or reduced demand for the Company’s offerings can lead to a reduction in pricing and advertising spending, which could have an adverse effect on the Company’s businesses and assets.

Global Economic Conditions May Have a Continuing Adverse Effect on the Company’s Business.

The United States and global economies have undergone a period of economic uncertainty, which caused, among other things, a general tightening in the credit markets, limited access to the credit markets, lower levels of liquidity, increases in the rates of default and bankruptcy, lower consumer and business spending and lower consumer net worth. The resulting pressure on the labor and retail markets and the downturn in consumer confidence weakened the economic climate in certain markets in which the Company does business and has had and may continue to have an adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity. A continued decline in these economic conditions could further impact the Company’s business, reduce the Company’s advertising and other revenues and negatively impact the performance of its motion pictures and home entertainment releases, television operations, newspapers, books and other consumer products. In addition, these conditions could also impair the ability of those with whom the Company does business to satisfy their obligations to the Company. As a result, the Company’s results of operations may be adversely affected. Although the Company believes that its operating cash flow and current access to capital and credit markets, including the Company’s existing credit facility, will give it the ability to meet its financial needs for the foreseeable future, there can be no assurance that continued or increased volatility and disruption in the global capital and credit markets will not impair the Company’s liquidity or increase its cost of borrowing.

Acceptance of the Company’s Film and Television Programming by the Public is Difficult to Predict, Which Could Lead to Fluctuations in Revenues.

Feature film and television production and distribution are speculative businesses since the revenues derived from the production and distribution of a feature film or television series depend primarily upon its acceptance by the public, which is difficult to predict. The commercial success of a feature film or television series also depends upon the quality and acceptance of other competing films and television series released into the marketplace at or near the same time, the availability of a growing number of alternative forms of entertainment and leisure time activities, general economic conditions and their effects on consumer spending and other tangible and intangible factors, all of which can change and cannot be predicted with certainty. Further, the theatrical success of a feature film and the audience ratings for a television series are generally key factors in generating revenues from other distribution channels, such as home entertainment and premium pay television, with respect to feature films, and syndication, with respect to television series.

The Company Could Suffer Losses Due to Asset Impairment Charges for Goodwill, Intangible Assets and Programming.

In accordance with applicable generally accepted accounting principles, the Company performs an annual impairment assessment of its recorded goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, including FCC licenses and mastheads, during the fourth quarter of each fiscal year. The Company also continually evaluates whether current factors or indicators, such as the prevailing conditions in the capital markets, require the performance of an interim impairment assessment of those assets, as well as other investments and other long-lived assets. Any significant shortfall, now or in the future, in advertising revenue and/or the expected popularity of the programming for which the Company has acquired rights could lead to a downward revision in the fair value of certain reporting units, particularly those in the Publishing, Television and Cable Network Programming segments. A downward revision in the fair value of a reporting unit, indefinite-lived intangible assets, investments or long-lived assets could result in an impairment and a non-cash charge would be required. Any such charge could be material to the Company’s reported net earnings.

 

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Fluctuations in Foreign Exchange Rates Could Have an Adverse Effect on the Company’s Results of Operations.

The Company has significant operations in a number of foreign jurisdictions and certain of the Company operations are conducted in foreign currencies. The value of these currencies fluctuates relative to the U.S. dollar. As a result, the Company is exposed to exchange rate fluctuations, which could have an adverse effect on its results of operations in a given period or in specific markets.

The Loss of Carriage Agreements Could Cause the Company’s Revenue and Operating Results to Decline Significantly in any Given Period or in Specific Markets.

The Company is dependent upon the maintenance of affiliation agreements with third party owned television stations and there can be no assurance that these affiliation agreements will be renewed in the future on terms acceptable to the Company. The loss of a significant number of these affiliation arrangements could reduce the distribution of FOX and MyNetworkTV and adversely affect the Company’s ability to sell national and local advertising time. Similarly, the Company’s cable networks maintain affiliation and carriage arrangements that enable them to reach a large percentage of cable and direct broadcast satellite households across the United States. The loss of a significant number of these arrangements or the loss of carriage on basic programming tiers could reduce the distribution of the Company’s cable networks, which may adversely affect those networks’ revenues from subscriber fees and their ability to sell national and local advertising time.

The Inability to Renew Sports Programming Rights Could Cause the Company’s Advertising Revenue to Decline Significantly in any Given Period or in Specific Markets.

The sports rights contracts between the Company, on the one hand, and various professional sports leagues and teams, on the other, have varying duration and renewal terms. As these contracts expire, renewals on favorable terms may be sought; however, third parties may outbid the current rights holders for the rights contracts. In addition, professional sports leagues or teams may create their own networks or the renewal costs could substantially exceed the original contract cost. The loss of rights could impact the extent of the sports coverage offered by the Company and its affiliates, as it relates to FOX, and could adversely affect the Company’s advertising and affiliate revenues. Upon renewal, the Company’s results could be adversely affected if escalations in sports programming rights costs are unmatched by increases in advertising rates and, in the case of cable networks, subscriber fees.

The Company Relies on Network and Information Systems and Other Technology That May Be Subject to Disruption or Misuse, Which Could Result in Improper Disclosure of Personal Data or Confidential Information as well as Increased Costs or Loss of Revenue.

Network and information systems and other technologies, including those related to our network management, are important to our business activities. Network and information systems-related events, such as computer hackings, computer viruses, worms or other destructive or disruptive software, process breakdowns, denial of service attacks, malicious social engineering or other malicious activities, or any combination of the foregoing, could result in a disruption of our services or improper disclosure of personal data or confidential information. Improper disclosure of such information could harm our reputation, require us to expend resources to remedy such a security breach or subject us to liability under laws that protect personal data, resulting in increased costs or loss of revenue.

Technological Developments May Increase the Threat of Content Piracy and Signal Theft and Limit the Company’s Ability to Protect Its Intellectual Property Rights.

The Company seeks to limit the threat of content piracy and direct broadcast satellite programming signal theft; however, policing unauthorized use of the Company’s products and services and related intellectual property is often difficult and the steps taken by the Company may not in every case prevent the infringement by

 

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unauthorized third parties. Developments in technology, including digital copying, file compressing and the growing penetration of high-bandwidth Internet connections, increase the threat of content piracy by making it easier to duplicate and widely distribute pirated material. In addition, developments in software or devices that circumvent encryption technology increase the threat of unauthorized use and distribution of direct broadcast satellite programming signals and the proliferation of user-generated content sites and live and stored video streaming sites, which deliver unauthorized copies of copyrighted content, including those emanating from other countries in various languages, may adversely impact the Company’s businesses. The Company has taken, and will continue to take, a variety of actions to combat piracy and signal theft, both individually and, in some instances, together with industry associations. However, protection of the Company’s intellectual property rights is dependent on the scope and duration of the Company’s rights as defined by applicable laws in the United States and abroad and the manner in which those laws are construed. If those laws are drafted or interpreted in ways that limit the extent or duration of the Company’s rights, or if existing laws are changed, the Company’s ability to generate revenue from intellectual property may decrease, or the cost of obtaining and maintaining rights may increase. There can be no assurance that the Company’s efforts to enforce its rights and protect its products, services and intellectual property will be successful in preventing content piracy or signal theft. Content piracy and signal theft present a threat to the Company’s revenues from products and services, including, but not limited to, films, television shows, books and direct broadcast satellite programming.

The Company Must Respond to Changes in Consumer Behavior as a Result of New Technologies in Order to Remain Competitive.

Technology, particularly digital technology used in the entertainment industry, continues to evolve rapidly, leading to alternative methods for the delivery and storage of digital content. These technological advancements have driven changes in consumer behavior and have empowered consumers to seek more control over when, where and how they consume digital content. Content owners are increasingly delivering their content directly to consumers over the Internet, often without charge, and innovations in distribution platforms have enabled consumers to view such Internet-delivered content on televisions and portable devices. There is a risk that the Company’s responses to these changes and strategies to remain competitive, including distribution of its content on a “pay” basis, may not be adopted by consumers. In addition, enhanced Internet capabilities and other new media may reduce television viewership, the demand for DVDs and Blu-rays, the desire to see motion pictures in theaters and the demand for newspapers, which could negatively affect the Company’s revenues. In publishing, the trending toward digital media may drive down the price consumers are willing to spend on our products disproportionately to the costs associated with generating literary content. The Company’s failure to protect and exploit the value of its content, while responding to and developing new technology and business models to take advantage of advancements in technology and the latest consumer preferences, could have a significant adverse effect on the Company’s businesses, asset values and results of operations.

Labor Disputes May Have an Adverse Effect on the Company’s Business.

In a variety of the Company’s businesses, the Company and its partners engage the services of writers, directors, actors and other talent, trade employees and others who are subject to collective bargaining agreements, including employees of the Company’s film and television studio operations and newspapers. If the Company or its partners are unable to renew expiring collective bargaining agreements, it is possible that the affected unions could take action in the form of strikes or work stoppages. Such actions, as well as higher costs in connection with these collective bargaining agreements or a significant labor dispute, could have an adverse effect on the Company’s business by causing delays in production or by reducing profit margins.

Changes in U.S. or Foreign Regulations May Have an Adverse Effect on the Company’s Business.

The Company is subject to a variety of U.S. and foreign regulations in the jurisdictions in which its businesses operate. In general, the television broadcasting and multichannel video programming and distribution industries in the United States are highly regulated by federal laws and regulations issued and administered by

 

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various federal agencies, including the FCC. The FCC generally regulates, among other things, the ownership of media, broadcast and multichannel video programming and technical operations of broadcast licensees. Our program services and online properties are subject to a variety of laws and regulations, including those relating to issues such as content regulation, user privacy and data protection, and consumer protection, among others. Further, the United States Congress, the FCC and state legislatures currently have under consideration, and may in the future adopt, new laws, regulations and policies regarding a wide variety of matters, including technological changes and measures relating to privacy and data security, which could, directly or indirectly, affect the operations and ownership of the Company’s U.S. media properties. Similarly, changes in regulations imposed by governments in other jurisdictions in which the Company, or entities in which the Company has an interest, operate could adversely affect its business and results of operations.

In addition, changes in tax laws, regulations or the interpretations thereof in the U.S. and other jurisdictions in which the Company has operations could affect the Company’s results of operations.

U.S. Citizenship Requirements May Limit Common Stock Ownership and Voting Rights.

The Company owns broadcast station licensees in connection with its ownership and operation of U.S. television stations. Under U.S. law, no broadcast station licensee may be owned by a corporation if more than 25% of its stock is owned or voted by non-U.S. persons, their representatives, or by any other corporation organized under the laws of a foreign country. The Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation authorizes the Board to prevent, cure or mitigate the effect of stock ownership above the applicable foreign ownership threshold by taking any action including: refusing to permit any transfer of common stock to or ownership of common stock by a non-U.S. stockholder; voiding a transfer of common stock to a non-U.S. stockholder; suspending rights of stock ownership if held by a non-U.S. stockholder; or redeeming common stock held by a non-U.S. stockholder. On April 18, 2012, the Company announced that it had determined that approximately 36% of the Company’s Class B Common Stock is owned by non-U.S. stockholders, and the combined ownership of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock by non-U.S. stockholders is approximately 22% of the combined outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock. In order to ensure compliance with U.S. law, the Company suspended 50% of the voting rights of the Class B Common Stock held by non-U.S. stockholders. This suspension will remain in place for as long as the Company deems it necessary to maintain compliance with applicable U.S. law. The Company is not able to predict whether it will need to adjust the suspension or whether additional action pursuant to its Restated Certificate of Incorporation may be necessary. The FCC could review the Company’s compliance with applicable U.S. law in connection with its consideration of the Company’s renewal applications for licenses to operate the broadcast stations the Company owns.

We Face Criminal Investigations Regarding Allegations of Phone Hacking and Inappropriate Payments to Public Officials and Other Related Matters and Related Civil Lawsuits.

U.K. and U.S. regulators and governmental authorities are conducting investigations initiated in 2011 after allegations of phone hacking and inappropriate payments to public officials at our former publication, The News of the World, and other related matters, including investigations into whether similar conduct may have occurred at the Company’s subsidiaries outside of the U.K. The Company is cooperating fully with these investigations.

The Company has admitted liability in a number of civil cases related to the phone hacking allegations and has settled a number of cases. The Company has announced a process under which parties can pursue claims against the Company, and management believes that it is probable that additional claims will be filed.

We are not able to predict the ultimate outcome or cost of the investigations. Violations of law may result in civil, administrative or criminal fines or penalties. It is also possible that these proceedings could damage our reputation and might impair our ability to conduct our business. Any fees, expenses, fines, penalties, judgments or settlements which might be incurred by the Company in connection with the various proceedings could affect the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.

 

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The Proposed Separation of the Company’s Publishing and Media and Entertainment Businesses into Two Distinct Publicly Traded Companies May Not Be Completed on the Terms or Timeline Currently Contemplated, If At All.

In June 2012, the Company announced its intention to pursue the separation of its publishing and media and entertainment businesses into two distinct publicly traded companies (the “Proposed Separation Transaction”). Unanticipated developments could delay or negatively impact the Proposed Separation Transaction, including those related to the filing and effectiveness of appropriate filings with the SEC, obtaining favorable rulings from certain tax jurisdictions regarding the tax-free nature of the transaction to the Company and its stockholders, obtaining opinions from tax counsel and regulatory approvals, completing further due diligence as appropriate, and changes in market conditions, among other things. In addition, consummation of the Proposed Separation Transaction will require final approval from the Company’s Board of Directors and stockholders. Therefore, we cannot assure that we will be able to complete the Proposed Separation Transaction on the terms or on the timeline that we announced, if at all.

We are actively engaged in planning for the Proposed Separation Transaction. We expect to incur expenses in connection with the Proposed Separation Transaction and any delays in the anticipated completion of the Proposed Separation Transaction may increase these expenses. In addition, completion of the Proposed Separation Transaction will require significant amounts of our management’s time and effort which may divert management’s attention from our businesses. The Proposed Separation Transaction may result in the division of key employees into the two separate public companies which may create a knowledge and skill gap.

Further, shares of our common stock will represent an investment in two smaller separate public companies. These changes may not meet some stockholders’ investment strategies, which could cause investors to sell their shares of our common stock in either company. Excessive selling could cause the relative market price of common stock in either or both companies to decrease following completion of the Proposed Separation Transaction.

 

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

 

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

The Company owns and leases various real properties in the United States, Europe, Australia and Asia that are utilized in the conduct of its businesses. Each of these properties is considered to be in good condition, adequate for its purpose and suitably utilized according to the individual nature and requirements of the relevant operations. The Company’s policy is to improve and replace property as considered appropriate to meet the needs of the individual operation.

United States

The Company’s principal real properties in the United States are the following:

 

  (a) The Fox Studios Lot, in Los Angeles, California, owned by the Company, containing sound stages, production facilities, administrative, technical and dressing room structures, screening theaters and machinery, equipment facilities and four restaurants;

 

  (b) The leased office space by FFE at Fox Plaza, located adjacent to the Fox Studios Lot and the leased office and production facility of Shine America in Los Angeles, California;

 

  (c) The leased U.S. headquarters of News Corporation, located in New York, New York. These spaces include the executive and editorial offices of Dow Jones, the editorial offices of the Post, the executive offices of NAMG, the home office for Fox Television Stations and various other operations, including the offices and broadcast studios of Fox News;

 

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  (d) The leased offices of HarperCollins U.S. in New York, New York;

 

  (e) The leased office and warehouse facilities of HarperCollins U.S. in Scranton, Pennsylvania;

 

  (f) The printing plant of the Post located in Bronx, New York owned by the Company;

 

  (g) The leased offices of Wireless Generation in Brooklyn, New York;

 

  (h) The leased offices of the Company’s digital media business properties in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles and San Francisco, California; and

 

  (i) The office space campus owned by the Company in South Brunswick, New Jersey.

Europe

The Company’s principal real properties in Europe are the following:

 

  (a) The newspaper production and printing facilities for its U.K. newspapers, which consist of:

 

  1. The leased office space at each of Thomas More Square, London, England; Fleet House, Peterborough, England; Dublin, Ireland and Glasgow City Centre, Scotland; and

 

  2. The freehold interests in each of a publishing and printing facility in Broxbourne, England and printing facilities in Knowsley, England and North Lanarkshire, Scotland.

 

  (b) The leased headquarters and editorial offices of HarperCollins Publishers Limited in London, England;

 

  (c) The leased office space of Dow Jones in London, England;

 

  (d) The leased warehouse and office facilities of HarperCollins Publishers Limited in Glasgow, Scotland;

 

  (e) The leased office and theater space of Fox Group in London, England;

 

  (f) The leased office and production facilities of Shine at two locations in London, England, one location in Copenhagen, Denmark and one location in Stockholm, Sweden;

 

  (g) The leased office space and television production and broadcasting studios of SKY Italia in Rome, Italy; and

 

  (h) The leased corporate offices and television production and broadcasting studios of SKY Italia in Milan, Italy.

Australia and Asia

The Company’s principal real properties in Australia and Asia are the following:

 

  (a) The Australian newspaper production and printing facilities which consist of:

 

  1. The Company-owned print center and office building in Sydney, Australia at which The Australian, the Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph are printed and published;

 

  2. The Company-owned print center and the leased facility in Melbourne, Australia at which the Herald-Sun and the Sunday Herald-Sun are printed and published;

 

  3. The Company-owned print center and office building in Adelaide, Australia utilized in the printing and publishing of The Advertiser and The Sunday Mail;

 

  4. The Company-owned print center and office building in Brisbane, Australia at which The Courier Mail and Sunday Mail are printed and published; and

 

  5. The two Company-owned buildings in Perth, Australia used to print and publish The Sunday Times.

 

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  (b) The leased Fox Studios Australia Lot in Sydney, Australia, containing sound stages, production facilities and administrative, technical, dressing room and personnel support services structures;

 

  (c) The leased premises in Hong Kong and other Asian cities used by FIC for its television broadcasting and programming operations;

 

  (d) The leased and owned premises in Mumbai, India used by STAR India for its corporate office and programming operations; and

 

  (e) The leased office space of Dow Jones in Hong Kong.

 

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Shareholder Litigation

Delaware

On March 16, 2011, a complaint seeking to compel the inspection of the Company’s books and records pursuant to 8 Del. C. § 220, captioned Central Laborers Pension Fund v. News Corporation, was filed in the Delaware Court of Chancery. The plaintiff requested the Company’s books and records to investigate alleged possible breaches of fiduciary duty by the directors of the Company in connection with the Company’s purchase of Shine (the “Shine Transaction”). The Company moved to dismiss the action. On November 30, 2011, the court issued an order granting the Company’s motion and dismissing the complaint. The plaintiff filed a notice of appeal on December 13, 2011. The Delaware Supreme Court heard argument on the fully-briefed appeal on April 18, 2012 and issued a decision on May 29, 2012 in which it affirmed the Court of Chancery’s dismissal of the complaint.

Also on March 16, 2011, two purported shareholders of the Company, one of which was Central Laborers Pension Fund, filed a derivative action in the Delaware Court of Chancery, captioned The Amalgamated Bank v. Murdoch, et al. (the “Amalgamated Bank Litigation”). The plaintiffs alleged that both the directors of the Company and Rupert Murdoch as a “controlling shareholder” breached their fiduciary duties in connection with the Shine Transaction. The suit named as defendants all directors of the Company, and named the Company as a nominal defendant. Similar claims against the same group of defendants were filed in the Delaware Court of Chancery by a purported shareholder of the Company, New Orleans Employees’ Retirement System, on March 25, 2011 (the “New Orleans Employees’ Retirement Litigation”). Both the Amalgamated Bank Litigation and the New Orleans Employees’ Retirement Litigation were consolidated on April 6, 2011 (the “Consolidated Action”), with The Amalgamated Bank’s complaint serving as the operative complaint. The Consolidated Action was captioned In re News Corp. Shareholder Derivative Litigation. On April 9, 2011, the court entered a scheduling order governing the filing of an amended complaint and briefing on potential motions to dismiss.

Thereafter, the plaintiffs in the Consolidated Action filed a Verified Consolidated Shareholder Derivative and Class Action Complaint (the “Consolidated Complaint”) on May 13, 2011, seeking declaratory relief and damages. The Consolidated Complaint largely restated the claims in The Amalgamated Bank’s initial complaint and also raised a direct claim on behalf of a purported class of Company shareholders relating to the possible addition of Elisabeth Murdoch to the Company’s Board. The defendants filed opening briefs in support of motions to dismiss the Consolidated Complaint on June 10, 2011, as contemplated by the court’s scheduling order. On July 8, 2011, the plaintiffs filed a Verified Amended Consolidated Shareholder Derivative and Class Action Complaint (the “Amended Complaint”). In addition to the claims that were previously raised in the Consolidated Complaint, the Amended Complaint brought claims relating to the alleged acts of voicemail interception at The News of the World (the “NoW Matter”). Specifically, the plaintiffs claimed in the Amended Complaint that the directors of the Company failed in their duty of oversight regarding the NoW Matter.

On July 15, 2011, another purported stockholder of the Company filed a derivative action captioned Massachusetts Laborers’ Pension & Annuity Funds v. Murdoch, et al., in the Delaware Court of Chancery (the “Mass. Laborers Litigation”). The complaint names as defendants the directors of the Company and the

 

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Company as a nominal defendant. The plaintiffs’ claims are substantially similar to those raised by the Amended Complaint in the Consolidated Action. Specifically, the plaintiff alleged that the directors of the Company have breached their fiduciary duties by, among other things, approving the Shine Transaction and for failing to exercise proper oversight in connection with the NoW Matter. The plaintiff also brought a breach of fiduciary duty claim against Rupert Murdoch as “controlling shareholder,” and a waste claim against the directors of the Company. The action seeks as relief damages, injunctive relief, fees and costs. On July 25, 2011, the plaintiffs in the Consolidated Action requested that the court consolidate the Mass. Laborers Litigation into the Consolidated Action. On August 24, 2011, the Mass. Laborers Litigation was consolidated with the Consolidated Action.

On September 29, 2011, the plaintiffs filed a Verified Second Amended Consolidated Shareholder Derivative and Class Action Complaint (“Second Amended Complaint”). In the Second Amended Complaint, the plaintiffs removed their claims involving the possible addition of Elisabeth Murdoch to the Company’s Board, added some factual allegations to support their remaining claims and added a claim seeking to enjoin a buyback of Common B shares to the extent it would result in a change of control. The Second Amended Complaint seeks declaratory relief, an injunction preventing the buyback of Class B shares, damages, pre- and post-judgment interest, fees and costs.

The defendants filed a motion to dismiss the Second Amended Complaint. The hearing on the defendants’ fully-briefed motion to dismiss was postponed to allow further briefing by plaintiffs after the Cohen Litigation, which is defined and described below, was consolidated with the Consolidated Action.

On March 2, 2012, another purported stockholder of the Company filed a derivative action captioned Belle M. Cohen v. Murdoch, et al., in the Delaware Court of Chancery (the “Cohen Litigation”). The complaint names as defendants the directors of the Company and the Company as a nominal defendant. The complaint’s claims and allegations pertain to the NoW Matter and are substantially similar to the NoW Matter allegations raised in the Second Amended Complaint in the Consolidated Action. The complaint asserts causes of action against the defendants for alleged breach of fiduciary duty, gross mismanagement, contribution and indemnification, abuse of control, and waste of corporate assets. The action seeks as relief damages, fees and costs. On March 20, 2012, the Cohen Litigation was consolidated with the Consolidated Action.

On June 18, 2012, the plaintiffs in the Consolidated Action filed a Verified Third Amended Consolidated Shareholder Derivative Complaint (the “Third Amended Complaint”). The Third Amended Complaint alleges claims against director defendants for breach of fiduciary duty arising from the Shine Transaction; against Rupert Murdoch for breach of fiduciary duty as the purported controlling shareholder of the Company in connection with the Shine Transaction; against director defendants for breach of fiduciary duty arising from their purported failure to investigate illegal conduct in the NoW Matter and allegedly permitting the Company to engage in a cover up; against certain defendants for breach of fiduciary duty in their capacity as officers arising from a purported failure to investigate illegal conduct in the NoW Matter and allegedly permitting the Company to engage in a cover up; and against James Murdoch for breach of fiduciary duty for allegedly engaging in a cover up related to the NoW Matter. The class action claim asserted in the Second Amended Complaint pertaining to the buyback of Common B shares and the relief related to that claim were removed. The Third Amended Complaint seeks a declaration that the defendants violated their fiduciary duties, damages, pre- and post-judgment interest, fees and costs.

On July 18, 2012, the defendants renewed their postponed motion to dismiss in the Consolidated Action, and in support thereof, they filed supplemental briefing directed towards the allegations of the Third Amended Complaint. Plaintiffs’ response is due on August 8, 2012, and the hearing date is set for September 19, 2012.

On May 30, 2012, a purported stockholder of the Company filed a class action lawsuit in the Delaware Court of Chancery on behalf of all non-U.S. stockholders of the Company’s Class B shares, captioned Första Ap-Fonden v. News Corporation, et al. The plaintiff alleges that, by temporarily suspending 50% of the voting rights of the Class B shares held by non-U.S. stockholders to remain in compliance with U.S. governing

 

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broadcast licenses (the “Suspension”), the Company and the Board violated the Company’s charter and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (“DGCL”) and the directors breached their fiduciary duties, both in approving the Suspension and in failing to monitor the Company’s ownership by non-U.S. stockholders. The complaint named as defendants the Company and all directors of the Company at the time of the Suspension. The complaint sought a declaration that the defendants violated the Company’s charter and the DGCL, a declaration that the directors breached their fiduciary duties, a declaration that the Suspension is invalid and unenforceable, an injunction of the Suspension, damages, fees, and costs. On June 11, 2012, the defendants filed an opening brief in support of a motion to dismiss the complaint in its entirety. On August 2, 2012, the plaintiff filed a Verified Amended and Supplemented Class Action Complaint (the “Amended and Supplemented Complaint”). The Amended and Supplemented Complaint seeks a declaration that the defendants violated the Company’s charter and the DGCL, a declaration that the directors breached their fiduciary duties, a declaration that the Suspension is invalid and unenforceable, an injunction of the Suspension, a declaration that non-U.S. stockholders of the Company’s Class B shares are entitled to vote all of their shares on the Proposed Separation Transaction, damages, fees, and costs. The Company and its directors believe that the plaintiff’s claims are entirely without merit and intend to vigorously defend this action.

Southern District of New York

On July 18, 2011, a purported shareholder of the Company filed a derivative action captioned Shields v. Murdoch, et al. (“Shields Litigation”), in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The plaintiff alleged violations of Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act, as well as state law claims for breach of fiduciary duty, gross mismanagement, waste, abuse of control and contribution/indemnification arising from, and in connection with, the NoW Matter. The complaint names the directors of the Company as defendants and names the Company as a nominal defendant, and seeks damages and costs. On August 4, 2011, the plaintiff filed an amended complaint. The plaintiff seeks compensatory damages, an order declaring the October 15, 2010 shareholder vote on the election of the Company’s directors void; an order setting an emergency shareholder vote date for election of new directors; an order requiring the Company to take certain specified corporate governance actions; and an order (i) putting forward a shareholder vote resolution for amendments to the Company’s Article of Incorporation and (ii) taking such other action as may be necessary to place before shareholders for a vote on corporate governance policies that: (a) appoint a non-executive Chair of the Board who is not related to the Murdoch family or extended family; (b) appoint an independent Chair of the Board’s Audit Committee; (c) appoint at least three independent directors to the Governance and Nominating Committees; (d) strengthen the Board’s supervision of financial reporting processes and implement procedures for greater shareholder input into the policies and guidelines of the Board; and (e) appropriately test and strengthen the internal and audit control functions.

On July 19, 2011, a purported class action lawsuit captioned Wilder v. News Corp., et al. (“Wilder Litigation”), was filed on behalf of all purchasers of the Company’s common stock between March 3, 2011 and July 11, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The plaintiff brought claims under Section 10(b) and Section 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act, alleging that false and misleading statements were issued regarding the NoW Matter. The suit names as defendants the Company, Rupert Murdoch, James Murdoch and Rebekah Brooks, and seeks compensatory damages, rescission for damages sustained, and costs.

On July 22, 2011, a purported shareholder of the Company filed a derivative action captioned Stricklin v. Murdoch, et al. (“Stricklin Litigation”), in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The plaintiff brought claims for breach of fiduciary duty, gross mismanagement, and waste of corporate assets in connection with, among other things, (i) the NoW Matter; (ii) News America’s purported payments to settle allegations of anti-competitive behavior; and (iii) the Shine Transaction. The action names as defendants the Company, Les Hinton, Rebekah Brooks, Paul Carlucci and the directors of the Company. On August 3, 2011, the plaintiff served a motion for expedited discovery and to appoint a conservator over the Company, which defendants objected to. The motion has not been formally calendared and there is no briefing schedule yet. On

 

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August 16, 2011, the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint. The plaintiff seeks various forms of relief including compensatory damages, injunctive relief, disgorgement, the award of voting rights to Class A shareholders, the appointment of a conservator over the Company to oversee the Company’s responses to investigations and litigation related to the NoW Matter, fees and costs.

On August 10, 2011, a purported shareholder of the Company filed a derivative action captioned Iron Workers Mid-South Pension Fund v. Murdoch, et al. (“Iron Workers Litigation”), in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The plaintiff brought claims for breach of fiduciary duty, waste of corporate assets, unjust enrichment and alleged violations of Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act in connection with the NoW Matter. The action names as defendants the Company, Les Hinton, Rebekah Brooks and the directors of the Company. The plaintiff seeks various forms of relief including compensatory damages, voiding the election of the director defendants, an order requiring the Company to take certain specified corporate governance actions, injunctive relief, restitution, fees and costs.

The Wilder Litigation, the Stricklin Litigation and the Iron Workers Litigation are all now before the judge in the Shields Litigation. On November 21, 2011, the court issued an order setting a briefing schedule for the defendants’ motion to stay the Stricklin Litigation, the Iron Workers Litigation and the Shields Litigation pending the outcome of the consolidated action pending in the Delaware Court of Chancery. On December 8, 2011, the defendants and the Company, as a nominal defendant, served their motion to stay. Opposition briefs were served by Stricklin, Iron Workers and Shields. Reply briefs in support of the motion to stay were filed on January 24, 2012. No hearing date is set. In the Wilder Litigation, on June 5, 2012, the court issued an order appointing the Avon Pension Fund (“Avon”) as lead plaintiff and Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd as lead counsel. Thereafter, on July 3, 2012, the court issued an order providing that (i) an amended consolidated complaint shall be filed by July 31, 2012; (ii) answers and/or motions to dismiss have to be filed September 14, 2012; and (iii) if motions to dismiss are filed, opposition briefs are due by October 26, 2012 with reply briefs filed by November 16, 2012. Avon filed an amended consolidated complaint on July 31, 2012.

The Company and its Board of Directors believe these shareholder claims are entirely without merit, and intend to vigorously defend these actions.

The News of the World Investigations and Litigation

U.K. and U.S. regulators and governmental authorities are conducting investigations initiated in 2011 after allegations of phone hacking and inappropriate payments to public officials at our former publication, The News of the World, and other related matters, including investigations into whether similar conduct may have occurred at the Company’s subsidiaries outside of the U.K. The Company is cooperating fully with these investigations. It is possible that these proceedings could damage our reputation and might impair our ability to conduct our business.

The Company is not able to predict the ultimate outcome or cost associated with these investigations. Violations of law may result in civil, administrative or criminal fines or penalties. The Company has admitted liability in a number of civil cases related to the phone hacking allegations and has settled a number of cases. As of June 30, 2012, the Company has provided for its best estimate of the liability for the claims that have been filed. The Company has announced a process under which parties can pursue claims against the Company, and management believes that it is probable that additional claims will be filed. It is not possible to estimate the liability for such additional claims given the information that is currently available to the Company. If more claims are filed and additional information becomes available, the Company will update the liability provision for such matters. Any fees, expenses, fines, penalties, judgments or settlements which might be incurred by the Company in connection with the various proceedings could affect the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.

 

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HarperCollins

Commencing on August 9, 2011, twenty-nine purported consumer class actions have been filed in the U.S. District Courts for the Southern District of New York and for the Northern District of California, which relate to the decisions by certain publishers, including HarperCollins Publishers L.L.C. (“HarperCollins”), to begin selling their eBooks pursuant to an agency relationship. The cases all involve allegations that certain named defendants in the book publishing and distribution industry, including HarperCollins, violated the antitrust and unfair competition laws by virtue of the switch to the agency model for eBooks. The actions seek as relief treble damages, injunctive relief and attorneys’ fees. The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation has transferred the various class actions to the Honorable Denise L. Cote in the Southern District of New York. On January 20, 2012, plaintiffs filed a consolidated amended complaint, again alleging that certain named defendants, including HarperCollins, violated the antitrust and unfair competition laws by virtue of the switch to the agency model for eBooks. Defendants filed a motion to dismiss on March 2, 2012. On May 15, 2012, Judge Cote denied defendants’ motion to dismiss. On June 22, 2012, Judge Cote held a status conference to address discovery and scheduling issues. On June 25, 2012, Judge Cote issued a scheduling order for the multi-district litigation going forward. Additional information about In re MDL Electronic Books Antitrust Litigation, Civil Action No. 11-md-02293 (DLC), can be found on Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER). While it is not possible to predict with any degree of certainty the ultimate outcome of these class actions, HarperCollins believes it was compliant with applicable antitrust and competition laws.

Following an investigation, on April 11, 2012, the Department of Justice (the “DOJ”) filed an action in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against certain publishers, including HarperCollins, and Apple, Inc. The DOJ’s complaint alleges antitrust violations relating to defendants’ decisions to begin selling eBooks pursuant to an agency relationship. This case was assigned to Judge Cote. Simultaneously, the DOJ announced that it had reached a proposed settlement with three publishers, including HarperCollins, and filed a Proposed Final Judgment and related materials detailing that agreement. Among other things, the Proposed Final Judgment requires that HarperCollins terminate its agreements with certain eBook retailers and places certain restrictions on any agreements subsequently entered into with such retailers. Pursuant to the Antitrust Procedures and Penalties Act, the Proposed Final Judgment cannot be entered by Judge Cote for at least sixty days while the DOJ receives public comments. Such public comment period ended on June 25, 2012. Pursuant to Judge Cote’s June 25, 2012 scheduling order, the DOJ’s motion for entry of the Proposed Final Judgment will be fully briefed by August 22, 2012. Additional information about the Proposed Final Judgment can be found on the DOJ’s website.

Following an investigation, on April 11, 2012, 16 state Attorneys General led by Texas and Connecticut (the “AGs”) filed a similar action against certain publishers and Apple, Inc. in the Western District of Texas. On April 26, 2012, the AGs’ action was transferred to Judge Cote. On May 17, 2012, 33 AGs filed a second amended complaint. As a result of a memorandum of understanding agreed upon with the AGs for Texas and Connecticut, HarperCollins was not named as a defendant in this action. Pursuant to the terms of the memorandum of understanding, HarperCollins entered into a settlement agreement with the AGs for Texas, Connecticut and Ohio on June 11, 2012. The settlement agreement allows other states and U.S. territories to join in the settlement and is subject to court approval. It also would, subject to court approval, resolve the damage claims of individual citizens from those states. Pursuant to Judge Cote’s June 25, 2012 scheduling order, the AGs’ motion for preliminary approval of the settlement agreement is due on August 20, 2012.

While the Proposed Final Judgment of the DOJ has not been entered and the settlement agreement with the AGs is still subject to court approval, the Company believes that these proposed settlements, as currently drafted, will not have a material impact on the results of operations or the financial position of the Company. However, the Company can make no assurances that these proposed settlements will be finalized or that they will receive court approval.

The European Commission is conducting an investigation into whether certain companies in the book publishing and distribution industry, including HarperCollins, violated the antitrust laws by virtue of the switch

 

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to the agency model for eBooks. Following discussions with the European Commission, the Office of Fair Trading closed its investigation in favor of the European Commission’s investigation on December 6, 2011. HarperCollins currently is cooperating with the European Commission and working towards resolving its investigation.

While a proposed resolution has not been finalized with the European Commission, the Company believes that such a resolution, as currently contemplated, would not have a material impact on the results of operations or the financial position of the Company. However, the Company can make no assurances that such a resolution will be finalized.

Commencing on February 24, 2012, five purported consumer class actions were filed in the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Quebec and Ontario, which relate to the decisions by certain publishers, including HarperCollins, to begin selling their eBooks in Canada pursuant to an agency relationship. The actions seek as relief special, general and punitive damages, injunctive relief and the costs of the litigations. While it is not possible to predict with any degree of certainty the ultimate outcome of these class actions, especially given their early stages, HarperCollins believes it was compliant with applicable antitrust and competition laws and intends to defend itself vigorously.

Other

The Company’s operations are subject to tax in various domestic and international jurisdictions and as a matter of course, the Company is regularly audited by federal, state and foreign tax authorities. The Company believes it has appropriately accrued for the expected outcome of all pending tax matters and does not currently anticipate that the ultimate resolution of pending tax matters will have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial condition, future results of operations or liquidity.

 

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

 

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PART II

 

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

News Corporation’s Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock are listed and traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market (“NASDAQ”), its principal market, under the symbols “NWSA” and “NWS”, respectively. CHESS Depositary Interests (“CDIs”) representing the Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock are listed and traded on the Australian Stock Exchange (“ASX”) under the symbols “NWS” and “NWSLV,” respectively. The Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock are also traded on the London Stock Exchange. As of June 30, 2012, there were approximately 42,000 holders of record of shares of Class A Common Stock and 1,200 holders of record of shares of Class B Common Stock.

The following table sets forth, for the fiscal periods indicated, the reported high and low sales prices for Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock as reported on NASDAQ:

 

     Class B
Common Stock
    Class A
Common Stock
 
     High      Low      Dividend (a)     High      Low      Dividend (a)  

Fiscal Year Ended June 30,

                

2011:

                

First Quarter

   $ 15.93      $ 13.48      $ 0.075      $ 14.35      $ 11.82      $ 0.075   

Second Quarter

     16.62        15.04        —          14.95        12.97        —     

Third Quarter

     18.73        15.94        0.075        17.71        14.13        0.075   

Fourth Quarter

     18.99        16.71        —          18.34        16.05        —     

2012:

                

First Quarter

     18.54        14.01        0.095        18.13        13.62        0.095   

Second Quarter

     18.29        15.21        —          17.87        15.01        —     

Third Quarter

     20.49        18.55        0.085        20.25        18.22        0.085   

Fourth Quarter

     22.52        18.73        —          22.31        18.55        —     

 

(a) 

Cash dividend declared per share.

The timing and amount of cash dividends, if any, is determined by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”).

The Board had previously authorized a total stock repurchase program of $6 billion with a remaining authorized amount under the program of approximately $1.8 billion, excluding commissions, as of June 30, 2011. In July 2011, the Company announced that the Board had authorized increasing the total amount of the stock repurchase program remaining by approximately $3.2 billion to $5 billion. In May 2012, the Company announced that the Board approved a $5 billion increase to the Company’s stock repurchase program for the repurchase of Class A Common Stock.

The remaining authorized amount under the Company’s stock repurchase program at June 30, 2012, excluding commissions, was approximately $5.4 billion.

The program may be extended, modified, suspended or discontinued at any time.

 

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Below is a summary of the Company’s purchases of its Class A Common Stock during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012:

 

     Total Number
of Shares
Purchased
     Average
Price per
Share
     Total Cost
of Purchase
 
                   (in millions)  

Total first quarter fiscal 2012

     77,210,000      $ 16.47      $ 1,272  

Total second quarter fiscal 2012

     71,860,000        16.77        1,205  

Total third quarter fiscal 2012

     42,130,000        19.39        817  

Fourth quarter repurchases:

        

April

     20,855,000        19.32        403  

May

     26,375,000        19.60        517  

June

     19,100,000        19.63        375  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total fourth quarter fiscal 2012

     66,330,000         $ 1,295  
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total fiscal 2012

     257,530,000         $ 4,589  
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

The Company did not purchase any of its Class B Common Stock during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012.

 

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The selected consolidated financial data should be read in conjunction with “Item 7—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Item 8—Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” and the other financial information included elsewhere herein.

 

     For the years ended June 30,  
    2012 (a)     2011 (a)     2010 (a)     2009 (b)     2008 (c)  
    (in millions, except per share data)  

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:

         

Revenues

  $ 33,706      $ 33,405      $ 32,778      $ 30,423      $ 32,996   

Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to News Corporation stockholders

    1,179        2,993        2,539        (3,378 )       5,387   

Net income (loss) attributable to News Corporation stockholders

    1,179        2,739        2,539        (3,378 )       5,387   

Basic income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to News Corporation stockholders per share

  $ 0.47      $ 1.14      $ 0.97      $ (1.29 )     $ 1.82   

Diluted income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to News Corporation stockholders per share

  $ 0.47      $ 1.14      $ 0.97      $ (1.29 )     $ 1.81   

Basic income (loss) attributable to News Corporation stockholders per share

  $ 0.47      $ 1.04      $ 0.97      $ (1.29 )     $ 1.82   

Diluted income (loss) attributable to News Corporation stockholders per share

  $ 0.47      $ 1.04      $ 0.97      $ (1.29 )     $ 1.81   

Cash dividend per share: (d)

  $ 0.180      $ 0.150      $ 0.135      $ 0.120     

Class A

          $ 0.120   

Class B

          $ 0.110   
    As of June 30,  
    2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
    (in millions)  

BALANCE SHEET DATA:

         

Cash and cash equivalents

  $9,626        $ 12,680      $ 8,709      $ 6,540      $ 4,662   

Total assets

    56,663        61,980        54,384        53,121        62,308   

Borrowings

    15,455        15,495        13,320        14,289        13,511   

 

(a) 

See Notes 2, 3, 4, 6 and 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of News Corporation for information with respect to significant acquisitions, disposals, changes in accounting, impairment charges, restructuring charges and other transactions during fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010.

(b) 

Fiscal 2009 results included non-cash impairment charges of approximately $8.9 billion ($7.2 billion, net of tax) consisting of a write-down of the Company’s indefinite-lived intangible assets (primarily FCC licenses in the Television segment) of $4.6 billion, a write-down of $4.1 billion of goodwill and a write-down of the Publishing segment’s fixed assets of $185 million. Also, during fiscal 2009, the Company exchanged approximately 67% of the NDS Group plc (“NDS”) Series B ordinary shares held by the Company for $63 per share in a mix of approximately $1.5 billion in cash, which included $780 million of cash retained upon deconsolidation of NDS, and a $242 million vendor note, resulting in a gain of $1.2 billion. Additionally, in fiscal 2009, the Company completed the sale of eight of its owned-and-operated FOX network affiliated television stations for approximately $1 billion in cash and recorded a gain of approximately $232 million.

(c) 

Fiscal 2008 results included the Company’s acquisition of Dow Jones for consideration of approximately $5.7 billion. The consideration consisted of approximately $5.2 billion in cash, assumed net debt of $330 million and $200 million in equity instruments. In addition, fiscal 2008 results included the share exchange agreement with Liberty Media Corporation (“Liberty”). Liberty exchanged its entire interest in the

 

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Company’s common stock in exchange for the Company’s entire interest in The DIRECTV Group, Inc., three of the Company’s Regional Sports Networks and approximately $625 million cash resulting in a tax-free gain of approximately $1.7 billion.

(d) 

The Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) currently declares an interim and final dividend each fiscal year. The final dividend is determined by the Board subsequent to the fiscal year end. Through fiscal 2007, shares of the Class A Common Stock carried rights to a greater dividend than shares of the Class B Common Stock. As such, net income available to the Company’s stockholders was allocated between shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock. The allocation between these classes of common stock was based upon the two-class method. Subsequent to the final fiscal 2007 dividend payment, shares of Class A Common Stock ceased to carry any rights to a greater dividend than shares of Class B Common Stock. The total dividend declared related to fiscal 2012 results was $0.17 per share of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock. The total dividend declared related to fiscal 2011 results was $0.17 per share of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock.

 

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

This document contains statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The words “expect,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “predict,” “believe” and similar expressions and variations thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements appear in a number of places in this document and include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company, its directors or its officers with respect to, among other things, trends affecting the Company’s financial condition or results of operations. The readers of this document are cautioned that any forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties. More information regarding these risks, uncertainties and other factors is set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “Annual Report”). The Company does not ordinarily make projections of its future operating results and undertakes no obligation (and expressly disclaims any obligation) to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Readers should carefully review this document and the other documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). This section should be read together with the audited Consolidated Financial Statements of News Corporation and related notes set forth elsewhere in this Annual Report.

INTRODUCTION

Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is intended to help provide an understanding of News Corporation and its subsidiaries’ (together, “News Corporation” or the “Company”) financial condition, changes in financial condition and results of operations. This discussion is organized as follows:

 

   

Overview of the Company’s Business—This section provides a general description of the Company’s businesses, as well as developments that occurred either during fiscal 2012 or early fiscal 2013 that the Company believes are important in understanding its results of operations and financial condition or to disclose known trends.

 

   

Results of Operations—This section provides an analysis of the Company’s results of operations for the three fiscal years ended June 30, 2012. This analysis is presented on both a consolidated and a segment basis. In addition, a brief description is provided of significant transactions and events that impact the comparability of the results being analyzed.

 

   

Liquidity and Capital Resources—This section provides an analysis of the Company’s cash flows for the three fiscal years ended June 30, 2012, as well as a discussion of the Company’s outstanding debt and commitments, both firm and contingent, that existed as of June 30, 2012. Included in the discussion of outstanding debt is a discussion of the amount of financial capacity available to fund the Company’s future commitments and obligations, as well as a discussion of other financing arrangements.

 

   

Critical Accounting Policies—This section discusses accounting policies considered important to the Company’s financial condition and results of operations, and which require significant judgment and estimates on the part of management in application. In addition, Note 2 to the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements of News Corporation summarizes the Company’s significant accounting policies, including the critical accounting policy discussion found in this section.

OVERVIEW OF THE COMPANY’S BUSINESS

The Company regularly reviews its segment reporting and classification. In the first quarter of fiscal 2011, the Company aggregated the previously reported Book Publishing segment, Integrated Marketing Services segment and the Newspapers and Information Services segment to report a new Publishing segment because of changes in how the Company manages and evaluates these businesses as a result of evolving industry trends.

 

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The Company is a diversified global media company, which manages and reports its businesses in the following six segments:

 

   

Cable Network Programming, which principally consists of the production and licensing of programming distributed through cable television systems and direct broadcast satellite operators primarily in the United States, Latin America, Europe and Asia.

 

   

Filmed Entertainment, which principally consists of the production and acquisition of live-action and animated motion pictures for distribution and licensing in all formats in all entertainment media worldwide, and the production and licensing of television programming worldwide.

 

   

Television, which principally consists of the broadcasting of network programming in the United States and the operation of 27 full power broadcast television stations, including 9 duopolies, in the United States (of these stations, 17 are affiliated with the FOX Broadcasting Company (“FOX”) and 10 are affiliated with Master Distribution Service, Inc. (“MyNetworkTV”)).

 

   

Direct Broadcast Satellite Television, which consists of the distribution of basic and premium programming services via satellite and broadband directly to subscribers in Italy.

 

   

Publishing, which principally consists of the Company’s newspapers and information services, book publishing and integrated marketing services businesses. The newspapers and information services business principally consists of the publication of national newspapers in the United Kingdom, the publication of approximately 140 newspapers in Australia, the publication of a metropolitan newspaper and a national newspaper (with international editions) in the United States and the provision of information services. The book publishing business consists of the publication of English language books throughout the world and the integrated marketing services business consists of the publication of free-standing inserts and the provision of in-store marketing products and services in the United States and Canada.

 

   

Other, which principally consists of the Company’s digital media properties and Amplify, the Company’s education technology businesses.

Television and Cable Network Programming

The Company’s television operations primarily consist of FOX, MyNetworkTV and the 27 television stations owned by the Company.

The television operations derive revenues primarily from the sale of advertising and to a lesser extent retransmission consent revenue. Adverse changes in general market conditions for advertising may affect revenues. The U.S. television broadcast environment is highly competitive and the primary methods of competition are the development and acquisition of popular programming. Program success is measured by ratings, which are an indication of market acceptance, with the top rated programs commanding the highest advertising prices. FOX is a broadcast network and MyNetworkTV is a programming distribution service, airing original and off-network programming. FOX and MyNetworkTV compete with broadcast networks, such as ABC, CBS, NBC and The CW Television Network, independent television stations, cable and DBS program services, as well as other media, including DVDs, Blu-rays, video games, print and the Internet for audiences, programming and, in the case of FOX, advertising revenues. In addition, FOX and MyNetworkTV compete with the other broadcast networks and other programming distribution services to secure affiliations with independently owned television stations in markets across the United States. ABC, NBC and CBS each broadcasts a significantly greater number of hours of programming than FOX and, accordingly, may be able to designate or change time periods in which programming is to be broadcast with greater flexibility than FOX. In addition, future technological developments may affect competition within the television marketplace.

Retransmission consent rules provide a mechanism for the television stations owned by the Company to seek and obtain payment from multi-channel video programming distributors who carry broadcasters’

 

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signals. Retransmission consent revenue consists of per subscriber-based compensatory fees paid to the Company from cable and satellite distribution systems for FOX and MyNetworkTV as well as a portion of the retransmission consent revenue the affiliates generate for their retransmission of FOX.

The television stations owned and operated by the Company compete for programming, audiences and advertising revenues with other television stations and cable networks in their respective coverage areas and, in some cases, with respect to programming, with other station groups, and in the case of advertising revenues, with other local and national media. The competitive position of the television stations owned by the Company is largely influenced by the quality and strength of FOX and MyNetworkTV programming, and, in particular, the prime-time viewership of the respective network.

The Company’s U.S. cable network operations primarily consist of the Fox News Channel (“FOX News”), FX Networks, LLC (“FX”), Regional Sports Networks (“RSNs”), the National Geographic Channels, SPEED and the Big Ten Network. The Company’s international cable networks consist of the Fox International Channels (“FIC”) and STAR. FIC produces and distributes entertainment, factual, sports, and movie channels through distribution channels in Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America using several brands, including Fox, Fox Crime, Fox Life and National Geographic Channel. STAR’s owned and affiliated channels are distributed in the following countries and regions: India; Greater China; Indonesia; the rest of South East Asia; Pakistan; the Middle East and Africa; the United Kingdom and Europe; and North America.

Generally, the Company’s cable networks, which target various demographics, derive a majority of their revenues from monthly affiliate fees received from cable television systems and direct broadcast satellite operators based on the number of their subscribers. Affiliate fee revenues are net of the amortization of cable distribution investments (capitalized fees paid to multi-channel video programming distributors to typically facilitate the carriage of a cable network). The Company defers the cable distribution investments and amortizes the amounts on a straight-line basis over the contract period. Cable television and direct broadcast satellite are currently the predominant means of distribution of the Company’s program services in the United States. Internationally, distribution technology varies region by region.

The Company’s cable networks compete for carriage on cable television systems, direct broadcast satellite systems and other distribution systems with other program services. A primary focus of competition is for distribution of the Company’s cable network channels that are not already distributed by particular cable television or direct broadcast satellite systems. For such program services, distributors make decisions on the use of bandwidth based on various considerations, including amounts paid by programmers for launches, subscription fees payable by distributors and appeal to the distributors’ subscribers.

The most significant operating expenses of the Television segment and the Cable Network Programming segment are the acquisition and production expenses related to programming and the expenses related to operating the technical facilities of the broadcaster or cable network. Other expenses include promotional expenses related to improving the market visibility and awareness of the broadcaster or cable network and its programming. Additional expenses include sales commissions paid to the in-house advertising sales force, as well as salaries, employee benefits, rent and other routine overhead expenses.

The Company has several multi-year sports rights agreements, including contracts with the National Football League (“NFL”) through fiscal 2022, contracts with the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing (“NASCAR”) for certain races and exclusive rights for certain ancillary content through calendar year 2014, a contract with Major League Baseball (“MLB”) through calendar year 2013 and other sports rights contracts. These contracts provide the Company with the broadcast rights to certain U.S. national sporting events during their respective terms. The costs of these sports contracts are charged to expense based on the ratio of each period’s operating profit to estimated total operating profit for the remaining term of the contract.

The profitability of these long-term U.S. national sports contracts is based on the Company’s best estimates at June 30, 2012 of attributable revenues and costs; such estimates may change in the future and such changes

 

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may be significant. Should revenues decline from estimates applied at June 30, 2012, additional amortization of rights may be recorded. Should revenues improve as compared to estimated revenues, the Company may have an improved operating profit related to the contract, which may be recognized over the remaining contract term.

While the Company seeks to ensure compliance with federal indecency laws and related Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) regulations, the definition of “indecency” is subject to interpretation and there can be no assurance that the Company will not broadcast programming that is ultimately determined by the FCC to violate the prohibition against indecency. Such programming could subject the Company to regulatory review or investigation, fines, adverse publicity or other sanctions, including the loss of station licenses.

Filmed Entertainment

The Filmed Entertainment segment derives revenue from the production and distribution of live-action and animated motion pictures and television series. In general, motion pictures produced or acquired for distribution by the Company are exhibited in U.S. and foreign theaters, followed by home entertainment, including sale and rental of DVDs and Blu-rays, video-on-demand and pay-per-view television, on-line and mobile distribution, premium subscription television, network television and basic cable and syndicated television exploitation. Television series initially produced for the networks and first-run syndication are generally licensed to domestic and international markets concurrently and subsequently released in seasonal DVD and Blu-ray box sets and made available via digital distribution platforms. More successful series are later syndicated in domestic markets. The length of the revenue cycle for television series will vary depending on the number of seasons a series remains in active production and, therefore, may cause fluctuations in operating results. License fees received for television exhibition (including international and U.S. premium television and basic cable television) are recorded as revenue in the period that licensed films or programs are available for such exhibition, which may cause substantial fluctuations in operating results.

The revenues and operating results of the Filmed Entertainment segment are significantly affected by the timing of the Company’s theatrical and home entertainment releases, the number of its original and returning television series that are aired by television networks and the number of its television series in off-network syndication. Theatrical and home entertainment release dates are determined by several factors, including timing of vacation and holiday periods and competition in the marketplace. The distribution windows for the release of motion pictures theatrically and in various home entertainment products and services (including subscription rentals, rental kiosks and Internet streaming services), have been compressing and may continue to change in the future. A further reduction in timing between theatrical and home entertainment releases could adversely affect the revenues and operating results of this segment.

The Company enters into arrangements with third parties to co-produce many of its theatrical productions. These arrangements, which are referred to as co-financing arrangements, take various forms. The parties to these arrangements include studio and non-studio entities, both domestic and foreign. In several of these agreements, other parties control certain distribution rights. The Filmed Entertainment segment records the amounts received for the sale of an economic interest as a reduction of the cost of the film, as the investor assumes full risk for that portion of the film asset acquired in these transactions. The substance of these arrangements is that the third-party investors own an interest in the film and, therefore, receive a participation based on the respective third-party investor’s interest in the profits or losses incurred on the film. Consistent with the requirements of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 926 “Entertainment—Films” (“ASC 926”), the estimate of a third-party investor’s interest in profits or losses incurred on the film is determined by reference to the ratio of actual revenue earned to date in relation to total estimated ultimate revenues.

Operating costs incurred by the Filmed Entertainment segment include: exploitation costs, primarily theatrical prints and advertising and home entertainment marketing and manufacturing costs; amortization of capitalized production, overhead and interest costs; and participations and talent residuals. Selling, general and administrative expenses include salaries, employee benefits, rent and other routine overhead.

 

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The Company competes with other film studios, such as Disney, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros. and independent film producers in the production and distribution of motion pictures, DVDs and Blu-rays. As a producer and distributor of television programming, the Company competes with studios, television production groups and independent producers and syndicators, such as Disney, Sony, NBC Universal, Warner Bros. and Paramount Television, to sell programming both domestically and internationally. The Company also competes to obtain creative talent and story properties, which are essential to the success of the Company’s filmed entertainment businesses.

Direct Broadcast Satellite Television

The Direct Broadcast Satellite Television (“DBS”) segment’s operations consist of SKY Italia, which provides basic and premium programming services via satellite and broadband directly to subscribers in Italy. SKY Italia derives revenues principally from subscriber fees. The Company believes that the quality and variety of programming, audio and interactive programming including personal video recorders, quality of picture including high definition channels, access to service, customer service and price are the key elements for gaining and maintaining market share. SKY Italia’s competition includes companies that offer video, audio, interactive programming, telephony, data and other information and entertainment services, including broadband Internet providers, digital terrestrial transmission (“DTT”) services, wireless companies and companies that are developing new media technologies. SKY Italia was prohibited from owning a DTT frequency or providing a pay television DTT offer under a commitment made to the European Commission from April 30, 2003 through December 31, 2011.

SKY Italia’s most significant operating expenses are those related to the acquisition of entertainment, movie and sports programming and subscribers and the expenses related to operating the technical facilities. Operating expenses related to sports programming are generally recognized over the course of the related sport season, which may cause fluctuations in the operating results of this segment.

The continued challenging economic environment in Italy has contributed to a reduction in consumer spending and has posed challenges for subscriber retention and growth. If this trend continues, it could have a material effect on the operating results of the DBS segment.

Publishing

The Company’s Publishing segment consists of the Company’s newspapers and information services, book publishing and integrated marketing services businesses.

Revenue is derived from the sale of advertising space, newspapers, books and subscriptions, as well as licensing. Adverse changes in general market conditions for advertising may affect revenues. Circulation and subscription revenues can be greatly affected by changes in the prices of the Company’s and/or competitors’ products, as well as by promotional activities.

Operating expenses include costs related to paper, production, distribution, editorial, commissions and royalties. Selling, general and administrative expenses include promotional expenses, salaries, employee benefits, rent and other routine overhead.

The Publishing segment’s advertising volume, circulation and the price of paper are the key variables whose fluctuations can have a material effect on the Company’s operating results and cash flow. The Company has to anticipate the level of advertising volume, circulation and paper prices in managing its businesses to maximize operating profit during expanding and contracting economic cycles. The Company continues to be exposed to risks associated with paper used for printing. Paper is a basic commodity and its price is sensitive to the balance of supply and demand. The Company’s expenses are affected by the cyclical increases and decreases in the price of paper. The Publishing segment’s products compete for readership and advertising with local and national

 

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competitors and also compete with other media alternatives in their respective markets. Competition for circulation and subscriptions is based on the content of the products provided, service, pricing and, from time to time, various promotions. The success of these products depends upon advertisers’ judgments as to the most effective use of their advertising budgets. Competition for advertising is based upon the reach of the products, advertising rates and advertiser results. Such judgments are based on factors such as cost, availability of alternative media, distribution and quality of readership demographics.

Like other newspaper publishing groups, the Company faces challenges to its traditional print business model from new media formats and shifting consumer preferences. The Company is also exposed to the impact of long-term structural movements in advertising spending, in particular, the move in classified advertising from print to digital. These new media formats could impact the Company’s performance, positively or negatively.

As a multi-platform news provider, the Company recognizes the importance of maximizing revenues from new media, both in terms of paid-for content and in new advertising models, and continues to invest in its digital products. The development of technologies such as smartphones, tablets and similar devices and their related applications provides opportunities for the Company to make available its journalism to a new audience of readers, introduce new or different pricing schemes, develop its products to continue to attract advertisers and/or affect the relationship between publisher and consumer. The Company continues to develop and implement strategies to exploit its content in new media channels, including the introduction of paywalls around its newspaper websites.

Other

The Other segment consists primarily of:

Digital Media Group

The Company sells advertising, sponsorships and subscription services on the Company’s various digital media properties. Significant expenses associated with the Company’s digital media properties include development costs, advertising and promotional expenses, salaries, employee benefits and other routine overhead.

Education Group

Amplify, the Company’s education technology businesses, is dedicated to improving K-12 education by creating digital products and services that empower teachers, students and parents in new ways. Amplify is focused on transforming teaching and learning by creating and scaling digital innovations in three areas: analytics and assessment, content and curriculum and distribution and delivery. Amplify focuses on educational analytics and formative assessment through Wireless Generation, Inc. (“Wireless Generation”). Significant expenses associated with the Company’s education technology businesses include salaries, employee benefits and other routine overhead.

Other Business Developments

In July 2011, the Company announced that it would close its publication, The News of the World, after allegations of phone hacking and payments to public officials. As a result of management’s approval of the shutdown of The News of the World, the Company has reorganized portions of the U.K. newspaper business and has recorded restructuring charges in fiscal 2012 primarily for termination benefits and certain organizational restructuring at the U.K. newspapers. (See Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of News Corporation) The Company is subject to several ongoing investigations by U.K. and U.S. regulators and governmental authorities, including investigations into whether similar conduct may have occurred at the Company’s subsidiaries outside of the U.K. The Company is fully cooperating with these investigations. In

 

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addition, the Company has admitted liability in a number of civil cases related to the phone hacking allegations and has settled a number of cases. The Company has taken steps to solve the problems relating to The News of the World including the creation of an independently-chaired Management & Standards Committee (the “MSC”), which operates independently from NI Group Limited (“News International”) and has full authority to ensure complete cooperation with all relevant investigations and inquiries into The News of the World matters and all other related issues across News International. The MSC conducts its own internal investigation where appropriate. The MSC has an independent Chairman, Lord Grabiner QC, and reports directly to Gerson Zweifach, Senior Executive Vice President and Group General Counsel of the Company. Mr. Zweifach reports to the independent members of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) through their representative Viet Dinh, an independent director and Chairman of the Company’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The independent directors of the Board have retained independent outside counsel and are actively engaged in these matters. The MSC conducted an internal investigation of the three other titles at News International and engaged independent outside counsel to advise it on these investigations and all other matters it handles. News International has instituted governance reforms and issued certain enhanced policies to its employees. The Company has also engaged independent outside counsel to assist it in responding to U.S. governmental inquiries. (See Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of News Corporation for a summary of the costs of The News of the World Investigations and Litigation.)

In July 2011, the Company sold its majority interest in its outdoor advertising businesses in Russia and Romania (“News Outdoor Russia”) for cash consideration of approximately $360 million. In connection with the sale, the Company repaid $32 million of News Outdoor Russia debt.

In December 2011, the Company acquired the 67% equity interest it did not already own in Fox Pan American Sports LLC (“FPAS”) for approximately $400 million. FPAS, an international sports programming and production entity, which owns and operates Fox Sports Latin America network, a Spanish and Portuguese-language sports network distributed to subscribers in certain Caribbean and Central and South American nations, and partially through its ownership in FPAS, a 53% interest in Fox Deportes, a Spanish-language sports programming service distributed in the United States. As a result of this transaction, the Company now owns 100% of FPAS and Fox Deportes. Accordingly, the results of FPAS are included in the Company’s consolidated results of operations beginning in December 2011.

In February 2012, the Company agreed to backstop €300 million (approximately $395 million) of financing measures that are being initiated by Sky Deutschland AG (“Sky Deutschland”), of which €145 million (approximately $195 million) remains as of June 30, 2012.

In March 2012, the Company and funds advised by Permira Advisers LLP signed an agreement to sell NDS Group Limited (“NDS”) to Cisco Systems Inc. for approximately $5 billion, including the assumption of debt. The Company owned approximately 49% of NDS. The transaction was completed in July 2012.

In May 2012, the Company sold its former U.K. newspaper division headquarters located in East London, which it relocated from in August 2010, for consideration of approximately £150 million, of which £25 million was received on closing of the sale. The remaining £125 million is in the form of a secured note and the Company will receive £25 million on May 31, 2013, and annually thereafter until May 31, 2017.

In May 2012, FOXTEL, a cable and satellite television service in Australia, in which the Company currently owns a 25% interest, purchased Austar United Communications Ltd (“Austar”) to create a national subscription television service in Australia. The transaction was funded by FOXTEL bank debt and FOXTEL’s shareholders made pro-rata capital contributions in the form of subordinated shareholder notes based on their respective ownership interest. The Company’s share of the funding contribution was approximately $230 million. The subordinated shareholder note has a maximum term of 15 years, with interest payable on June 30th each year and at maturity. The subordinated shareholder note can be repaid in 10 years provided that FOXTEL’s senior debt has been repaid. Upon maturity, the principal advanced will be repayable.

In June 2012, the Company entered into an agreement to acquire the remaining 50% interest in ESPN STAR Sports (“ESS”) it did not already own. ESS is the leading sports broadcaster in Asia. The acquisition is subject to

 

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regulatory clearances and other customary closing conditions. Once this transaction is completed, the Company will own 100% of ESS and will include the results of ESS in its consolidated results.

In June 2012, the Company made a conditional non-binding offer to acquire Consolidated Media Holdings Ltd. (“CMH”), a media investment company that operates in Australia, for approximately $2 billion. CMH has a 25% interest in FOXTEL and a 50% interest in Premier Media Group, a producer of sports channels, more commonly referred to as FOX Sports Australia. If the proposal is implemented, the Company would double its stakes in FOX Sports Australia and FOXTEL to 100% and 50%, respectively. The pre-conditions to the Company’s proposal include the board of CMH recommending the transaction to its shareholders, the completion of due diligence by the Company and final approval of the Company’s Board after regulatory approvals.

In June 2012, the Company announced that it intends to pursue the separation of its publishing and its media and entertainment businesses into two distinct publicly traded companies. The global media and entertainment company would consist of the Company’s cable and television assets, filmed entertainment, and direct satellite broadcasting businesses. The global publishing company that would be created through the proposed transaction would consist of the Company’s current publishing businesses, as well as its education division. Following the separation, each company would maintain two classes of common stock: Class A Common and Class B Common Voting Shares. The separation is expected to be completed in approximately one year. In addition to final approval from the Board of Directors and stockholder approval, the completion of the separation will be subject to receipt of regulatory approvals, opinions from tax counsel and favorable rulings from certain tax jurisdictions regarding the tax-free nature of the transaction to the Company and to its stockholders, further due diligence as appropriate, and the filing and effectiveness of appropriate filings with the SEC.

In July 2012, the Company acquired Thomas Nelson, Inc., one of the leading trade publishers in the United States, for approximately $200 million in cash.

In August 2012, the Company entered into an agreement to acquire a 51% equity interest in Eredivisie Media & Marketing CV (“EMM”). EMM is a media company based in the Netherlands which holds the Dutch Premier League soccer rights and operates several channels in the Netherlands. EMM is owned by the 18 Dutch Premier League soccer clubs and the global TV production company Endemol. The acquisition is subject to regulatory clearances and other customary closing conditions.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Results of Operations—Fiscal 2012 versus Fiscal 2011

The following table sets forth the Company’s operating results for fiscal 2012 as compared to fiscal 2011.

 

     For the years ended June 30,  
     2012     2011     Change     % Change  
     (in millions, except %)  

Revenues

   $ 33,706     $ 33,405     $ 301       1

Operating expenses

     (20,785     (21,058     273       (1 )% 

Selling, general and administrative

     (6,363     (6,306     (57     1

Depreciation and amortization

     (1,179     (1,191     12       (1 )% 

Impairment and restructuring charges

     (3,005     (313     (2,692     *

Equity earnings of affiliates

     730       462       268       58

Interest expense, net

     (1,034     (966     (68     7

Interest income

     135       126       9       7

Other, net

     7       18       (11     (61 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before income tax expense

     2,212       4,177       (1,965     (47 )% 

Income tax expense

     (805     (1,029     224       (22 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

     1,407       3,148       (1,741     (55 )% 

Loss on disposition of discontinued operations, net of taxes

     —          (254     254       (100 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

     1,407       2,894       (1,487     (51 )% 

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

     (228     (155     (73     47
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income attributable to News Corporation stockholders

   $ 1,179     $ 2,739     $ (1,560     (57 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

** not meaningful

 

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OverviewThe Company’s revenues increased 1% for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012 as compared to fiscal 2011, primarily due to revenue increases at the Cable Network Programming and Filmed Entertainment segments. The revenue increases at the Cable Network Programming segment resulted primarily from higher net affiliate and advertising revenues. The Filmed Entertainment segment’s revenues increased due to the inclusion of revenues from Shine Limited (“Shine”), which was acquired in fiscal 2011, and higher digital distribution revenues for the licensing of the Company’s television content. These revenue increases were partially offset by decreased revenues at the Publishing and Other segments. The Publishing segment’s revenues decreased primarily due to lower revenues at the Company’s newspaper businesses in the U.K., principally resulting from the closure of The News of the World in July 2011 and lower revenues at the Australian newspapers. The decreases at the Other segment primarily resulted from the dispositions of Myspace, Fox Mobile and News Outdoor Russia.

Operating expenses decreased 1% for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012 as compared to fiscal 2011, primarily due to the dispositions of News Outdoor Russia, Myspace and Fox Mobile, lower releasing costs at the Filmed Entertainment segment, the absence of programming costs at the Television segment related to the broadcast of the Super Bowl, which was broadcast on FOX in fiscal 2011, and a decrease at the Publishing segment primarily due to the closure of The News of the World. These decreases were partially offset by the inclusion of operating expenses related to Shine and FPAS, higher programming costs at the Cable Network Programming segment and higher prime-time entertainment and marketing costs in support of the launch of new series at the Television segment.

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 1% for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012 as compared to fiscal 2011, primarily due to $224 million of legal and professional fees related to The News of the World investigations and litigation and costs for related civil settlements and the inclusion of expenses related to Shine and FPAS. These increases were partially offset by decreased expenses at the Other segment resulting from the dispositions of Myspace, News Outdoor Russia and Fox Mobile, the positive impact from the absence of a litigation settlement charge of $125 million at the Publishing segment included in fiscal 2011 and cost saving initiatives at Dow Jones.

Depreciation and amortization decreased 1% for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012 as compared to fiscal 2011, primarily due to lower depreciation and amortization at the Other segment due to the dispositions of Myspace, News Outdoor Russia and Fox Mobile, partially offset by higher depreciation at the Publishing segment due to additional property, plant and equipment placed into service and additional depreciation and amortization from the acquisition of Shine at the Filmed Entertainment segment.

Impairment and restructuring chargesDuring the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, the Company completed its annual impairment review of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets. As a result of the impairment review performed, the Company recorded non-cash impairment charges of approximately $2.8 billion ($2.4 billion, net of tax) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012. The charges consisted of a write-down of the Company’s goodwill of approximately $1.5 billion and a write-down of the indefinite-lived intangible assets (primarily newspaper mastheads and distribution networks) of approximately $1.3 billion. These impairment charges were primarily the result of adverse trends affecting several businesses in the Company’s Publishing segment, including secular declines in the economic environment in Australia, a decline in in-store advertising spend by consumer packaged goods manufacturers in the U.S. and lower forecasted revenues from certain businesses utilizing various trade names owned by the Company’s newspaper operations. The charges also reflected the pending sale of certain businesses at values below their respective carrying values.

In fiscal 2012, the Company recorded restructuring charges of $197 million, of which $175 million related to the newspaper businesses. The Company commenced the reorganization of portions of the newspaper businesses and recorded restructuring charges primarily for termination benefits as a result of the shutdown of The News of the World, certain organizational restructurings at other newspapers and the shutdown of a regional newspaper.

 

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In fiscal 2011, the Company performed an interim impairment assessment of the Digital Media Group reporting unit’s goodwill. As a result of the review performed, the Company recorded a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $168 million during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011.

The Company recorded restructuring charges of approximately $145 million in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011. The restructuring charges primarily consisted of a $115 million charge related to the Company’s digital media properties and $25 million related to termination benefits recorded at the newspaper businesses. The charges at the Company’s digital media properties were a result of an organizational restructuring to align resources more closely with business priorities and consisted of facility related costs of $95 million, termination benefits of $18 million and other associated costs of $2 million.

Equity earnings of affiliates—Equity earnings of affiliates increased $268 million for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012 as compared to fiscal 2011, primarily due to improved results from British Sky Broadcasting Group plc (“BSkyB”) and Sky Deutschland and a gain on the sale of a portion of the Company’s BSkyB investment in accordance with its share repurchase program of $270 million. These increases were partially offset by the absence of gains recognized by NDS and BSkyB on the sale of certain of their businesses in fiscal 2011.

 

     For the years ended June 30,  
         2012             2011          Change  
     (in millions)  

DBS equity affiliates

   $ 732     $ 305      $ 427  

Cable channel equity affiliates

     19       42        (23

Other equity affiliates

     (21     115        (136
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Equity earnings of affiliates

   $ 730     $ 462      $ 268  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Interest expense, net—Interest expense, net increased $68 million for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012 as compared to fiscal 2011, primarily due to the $2.5 billion in senior notes issued in February 2011, partially offset by the fiscal 2011 partial repayment of the $500 million senior debentures due February 2013.

Other, net

 

     For the years ended June 30,  
             2012                     2011          
     (in millions)  

Gain on FPAS transaction (a)

   $ 158     $ —     

Gain on Hathway Cable transaction (b)

     23       —     

BSkyB termination fee (b)

     (63     —     

Change in fair value of Sky Deutschland convertible securities (b)

     (61     46  

Loss on sale of U.K. newspaper headquarters (a)

     (22     —     

Gain on STAR China transaction (a)

     —          55  

Loss on disposal of Fox Mobile (a)

     —          (29

Loss on early extinguishment of debt (c)

     —          (36

Gain on the financial indexes business transaction (a)

     —          43  

Other

     (28     (61
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Other, net

   $ 7     $ 18  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) 

See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of News Corporation.

(b) 

See Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of News Corporation.

(c) 

See Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of News Corporation.

 

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Income tax expenseThe Company’s tax provision and related tax rate for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012 were higher than the statutory rate primarily due to the non-deductible portion of goodwill impairment, partially offset by permanent differences, the sale of interests in subsidiaries, and the non-taxable gain on the consolidation of FPAS.

The Company’s tax provision and related tax rate for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011 were lower than the statutory rate primarily due to permanent differences, the sale of interests in subsidiaries and the resolution of tax matters.

Loss on disposition of discontinued operations, net of taxIn June 2011, the Company transferred the equity and related assets of Myspace to a digital media company in exchange for an equity interest in the acquirer. The loss on this transaction was approximately $254 million, net of a tax benefit of $61 million, or ($0.10) per diluted share and was included in Loss on disposition of discontinued operations, net of tax in the consolidated statements of operations for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011.

Net income—Net income decreased for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012 as compared to fiscal 2011, primarily due to higher impairment and restructuring charges, partially offset by the revenue increases and higher equity earnings of affiliates, as noted above. Also impacting earnings per share was the Company’s share repurchase program which resulted in a $0.03 increase.

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests—Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests increased for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012 as compared to fiscal 2011, primarily due to higher results at the Company’s majority-owned businesses and the issuance of a noncontrolling interest in a majority-owned subsidiary.

Segment Analysis

The following table sets forth the Company’s revenues and segment operating income for fiscal 2012 as compared to fiscal 2011.

 

     For the years ended June 30,  
     2012     2011     Change     % Change  
     (in millions, except %)  

Revenues:

        

Cable Network Programming

   $ 9,132     $ 8,037     $ 1,095       14

Filmed Entertainment

     7,302       6,899       403       6

Television

     4,734       4,778       (44     (1 )% 

Direct Broadcast Satellite Television

     3,672       3,761       (89     (2 )% 

Publishing

     8,248       8,826       (578     (7 )% 

Other

     618       1,104       (486     (44 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

   $ 33,706     $ 33,405     $ 301       1
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Segment operating income (loss):

        

Cable Network Programming

   $ 3,295     $ 2,760     $ 535       19

Filmed Entertainment

     1,132       927       205       22

Television

     706       681       25       4

Direct Broadcast Satellite Television

     254       232       22       9

Publishing

     597       864       (267     (31 )% 

Other

     (605     (614     9       (1 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total segment operating income

   $ 5,379     $ 4,850     $ 529       11
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Management believes that total segment operating income is an appropriate measure for evaluating the operating performance of the Company’s business segments because it is the primary measure used by the Company’s chief operating decision maker to evaluate the performance and allocate resources within the Company’s businesses. Total segment operating income provides management, investors and equity analysts a measure to analyze operating performance of each of the Company’s business segments and its enterprise value against historical data and competitors’ data, although historical results may not be indicative of future results (as operating performance is highly contingent on many factors, including customer tastes and preferences). The following table reconciles total segment operating income to income from continuing operations before income tax expense.

 

     For the years ended
June 30,
 
     2012     2011  
     (in millions)  

Total segment operating income

   $ 5,379     $ 4,850  

Impairment and restructuring charges

     (3,005     (313

Equity earnings of affiliates

     730       462  

Interest expense, net

     (1,034     (966

Interest income

     135       126  

Other, net

     7       18  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before income tax expense

   $ 2,212     $ 4,177  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cable Network Programming (27% and 24% of the Company’s consolidated revenues in fiscal 2012 and 2011, respectively)

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012, revenues at the Cable Network Programming segment increased $1,095 million, or 14%, as compared to fiscal 2011, primarily due to higher net affiliate and advertising revenues.

Domestic net affiliate revenues increased 12% for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012, primarily due to higher average rates per subscriber at the RSNs, FOX News and FX. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012, domestic advertising revenues increased 9% primarily due to higher pricing and volume at FX and FOX News. The increases in domestic net affiliate and advertising revenues were partially offset by allowances at the RSNs and fewer NBA telecasts, respectively, related to the NBA lockout during the 2011-2012 NBA season.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012, international net affiliate revenues increased 27%, with approximately two thirds of the increase primarily due to higher subscribers at FIC and the remaining increase resulting from the consolidation of FPAS. International advertising revenues increased 13% for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012, primarily due to improved advertising revenues in Latin America and Asia and an increase at STAR in India due to higher pricing, increased market share and improved ratings.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012, operating income at the Cable Network Programming segment increased $535 million, or 19%, as compared to fiscal 2011, primarily due to the revenue increases noted above, partially offset by a $560 million increase in expenses, due to higher programming costs, including rights fees for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, which was not broadcast in fiscal 2011, and the consolidation of FPAS.

Filmed Entertainment (22% and 21% of the Company’s consolidated revenues in fiscal 2012 and 2011, respectively)

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012, revenues at the Filmed Entertainment segment increased $403 million, or 6%, as compared to fiscal 2011, primarily due to the inclusion of revenues from Shine, which was acquired in fiscal 2011, an increase in license fees for How I Met Your Mother and higher licensing revenues for

 

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Avatar. Also contributing to the revenue increase was approximately $300 million in digital distribution revenues from the licensing of the Company’s television content. The revenue increases were partially offset by decreased home entertainment revenues and worldwide theatrical revenues. Fiscal 2012 included the worldwide theatrical and home entertainment success of Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, the worldwide theatrical success of Prometheus and the home entertainment and pay television performances of Rio and X-Men: First Class as compared to fiscal 2011 which included the successful worldwide theatrical and home entertainment release of The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader and Black Swan, the worldwide theatrical release of Rio and X-Men: First Class and the home entertainment and pay television performances of Avatar.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012, operating income at the Filmed Entertainment segment increased $205 million, or 22%, as compared to fiscal 2011, primarily due to the revenue increases noted above, lower releasing costs and lower production amortization costs, partially offset by the inclusion of expenses at Shine.

Television (14% of the Company’s consolidated revenues in fiscal 2012 and 2011)

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012, revenues at the Television segment decreased $44 million, or 1%, as compared to fiscal 2011, primarily due to the absence of advertising revenues generated from the broadcast of the Super Bowl, which was broadcast on FOX in fiscal 2011, lower ratings for American Idol, and lower political advertising revenues at the Company’s television stations due to the 2010 mid-term elections in fiscal 2011. Partially offsetting this decrease was higher retransmission consent revenues, higher pricing and improved ratings, primarily for the launch of the new series The X-Factor and New Girl, and higher NFL and MLB advertising revenues. The NFL advertising revenue increased due to higher pricing and the MLB advertising revenue increased due to the broadcast of two additional post-season games during fiscal 2012.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012, operating income at the Television segment increased $25 million, or 4%, as compared to fiscal 2011, primarily due to the revenue increases noted above and the absence of programming costs related to the broadcast of the Super Bowl, partially offset by higher prime-time entertainment and sports programming costs and higher marketing costs in support of the launch of the new series.

Direct Broadcast Satellite Television (11% of the Company’s consolidated revenues in fiscal 2012 and 2011)

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012, SKY Italia’s revenues decreased $89 million, or 2%, as compared to fiscal 2011. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012, revenues, on a local currency basis, were relatively consistent with fiscal 2011. SKY Italia had a net decrease of approximately 71,000 subscribers during fiscal 2012, which decreased SKY Italia’s total subscriber base to 4.9 million at June 30, 2012, reflecting the continued challenging economic environment in Italy. The total churn for fiscal 2012 was approximately 641,000 subscribers on an average subscriber base of 4.9 million, as compared to churn of approximately 508,000 subscribers on an average subscriber base of 4.9 million in fiscal 2011. Subscriber churn for the period represents the number of SKY Italia subscribers whose service was disconnected during the period. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012, the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against the Euro resulted in a revenue decrease of approximately $78 million as compared to fiscal 2011.

Average revenue per subscriber (“ARPU”) of approximately €41 in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012 decreased from approximately €43 reported in fiscal 2011, primarily due to the negative impact of subscriber discounts. SKY Italia calculates ARPU by dividing total subscriber-related revenues for the period by the average subscribers for the period and dividing that amount by the number of months in the period. Subscriber-related revenues are comprised of total subscription revenue, pay-per-view revenue and equipment rental revenue for the period. Average subscribers are calculated for the respective periods by adding the beginning and ending subscribers for the period and dividing by two.

 

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Subscriber acquisition costs per subscriber (“SAC”) of approximately €400 in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012 increased from fiscal 2011, primarily due to higher marketing costs on a per subscriber basis. SAC is calculated by dividing total subscriber acquisition costs for a period by the number of gross SKY Italia subscribers added during the period. Subscriber acquisition costs include the cost of the commissions paid to retailers and other distributors, the cost of equipment sold directly by SKY Italia to subscribers and the costs related to installation and acquisition advertising net of any upfront activation fee. SKY Italia excludes the value of equipment capitalized under SKY Italia’s equipment lease program, as well as payments and the value of returned equipment related to disconnected lease program subscribers from subscriber acquisition costs.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012, SKY Italia’s operating income increased $22 million, or 9%, as compared to fiscal 2011. On a local currency basis, expenses were lower by 1% primarily due to lower installation costs, lower programming costs resulting from the absence of the FIFA World Cup, and the absence of the prior year’s rebranding campaign. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012, the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against the Euro resulted in an operating income decrease of approximately $2 million as compared to fiscal 2011.

Publishing (24% and 27% of the Company’s consolidated revenues in fiscal 2012 and 2011, respectively)

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012, revenues at the Publishing segment decreased $578 million, or 7%, as compared to fiscal 2011, primarily due to lower revenues in the U.K., principally resulting from the absence of $226 million in revenue resulting from the shutdown of The News of the World in July 2011, lower revenues at the Australian newspapers and lower advertising revenues at the integrated marketing services business resulting from lower volume of in-store and coupon marketing products. The weakening of the U.S. dollar against local currencies, primarily the Australian dollar, resulted in a revenue increase of approximately $104 million for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012 as compared to fiscal 2011.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012, operating income at the Publishing segment decreased $267 million, or 31%, as compared to fiscal 2011, primarily due to the revenue decreases noted above and the absence of $122 million in operating profit resulting from the shutdown of The News of the World, partially offset by lower litigation settlement charges and Dow Jones cost saving initiatives. The fiscal 2012 litigation settlement related to eBooks pricing was lower than the litigation settlement charge of $125 million at the integrated marketing services business included in fiscal 2011. The weakening of the U.S. dollar against local currencies, primarily the Australian Dollar, resulted in an operating income increase of approximately $11 million for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012 as compared to fiscal 2011.

Other (2% and 3% of the Company’s consolidated revenues in fiscal 2012 and 2011, respectively)

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012, revenues at the Other segment decreased approximately $486 million, or 44%, as compared to fiscal 2011, primarily due to the dispositions of Myspace, News Outdoor Russia and Fox Mobile, partially offset by the inclusion of revenues from Wireless Generation, which was acquired in fiscal 2011.

Operating results at the Other segment for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012 improved $9 million, or 1%, as compared to fiscal 2011, primarily due to the net impact of the dispositions noted above, partially offset by the impact of legal and professional fees related to The News of the World investigations and litigation and costs for related civil settlements.

 

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Results of Operations—Fiscal 2011 versus Fiscal 2010

The following table sets forth the Company’s operating results for fiscal 2011 as compared to fiscal 2010.

 

     For the years ended June 30,  
     2011     2010     Change     % Change  
     (in millions, except %)  

Revenues

   $ 33,405     $ 32,778     $ 627       2

Operating expenses

     (21,058     (21,015     (43     —     

Selling, general and administrative

     (6,306     (6,619     313       (5 )% 

Depreciation and amortization

     (1,191     (1,185     (6     1

Impairment and restructuring charges

     (313     (253     (60     24

Equity earnings of affiliates

     462       448       14       3

Interest expense, net

     (966     (991     25       (3 )% 

Interest income

     126       91       35       38

Other, net

     18       69       (51     (74 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before income tax expense

     4,177       3,323       854       26

Income tax expense

     (1,029     (679     (350     52
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

     3,148       2,644       504       19

Loss on disposition of discontinued operations, net of taxes

     (254     —          (254     *
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

     2,894       2,644       250       9

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

     (155     (105     (50     48
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income attributable to News Corporation stockholders

   $ 2,739     $ 2,539     $ 200       8
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

** not meaningful

Overview—The Company’s revenues increased 2% for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011 as compared to fiscal 2010. The increase was primarily due to revenue increases at the Cable Network Programming, Television and Publishing segments. The Cable Network Programming segment’s revenues increased primarily due to increases in net affiliate and advertising revenues. The increase at the Television segment was primarily due to advertising revenues from the Super Bowl which was broadcast on FOX in fiscal 2011, higher pricing resulting from improvements in the advertising markets and higher comparative political advertising due to the 2010 mid-term elections. The revenue increase at the Publishing segment was primarily due to favorable foreign exchange fluctuations and higher advertising and circulation revenues at The Wall Street Journal. These revenue increases were partially offset by revenue decreases at the Filmed Entertainment and Other segments. Revenues at the Filmed Entertainment segment decreased primarily due to lower worldwide theatrical and home entertainment revenues resulting principally from the inclusion in fiscal 2010 of the releases of Avatar and Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs with no comparable releases in fiscal 2011. The decrease at the Other segment was primarily the result of lower advertising and search revenues at Myspace.

Operating expenses increased $43 million for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011 as compared to fiscal 2010 primarily due to higher programming costs at the Cable Network Programming segment as well as higher programming costs at the Television segment due to the broadcast of the Super Bowl partially offset by lower amortization of production costs and lower participation costs at the Filmed Entertainment segment due to the fiscal 2010 releases of Avatar and Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs with no comparable releases in fiscal 2011.

Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased 5% for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011 as compared to fiscal 2010 due to lower litigation settlement costs at the Publishing segment.

Depreciation and amortization for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011 increased $6 million as compared to fiscal 2010 as additional depreciation and amortization from the fiscal 2011 acquisitions was partially offset by certain assets becoming fully depreciated or amortized and the absence of depreciation and amortization related to businesses disposed of in fiscal 2010 and 2011.

 

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Impairment and restructuring charges—During the second quarter of fiscal 2011, the Company performed an interim impairment assessment of the Digital Media Group reporting unit’s goodwill. As a result of the review performed, the Company recorded a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $168 million during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011.

The Company recorded restructuring charges of approximately $145 million in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011. The restructuring charges primarily reflect a $115 million charge related to the Company’s digital media properties and $25 million related to termination benefits recorded at the newspaper businesses. The charges at the Company’s digital media properties were a result of an organizational restructuring to align resources more closely with business priorities and consisted of facility related costs of $95 million, termination benefits of $18 million and other associated costs of $2 million.

During fiscal 2010, the Company determined that it was more likely than not that it would sell or dispose its News Outdoor and Fox Mobile businesses which were considered reporting units under ASC 350 “Intangibles—Goodwill and Other” (“ASC 350”). In connection with such potential sales, the Company reviewed these businesses for impairment and recognized a non-cash impairment charge of $200 million in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010. The impairment charge consisted of a write-down of $52 million in finite-lived intangible assets, a write-down of $137 million in goodwill and a write-down of fixed assets of $11 million. Fox Mobile was sold in December 2010 and News Outdoor was sold in July 2011.

During fiscal 2010, the Company recorded approximately $53 million of restructuring charges in the consolidated statements of operations. The restructuring charges reflect an $18 million charge related to the sales and distribution operations of the STAR channels, a $19 million charge related to termination benefits recorded at the newspaper businesses, a $7 million charge related to the restructuring program at Fox Mobile and $9 million of accretion on facility termination obligations.

Equity earnings of affiliates—Equity earnings of affiliates for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011 increased $14 million as compared to fiscal 2010. The increase in equity earnings from the Company’s Other equity affiliates of $74 million was primarily due to a gain related to the disposal of a business at NDS during fiscal 2011. The decrease in equity earnings from the Company’s DBS equity affiliates of $36 million was primarily due to lower contributions from BSkyB resulting from the absence of a gain related to the partial sale of its ITV investment and the absence of a favorable litigation settlement in fiscal 2010, partially offset by higher subscription revenues and a gain related to a business disposal in fiscal 2011. The decrease in equity earnings from the Company’s Cable channel equity affiliates of $24 million was primarily due to higher sports programming costs.

 

     For the years ended June 30,  
       2011          2010        Change     % Change  
     (in millions, except %)  

DBS equity affiliates

   $ 305      $ 341      $ (36     (11 )% 

Cable channel equity affiliates

     42        66        (24     (36 )% 

Other equity affiliates

     115        41        74       *
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity earnings of affiliates

   $ 462      $ 448      $ 14       3
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

** not meaningful

Interest expense, net—Interest expense, net for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011 decreased $25 million as compared to fiscal 2010, primarily due to the redemption of the Company’s 0.75% Senior Exchangeable BUCS and 5% TOPrS in fiscal 2010. This decrease was partially offset by interest expense related to the $2.5 billion in senior notes issued in February 2011.

Interest income—Interest income for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011 increased by $35 million as compared to fiscal 2010, primarily due to higher cash balances.

 

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Other, net—

 

     For the years ended
June 30,
 
         2011             2010      
     (in millions)  

Gain on STAR China transaction (a)

   $ 55     $ —     

Loss on disposal of Fox Mobile (a)

     (29     —     

Loss on early extinguishment of debt (b)

     (36     —     

Gain on the sale of eastern European television stations (a)

     —          195  

Gain (loss) on the financial indexes business transaction (a)

     43       (23

Loss on Photobucket transaction (a)

     —          (32

Change in fair value of exchangeable and convertible securities (c)(d)

     46       3  

Other

     (61     (74
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Other, net

   $ 18     $ 69  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) 

See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of News Corporation.

(b) 

See Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of News Corporation.

(c) 

See Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of News Corporation.

(d) 

The Company had certain exchangeable debt securities which contained embedded derivatives. Pursuant to ASC 815, these embedded derivatives were not designated as hedges and, as such, changes in their fair value were recognized in Other, net in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company redeemed the exchangeable debt securities in fiscal 2010.

Income tax expense—The Company’s tax provision and related tax rate for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011 were lower than the statutory rate primarily due to permanent differences, the sale of interests in subsidiaries and the resolution of tax matters.

The Company’s tax provision and related tax rate for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010 were lower than the statutory rate primarily due to the recognition of prior year tax credits, permanent differences and the recognition of tax assets on the disposition of certain assets. The recognition of prior year tax credits relates to the Company’s election to credit certain prior year taxes instead of claiming deductions.

Loss on disposition of discontinued operations, net of taxIn June 2011, the Company transferred the equity and related assets of Myspace to a digital media company in exchange for an equity interest in the acquirer. The loss on this transaction was approximately $254 million, net of a tax benefit of $61 million, or ($0.10) per diluted share and was included in Loss on disposition of discontinued operations, net of tax in the consolidated statements of operations for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011.

Net incomeNet income increased for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011 as compared to fiscal 2010, primarily due to the higher revenues and lower litigation settlement costs noted above, partially offset by the loss on the Myspace transaction.

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests—Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests increased for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011 as compared to fiscal 2010, primarily due to higher results at the Company’s majority owned businesses.

 

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Segment Analysis

The following table sets forth the Company’s revenues and segment operating income for fiscal 2011 as compared to fiscal 2010.

 

     For the years ended June 30,  
     2011     2010     Change     % Change  
     (in millions, except %)  

Revenues:

        

Cable Network Programming

   $ 8,037     $ 7,038     $ 999       14

Filmed Entertainment

     6,899       7,631       (732     (10 )% 

Television

     4,778       4,228       550       13

Direct Broadcast Satellite Television

     3,761       3,802       (41     (1 )% 

Publishing

     8,826       8,548       278       3

Other

     1,104       1,531       (427     (28 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

   $ 33,405     $ 32,778     $ 627       2
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Segment operating income (loss):

        

Cable Network Programming

   $ 2,760     $ 2,268     $ 492       22

Filmed Entertainment

     927       1,349       (422     (31 )% 

Television

     681       220       461       *

Direct Broadcast Satellite Television

     232       230       2       1

Publishing

     864       467       397       85

Other

     (614     (575     (39     7
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total segment operating income

   $ 4,850     $ 3,959     $ 891       23
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

** not meaningful

Management believes that total segment operating income is an appropriate measure for evaluating the operating performance of the Company’s business segments because it is the primary measure used by the Company’s chief operating decision maker to evaluate the performance and allocate resources within the Company’s businesses. Total segment operating income provides management, investors and equity analysts a measure to analyze operating performance of each of the Company’s business segments and its enterprise value against historical data and competitors’ data, although historical results may not be indicative of future results (as operating performance is highly contingent on many factors, including customer tastes and preferences). The following table reconciles total segment operating income to income from continuing operations before income tax expense.

 

     For the years ended
June 30,
 
       2011         2010    
     (in millions)  

Total segment operating income

   $ 4,850     $ 3,959  

Impairment and restructuring charges

     (313     (253

Equity earnings of affiliates

     462       448  

Interest expense, net

     (966     (991

Interest income

     126       91  

Other, net

     18       69  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before income tax expense

   $ 4,177     $ 3,323  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cable Network Programming (24% and 21% of the Company’s consolidated revenues in fiscal 2011 and 2010, respectively)

 

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For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011, revenues at the Cable Network Programming segment increased $999 million, or 14%, as compared to fiscal 2010, primarily due to higher net affiliate and advertising revenues. Domestic net affiliate and advertising revenues increased 10% and 17%, respectively, primarily due to increases at the RSNs, FOX News and FX. International net affiliate and advertising revenues increased 20% and 22%, respectively.

The domestic net affiliate revenue increase for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011 was primarily due to higher average rates per subscriber and a higher number of subscribers. The increase in domestic advertising revenues was primarily due to higher pricing, ratings growth and additional commercial spots sold.

The increase in international net affiliate revenues for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011 was primarily due to higher net affiliate revenues at FIC resulting primarily from increases in the number of subscribers at existing channels. The increase in international advertising revenues was primarily due to increases at STAR and FIC. The higher advertising revenues at STAR were primarily due to the strengthening of the advertising market in India and higher ratings. The strengthening of the worldwide advertising markets led to improvements at existing FIC channels in Asia and Latin America.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011, operating income at the Cable Network Programming segment increased $492 million, or 22%, as compared to fiscal 2010, primarily due to the revenue increases noted above. The revenue increases were partially offset by a $507 million increase in expenses, primarily due to higher sports rights amortization and higher entertainment programming costs.

Filmed Entertainment (21% and 23% of the Company’s consolidated revenues in fiscal 2011 and 2010, respectively)

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011, revenues at the Filmed Entertainment segment decreased $732 million, or 10%, as compared to fiscal 2010. The revenue decrease was primarily driven by the successful worldwide theatrical and home entertainment releases of Avatar, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs and Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel during fiscal 2010 as compared to the worldwide theatrical and home entertainment releases of The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader, and Black Swan and the worldwide theatrical release of Rio in fiscal 2011. The revenue decreases noted above were partially offset by higher contributions from Twentieth Century Fox Television and the inclusion of revenues from Shine which was acquired in fiscal 2011. The revenue increase at Twentieth Century Fox Television was primarily due to higher home entertainment, international television and digital distribution revenues from Glee, Modern Family, Sons of Anarchy, initial syndication revenues from How I Met Your Mother and American Dad and revenues from the Glee concert tour.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011, the Filmed Entertainment segment operating income decreased $422 million, or 31%, as compared to fiscal 2010, primarily due to the revenue decreases noted above, partially offset by lower amortization of production and participation costs.

Television (14% and 13% of the Company’s consolidated revenues in fiscal 2011 and 2010, respectively)

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011, Television segment revenues increased $550 million, or 13%, as compared to fiscal 2010. The increase was primarily due to increased advertising revenues at the television stations owned by the Company and at FOX as well as higher retransmission consent revenues. The advertising revenue increase reflects the broadcast of the Super Bowl, which was not broadcast on FOX in fiscal 2010, higher revenues from NFL regular season games, higher pricing resulting from improvements in the advertising markets, particularly in the automotive and financial sectors and higher comparative political advertising due to the 2010 mid-term elections. These revenue increases were partially offset by the absence of revenue from the broadcast of the Bowl Championship Series (“BCS”) games which were broadcast on FOX in fiscal 2010 and lower MLB advertising revenues due to lower post-season ratings and the broadcast of one less post-season game.

 

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The Television segment reported an increase in operating income for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011 of $461 million as compared to fiscal 2010. The increase was primarily due to the revenue increases noted above, lower prime-time entertainment programming costs and the absence of BCS programming costs, partially offset by higher NFL programming costs due to the broadcast of the Super Bowl.

Direct Broadcast Satellite Television (11% and 12% of the Company’s consolidated revenues in fiscal 2011 and 2010, respectively)

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011, SKY Italia’s revenues decreased $41 million, or 1%, as compared to fiscal 2010, due to unfavorable foreign exchange movements. SKY Italia had an increase of approximately 230,000 subscribers during fiscal 2011, bringing the total subscriber base to 4.97 million at June 30, 2011. Revenue, on a local currency basis, was consistent with fiscal 2010 as higher subscription revenues were offset by lower advertising revenues, primarily due to the absence of the FIFA World Cup. The total churn for fiscal 2011 was approximately 508,000 subscribers on an average subscriber base of 4.9 million, as compared to churn of approximately 630,000 subscribers on an average subscriber base of 4.8 million in fiscal 2010. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011, the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against the Euro resulted in a decrease in revenues of approximately 2% as compared to fiscal 2010.

ARPU of approximately €43 in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011 was consistent with fiscal 2010.

SAC of approximately €335 in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011 increased from fiscal 2010, primarily due to higher average installation costs related to an increased penetration of high definition personal video recorder set-top boxes.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011, SKY Italia’s operating income increased $2 million, or 1%, as compared to fiscal 2010, as lower programming expenses related to FIFA World Cup and Olympic Games which occurred in fiscal 2010, were offset by the lower revenues noted above and higher installation costs.

Publishing (27% and 26% of the Company’s consolidated revenues in fiscal 2011 and 2010, respectively)

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011, revenues at the Publishing segment increased $278 million, or 3%, as compared to fiscal 2010. The increase in revenues was primarily due to increased revenues at the Australian newspapers due to favorable foreign exchange fluctuations and higher advertising and circulation revenues at The Wall Street Journal. These revenue increases were partially offset by the absence of revenues from the financial indexes business which was disposed of in fiscal 2010, lower book sales due to fewer new releases and lower licensing fees resulting from a settlement received at HarperCollins in fiscal 2010. The weakening of the U.S. dollar against the Australian dollar and British pound sterling resulted in a revenue increase of approximately $309 million, or 4%, for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011 as compared to fiscal 2010.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011, operating income at the Publishing segment increased $397 million, or 85%, as compared to fiscal 2010. The increase in operating income was primarily due to lower litigation settlement costs at the Company’s integrated marketing services business and favorable foreign exchange fluctuations at the Australian and United Kingdom newspapers. The weakening of the U.S. dollar against the Australian dollar and British pound sterling resulted in an operating income increase of approximately $50 million, or 11%, for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011 as compared to fiscal 2010.

Other (3% and 5% of the Company’s consolidated revenues in fiscal 2011 and 2010, respectively)

Revenues at the Other segment decreased $427 million, or 28%, for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011, as compared to fiscal 2010. The decrease was primarily due to decreased revenues from the Company’s digital media properties of $342 million, principally due to lower advertising and search revenues at Myspace. The decrease was also due to the absence of revenue related to the eastern European television stations disposed of in

 

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fiscal 2010 of $86 million and lower revenues from Fox Mobile of $146 million due to its fiscal 2011 disposition. The revenue decreases were partially offset by increased revenues at News Outdoor and the inclusion of revenues from Wireless Generation which was acquired in fiscal 2011.

Operating results for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011 decreased $39 million, or 7%, as compared to fiscal 2010, primarily due to lower operating results from the Company’s digital media properties, principally resulting from the revenue declines noted above. These decreases were partially offset by lower operating losses from Fox Mobile and Fox Audience Network resulting from their fiscal 2011 dispositions and improved operating results at News Outdoor.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Current Financial Condition

The Company’s principal source of liquidity is internally generated funds. The Company also has a five-year unused $2 billion revolving credit facility, which expires in May 2017, and has access to various film co-production alternatives to supplement its cash flows. In addition, the Company has access to the worldwide capital markets, subject to market conditions. As of June 30, 2012, the Company was in compliance with all of the covenants under the revolving credit facility, and it does not anticipate any violation of such covenants. The Company’s internally generated funds are highly dependent upon the state of the advertising markets and public acceptance of its film and television products.

As of June 30, 2012, the Company’s consolidated assets included $9.6 billion in cash and cash equivalents, of which $2.1 billion was held by the Company’s foreign subsidiaries. The Company earns income outside the U.S., which is deemed to be permanently reinvested in certain foreign jurisdictions. The Company does not currently intend nor foresee a need to repatriate these funds. Should the Company require more capital in the U.S. than is generated by or available to its domestic operations, the Company could elect to repatriate funds held in foreign jurisdictions which may result in higher effective tax rates and higher cash paid for income taxes for the Company.

The principal uses of cash that affect the Company’s liquidity position include the following: investments in the production and distribution of new feature films and television programs; the acquisition of and payments under programming rights for entertainment and sports programming; paper purchases; operational expenditures including employee costs; capital expenditures; interest expenses; income tax payments; investments in associated entities; dividends; acquisitions; debt repayments; and stock repurchases. The capitalization of the global publishing company that would be created through the proposed separation of the Company’s publishing and media and entertainment businesses into two distinct publicly traded companies may affect the Company’s liquidity position.

In addition to the acquisitions, sales and possible acquisitions disclosed elsewhere, the Company has evaluated, and expects to continue to evaluate, possible acquisitions and dispositions of certain businesses. Such transactions may be material and may involve cash, the Company’s securities or the assumption of additional indebtedness.

Sources and Uses of Cash—Fiscal 2012 vs. Fiscal 2011

Net cash provided by operating activities for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 was as follows (in millions):

 

For the years ended June 30,

   2012      2011  

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 3,790      $ 4,471  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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The decrease in net cash provided by operating activities during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012 as compared to fiscal 2011 was primarily due to lower receipts at the Publishing and Television segments and higher programming payments at the Direct Broadcast Satellite Television segment, as well as higher tax, pension and interest payments and the costs incurred for the U.K. and related investigations. This decrease was partially offset by higher receipts at the Cable Network Programming and Filmed Entertainment segments. The decrease at the Publishing segment was due to lower advertising receipts and the absence of contributions from The News of the World and the decrease at the Television segment was due to the absence of the broadcast of the Super Bowl. The increase at the Cable Network Programming segment was due to higher affiliate receipts and the increase at the Filmed Entertainment segment was due to lower production spending along with higher licensing revenue of television product.

Net cash used in investing activities for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 was as follows (in millions):

 

For the years ended June 30,

   2012     2011  

Net cash used in investing activities

   $ (1,421   $ (2,247
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The decrease in net cash used in investing activities during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012 as compared to fiscal 2011 was primarily due to the sale of a portion of the Company’s BSkyB investment in accordance with BSkyB’s share repurchase program, lower capital expenditures and lower cash paid for acquisitions. In fiscal 2012, the Company acquired the portion of FPAS it did not own and in fiscal 2011, the Company acquired Shine and Wireless Generation.

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 was as follows (in millions):

 

For the years ended June 30,

   2012     2011  

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

   $ (5,115   $ 1,360  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The change in net cash used in financing activities for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012 as compared to net cash provided by financing activities in fiscal 2011 was primarily due to share repurchases of approximately $4.6 billion during fiscal 2012, with no comparable share repurchases in fiscal 2011.

The Company currently has approximately $5 billion remaining of the $10 billion stock repurchase program. The Company may repurchase the remaining amount under the stock repurchase program in fiscal 2013 and expects to fund this through a combination of cash generated by operations and cash on hand.

The total dividends declared related to fiscal 2012 results were $0.17 per share of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock. In August 2012, the Company declared the final dividend on fiscal 2012 results of $0.085 per share for Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock. This together with the interim dividend of $0.085 per share of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock constitute the total dividend relating to fiscal 2012.

Based on the number of shares outstanding as of June 30, 2012, the total aggregate cash dividends expected to be paid to stockholders in fiscal 2013 is approximately $400 million.

Sources and Uses of Cash—Fiscal 2011 vs. Fiscal 2010

Net cash provided by operating activities for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 was as follows (in millions):

 

For the years ended June 30,

   2011      2010  

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 4,471      $ 3,854  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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The increase in net cash provided by operating activities during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011 as compared to fiscal 2010 was primarily due to higher affiliate receipts at the Cable Network Programming segment, higher collections at the DBS segment, higher advertising receipts at the Television segment, lower litigation settlement payments at the Publishing segment and lower pension contributions. These increases were partially offset by lower worldwide theatrical receipts, due to the absence of Avatar, and higher production spending at the Filmed Entertainment segment, lower receipts at the digital media properties due to lower advertising and search revenues and higher tax payments.

Net cash used in investing activities for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 was as follows (in millions):

 

For the years ended June 30,

   2011     2010  

Net cash used in investing activities

   $ (2,247   $ (313
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The increase in net cash used in investing activities during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011 as compared to fiscal 2010 was primarily due to the absence of proceeds from the sale of the financial indexes businesses and the majority of the Company’s eastern European television stations which were sold in fiscal 2010, cash utilized for the Company’s acquisitions of Shine and Wireless Generation in fiscal 2011 and higher capital expenditures. The increase in capital expenditures was primarily due to higher equipment purchases at the DBS segment and higher facility and equipment purchases at the Publishing segment.

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 was as follows (in millions):

 

For the years ended June 30,

   2011      2010  

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

   $ 1,360      $ (1,445
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The change in net cash provided by financing activities for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011 as compared to the net cash used in financing activities for fiscal 2010 was primarily due to higher borrowings and lower repayments of borrowings. During fiscal 2011, News America Incorporated, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, (“NAI”), issued $2.5 billion in senior notes as compared to fiscal 2010 which included the issuance of $1.0 billion in senior notes. During fiscal 2011, NAI redeemed a portion of its 9.25% Senior Debentures due in February 2013 for $262 million and $82 million of its LYONs. The Company also repaid approximately $134 million assumed as part of the Shine acquisition in fiscal 2011. In fiscal 2010, NAI redeemed its 0.75% Senior Exchangeable BUCS for $1.6 billion, its 5% TOPrS for $134 million and its 4.75% Senior Notes due March 2010 for $150 million.

 

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Debt Instruments

The following table summarizes borrowings and repayments for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010.

 

     For the years ended June 30,  
         2012             2011             2010      
     (in millions)  

Borrowings (a)

      

Notes due February 2041

   $ —        $ 1,469     $ —     

Notes due February 2021

     —          984       —     

Notes due August 2039

     —          —          593  

Notes due August 2020

     —          —          396  

All other

     —          18       38  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total borrowings

   $ —        $ 2,471     $ 1,027  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Repayments of borrowings

      

Senior Debentures due February 2013

   $ —        $ (262   $ —     

Debt assumed in Shine acquisition (b)

     —          (134     —     

LYONs

     —          (82     —     

BUCS

     —          —          (1,655

TOPrS

     —          —          (134

Notes due March 2010

     —          —          (150

Bank loans

     (32     (46     (82

All other

     (3     (33     (59
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total repayment of borrowings

   $ (35   $ (557   $ (2,080
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) 

See Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of News Corporation for information with respect to borrowings.

(b) 

See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of News Corporation for information with respect to the Shine acquisition.

Ratings of the Public Debt

The table below summarizes the Company’s credit ratings as of June 30, 2012.

 

Rating Agency

   Senior Debt     

Outlook

Moody’s

   Baa1      Stable

S&P

   BBB+      CreditWatch/Negative

Revolving Credit Agreement

In May 2012, the Company refinanced the $2.25 billion revolving credit agreement (“the Prior Credit Agreement”) with a new $2 billion unsecured revolving credit facility (the “New Credit Agreement”), among NAI as Borrower, the Company as Parent Guarantor, the lenders named therein (the “Lenders”), the initial issuing banks named therein, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (“JPMorgan Chase”) and Citibank, N.A. (“Citibank”) as Co-Administrative Agents, JPMorgan Chase as Designated Agent and Bank of America, N.A. (“Bank of America”) as Syndication Agent. The New Credit Agreement has a sub-limit of $400 million (or its equivalent in Euros) available for the issuance of letters of credit and a maturity date of May 2017. Under the New Credit Agreement, the Company may request an increase in the amount of the credit facility up to a maximum amount of $2.5 billion and the Company may request that the maturity date be extended for up to two additional one-year periods. Borrowings are issuable in U.S. dollars only, while letters of credit are issuable in U.S. dollars or Euros. The significant terms of the agreement include the requirement that the Company maintain specific leverage

 

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ratios and limitations on secured indebtedness. Fees under the New Credit Agreement will be based on the Company’s long-term senior unsecured non-credit enhanced debt ratings. Given the current debt ratings, NAI pays a facility fee of 0.125% and an initial drawn cost of LIBOR plus 1.125%.

Commitments and Guarantees

The Company has commitments under certain firm contractual arrangements (“firm commitments”) to make future payments. These firm commitments secure the future rights to various assets and services to be used in the normal course of operations. The following table summarizes the Company’s material firm commitments as of June 30, 2012.

 

    As of June 30, 2012  
    Payments Due by Period  
    Total     1 year     2-3 years     4-5 years     After 5
years
 
    (in millions)  

Contracts for capital expenditure

  $ 243     $ 191     $ 41     $ 11     $ —     

Operating leases (a)

         

Land and buildings

    2,558       363       652       553       990  

Plant and machinery

    1,423       239       371       309       504  

Other commitments

         

Borrowings

    15,455       273       903       600       13,679  

Sports programming rights (b)

    36,309       3,367       7,295       5,725       19,922  

Entertainment programming rights

    3,927       1,466       1,395       856       210  

Other commitments and contractual obligations (c)

    3,729       1,061       1,204       505       959  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total commitments, borrowings and contractual obligations

  $ 63,644     $ 6,960     $ 11,861     $ 8,559     $ 36,264  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The Company also has certain contractual arrangements in relation to certain investees that would require the Company to make payments or provide funding if certain circumstances occur (“contingent guarantees”). The Company does not expect that these contingent guarantees will result in any material amounts being paid by the Company in the foreseeable future. The timing of the amounts presented in the table below reflect when the maximum contingent guarantees will expire and does not indicate that the Company expects to incur an obligation to make payments during that time frame.

 

    As of June 30, 2012  
    Total
Amounts
Committed
    Amount of Guarantees Expiration Per Period  

Contingent guarantees:

    1 year     2-3 years     4-5 years     After 5
years
 
    (in millions)  
         

Sports programming rights (d)

  $ 450     $ 65     $ 385     $ —        $ —     

Indemnity (e)

    774       27       54       54       639  

Letters of credit and other

    158       158       —          —          —     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  $ 1,382     $ 250     $ 439     $ 54     $ 639  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) 

The Company leases transponders, office facilities, warehouse facilities, printing plants, equipment and microwave transmitters used to carry broadcast signals. These leases, which are classified as operating leases, expire at certain dates through fiscal 2090.

(b) 

Under the Company’s contract with NFL, remaining future minimum payments for program rights to broadcast certain football games are payable over the remaining term of the contract through fiscal 2022.

 

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The Company’s contract with MLB gives the Company rights to broadcast certain regular season and post season games, as well as exclusive rights to broadcast MLB’s World Series and All-Star Game through the 2013 MLB season.

The Company’s contracts with NASCAR give the Company rights to broadcast certain races and ancillary content through calendar year 2014.

Under the Company’s contracts with certain collegiate conferences, remaining future minimum payments for program rights to broadcast certain sporting events are payable over the remaining terms of the contracts.

Under the Company’s contract with Italy’s National League Football, remaining future minimum payments for programming rights to broadcast National League Football matches are payable over the remaining term of the contract through fiscal 2017.

Under the Company’s contract with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (“BCCI”), remaining future minimum payments for program rights to broadcast international and domestic cricket matches and series are payable over the remaining term of the contract through fiscal 2018.

In addition, the Company has certain other local sports broadcasting rights.

 

(c) 

Primarily includes obligations relating to third party printing contracts, television rating services and paper purchase obligations.

(d) 

ESPN STAR Sports, a joint-venture in which the Company owns a 50% equity interest, entered into an agreement for global programming rights to International Cricket Council Events. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company and the other joint-venture partner have jointly guaranteed the programming rights obligation.

Additionally, under the terms of the agreement with BCCI, the Company was required to obtain a bank guarantee covering the programming rights obligation.

 

(e) 

In connection with the transaction related to the Dow Jones financial index businesses, the Company agreed to indemnify CME Group Inc. (“CME”) with respect to any payments of principal, premium and interest CME makes under its guarantee of the venture financing. (See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of News Corporation for further discussion of this transaction.)

The table excludes the Company’s pension, other postretirement benefits (“OPEB”) obligations and the gross unrecognized tax benefits for uncertain tax positions as the Company is unable to reasonably predict the ultimate amount and timing. The Company made contributions of $255 million and $158 million to its pension plans in fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2011, respectively. The majority of these contributions were voluntarily made to improve the funding status of the plans. Future plan contributions are dependent upon actual plan asset returns and interest rates and statutory requirements. Assuming that actual plan asset returns are consistent with the Company’s expected plan returns in fiscal 2012 and beyond, and that interest rates remain constant, the Company would not be required to make any material contributions to its U.S. pension plans for the immediate future. The Company expects to make a required contribution of approximately $50 million to its pension plans and may make a voluntary contribution in fiscal 2013. Payments due to participants under the Company’s pension plans are primarily paid out of underlying trusts. Payments due under the Company’s OPEB plans are not required to be funded in advance, but are paid as medical costs are incurred by covered retiree populations, and are principally dependent upon the future cost of retiree medical benefits under the Company’s pension plans. The Company expects its net OPEB payments to approximate $20 million in fiscal 2013. (See Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of News Corporation for further discussion of the Company’s pension and OPEB plans.)

 

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Contingencies

Other than as disclosed in the notes to the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements of News Corporation, the Company is party to several other purchase and sale arrangements which become exercisable over the next ten years by the Company or the counter-party to the agreement. None of these arrangements that become or are exercisable in the next twelve months are material. Purchase arrangements that are exercisable by the counter-party to the agreement, and that are outside the sole control of the Company, are accounted for in accordance with ASC 480-10-S99-3A, “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.” Accordingly, the fair values of such purchase arrangements are classified in redeemable noncontrolling interests.

As disclosed in the notes to the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements of News Corporation, U.K. and U.S. regulators and governmental authorities are conducting investigations after allegations of phone hacking and inappropriate payments to public officials at our former publication, The News of the World, and other related matters, including investigations into whether similar conduct may have occurred at the Company’s subsidiaries outside of the U.K. The Company is cooperating fully with these investigations. It is possible that these proceedings could damage our reputation and might impair our ability to conduct our business.

The Company is not able to predict the ultimate outcome or cost associated with these investigations. Violations of law may result in civil, administrative or criminal fines or penalties. The Company has admitted liability in a number of civil cases related to the phone hacking allegations and has settled a number of cases. At June 30, 2012, the Company has provided for its best estimate of the liability for the claims that have been filed. The Company has announced a process under which parties can pursue claims against the Company, and management believes that it is probable that additional claims will be filed. It is not possible to estimate the liability for such additional claims given the information that is currently available to the Company. If more claims are filed and additional information becomes available, the Company will update the liability provision for such matters. Any fees, expenses, fines, penalties, judgments or settlements which might be incurred by the Company in connection with the various proceedings could affect the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.

The Company’s operations are subject to tax in various domestic and international jurisdictions and as a matter of course, the Company is regularly audited by federal, state and foreign tax authorities. The Company believes it has appropriately accrued for the expected outcome of all pending tax matters and does not currently anticipate that the ultimate resolution of pending tax matters will have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial condition, future results of operations or liquidity.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

An accounting policy is considered to be critical if it is important to the Company’s financial condition and results and if it requires significant judgment and estimates on the part of management in its application. The development and selection of these critical accounting policies have been determined by management of the Company and the related disclosures have been reviewed with the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors. For the Company’s summary of significant accounting policies, see Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of News Corporation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts that are reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying disclosures. Although these estimates are based on management’s best knowledge of current events and actions that the Company may undertake in the future, actual results may differ from the estimates.

 

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Revenue Recognition

Television, Cable Network Programming and Direct Broadcast Satellite—Advertising revenue is recognized as the commercials are aired, net of agency commissions. Subscriber fees received from subscribers, cable systems and DBS operators are recognized as revenue in the period that services are provided, net of amortization of cable distribution investments, in the case of Cable Network Programming revenues. The Company defers the cable distribution investments and amortizes the amounts on a straight-line basis over the contract period.

Filmed Entertainment—Revenues from distribution of feature films are recognized in accordance with ASC 926. Revenues from the theatrical distribution of motion pictures are recognized as they are exhibited and revenues from DVD and Blu-ray sales, net of a reserve for estimated returns, are recognized on the date that DVD and Blu-ray units are made widely available for sale by retailers and all Company-imposed restrictions on the sale of DVD and Blu-ray units have expired. Revenues from television distribution are recognized when the motion picture or television program is made available to the licensee for broadcast.

Management bases its estimates of ultimate revenue for each film on the historical performance of similar films, incorporating factors such as the past box office record of the lead actors and actresses, the genre of the film, pre-release market research (including test market screenings) and the expected number of theaters in which the film will be released. Management updates such estimates based on information available on the actual results of each film through its life cycle.

License agreements for the broadcast of theatrical and television product in the broadcast network, syndicated television and cable television markets are routinely entered into in advance of their available date for broadcast. Cash received and amounts billed in connection with such contractual rights for which revenue is not yet recognizable is classified as deferred revenue. Because deferred revenue generally relates to contracts for the licensing of theatrical and television product which have already been produced, the recognition of revenue for such completed product is principally only dependent upon the commencement of the availability period for broadcast under the terms of the related licensing agreement.

Filmed Entertainment and Television Programming Costs

Accounting for the production and distribution of motion pictures and television programming is in accordance with ASC 926, which requires management’s judgment as it relates to total revenues to be received and costs to be incurred throughout the life of each program or its license period. These judgments are used to determine the amortization of capitalized filmed entertainment and television programming costs, the expensing of participation and residual costs associated with revenues earned and any fair value adjustments.

In accordance with ASC 926, the Company amortizes filmed entertainment and television programming costs using the individual-film-forecast method. Under the individual-film-forecast method, such programming costs are amortized for each film or television program in the ratio that current period actual revenue for such title bears to management’s estimated ultimate revenue as of the beginning of the current fiscal year to be recognized over approximately a six year period or operating profits to be realized from all media and markets for such title. Management bases its estimates of ultimate revenue for each film on factors such as historical performance of similar films, the star power of the lead actors and actresses and once released actual results of each film. For each television program, management bases its estimates of ultimate revenue on the performance of the television programming in the initial markets, the existence of future firm commitments to sell additional episodes of the program and the past performance of similar television programs. Management regularly reviews, and revises when necessary, its total revenue estimates on a title-by-title basis, which may result in a change in the rate of amortization and/or a write-down of the asset to fair value.

The costs of national sports contracts at FOX and for international sports rights agreements are charged to expense based on the ratio of each period’s operating profit to estimated total remaining operating profit of the contract. Estimates of total operating profit can change and accordingly, are reviewed periodically and amortization is adjusted as necessary. Such changes in the future could be material.

 

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The costs of local and regional sports contracts for a specified number of events are amortized on an event-by-event basis, while costs for local and regional sports contracts for a specified season are amortized over the season on a straight-line basis.

In the first quarter of fiscal 2012, the Company voluntarily changed its method of recognizing losses on its multi-year U.S. national sports agreements by no longer accruing for estimated future losses. The Company will, however, continue to recognize programming rights at the lower of unamortized cost or estimated net realizable value in accordance with ASC 920, “Entertainment—Broadcasters” (“ASC 920”). The Company believes that this method is preferable because the change will (1) align the Company’s policy with peer companies in the media industry; (2) result in better correspondence with the substance of the event being recognized as estimated future losses will no longer be recognized; and (3) limit the effect of judgment on any potential impairment loss because the impairment analysis, which involves significant judgment about future revenue and revenue allocations, will only affect programming rights recorded on the balance sheet. Retrospective application of the change in accounting policy had no effect on the consolidated financial statements of the Company for any of the periods presented.

Original cable programming is amortized on an accelerated basis. Management regularly reviews, and revises when necessary, its total revenue estimates on a contract basis, which may result in a change in the rate of amortization and/or a write-down of the asset to fair value.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost and are depreciated on a straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of such assets. Changes in circumstances, such as technological advances, changes to the Company’s business model or capital strategy, could result in the actual useful lives differing from the Company’s estimates. In those cases, where the Company determines that the useful life of buildings and equipment should be shortened, the Company would depreciate the asset over its revised remaining useful life thereby increasing depreciation expense.

Intangible Assets

The Company has a significant amount of intangible assets, including goodwill, FCC licenses, and other copyright products and trademarks. Intangible assets acquired in business combinations are recorded at their estimated fair value at the date of acquisition. Goodwill is recorded as the difference between the cost of acquiring an entity and the estimated fair values assigned to its tangible and identifiable intangible net assets and is assigned to one or more reporting units for purposes of testing for impairment. The judgments made in determining the estimated fair value assigned to each class of intangible assets acquired, their reporting unit, as well as their useful lives can significantly impact net income.

The Company accounts for its business acquisitions under the purchase method of accounting. The total cost of acquisitions is allocated to the underlying net assets, based on their respective estimated fair values. The excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair values of the tangible net assets acquired is recorded as intangibles. Amounts recorded as goodwill are assigned to one or more reporting units. Determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed requires management’s judgment and often involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions, including assumptions with respect to future cash inflows and outflows, discount rates, asset lives and market multiples, among other items. Identifying reporting units and assigning goodwill to them requires judgment involving the aggregation of business units with similar economic characteristics and the identification of existing business units that benefit from the acquired goodwill. The Company allocates goodwill to disposed businesses using the relative fair value method.

Carrying values of goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives are reviewed at least annually for possible impairment in accordance with ASC 350. The Company’s impairment review is based on, among other methods, a discounted cash flow approach that requires significant management judgments. The Company uses

 

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its judgment in assessing whether assets may have become impaired between annual valuations. Indicators such as unexpected adverse economic factors, unanticipated technological change or competitive activities, loss of key personnel and acts by governments and courts, may signal that an asset has become impaired.

The Company uses direct valuation methods to value identifiable intangibles for purchase accounting and impairment testing. The direct valuation method used for FCC licenses requires, among other inputs, the use of published industry data that are based on subjective judgments about future advertising revenues in the markets where the Company owns television stations. This method also involves the use of management’s judgment in estimating an appropriate discount rate reflecting the risk of a market participant in the U.S. broadcast industry. The resulting fair values for FCC licenses are sensitive to these long-term assumptions and any variations to such assumptions could result in an impairment to existing carrying values in future periods and such impairment could be material.

The Company’s goodwill impairment reviews are determined using a two-step process. The first step of the process is to compare the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount, including goodwill. In performing the first step, the Company determines the fair value of a reporting unit by primarily using a discounted cash flow analysis and market-based valuation approach methodologies. Determining fair value requires the exercise of significant judgments, including judgments about appropriate discount rates, long-term growth rates, relevant comparable company earnings multiples and the amount and timing of expected future cash flows. The cash flows employed in the analyses are based on the Company’s estimated outlook and various growth rates have been assumed for years beyond the long-term business plan period. Discount rate assumptions are based on an assessment of the risk inherent in the future cash flows of the respective reporting units. In assessing the reasonableness of its determined fair values, the Company evaluates its results against other value indicators, such as comparable public company trading values. If the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill of the reporting unit is not impaired and the second step of the impairment review is not necessary. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the second step of the goodwill impairment review is required to be performed to estimate the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill. The implied fair value of goodwill is determined in the same manner as the amount of goodwill recognized in a business combination. That is, the estimated fair value of the reporting unit is allocated to all of the assets and liabilities of that unit (including any unrecognized intangible assets) as if the reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination and the estimated fair value of the reporting unit was the purchase price paid. The implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill is compared with the carrying amount of that goodwill. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of that goodwill, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess.

As a result of the fiscal 2012 annual impairment review performed, the Company recorded non-cash impairment charges of approximately $2.8 billion ($2.4 billion, net of tax) during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012. The charges consisted of a write-down of goodwill of $1.5 billion and a write-down of indefinite-lived intangible assets of $1.3 billion. The Publishing and Other segments have reporting units with goodwill that continue to be at risk for future impairment. Goodwill was $2.2 billion as of June 30, 2012 at these reporting units where goodwill is at risk for future impairment. The Company will continue to monitor its goodwill and intangible assets for possible future impairment.

Income Taxes

The Company is subject to income taxes in the U.S. and numerous foreign jurisdictions in which it operates. The Company computes its annual tax rate based on the statutory tax rates and tax planning opportunities available to it in the various jurisdictions in which it earns income. Tax laws are complex and subject to different interpretations by the taxpayer and respective governmental taxing authorities. Significant judgment is required in determining the Company’s tax expense and in evaluating its tax positions including evaluating uncertainties under ASC 740, “Income Taxes”.

 

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The Company records valuation allowances to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. In making this assessment, management analyzes future taxable income, reversing temporary differences and ongoing tax planning strategies. Should a change in circumstances lead to a change in judgment about the realizability of deferred tax assets in future years, the Company would adjust related valuation allowances in the period that the change in circumstances occurs, along with a corresponding increase or charge to income.

Employee Costs

The measurement and recognition of costs of the Company’s various pension and other postretirement benefit plans require the use of significant management judgments, including discount rates, expected return on plan assets, future compensation and other actuarial assumptions.

The Company maintains defined benefit pension plans covering a significant number of its employees and retirees. The primary plans are closed to new participants. For financial reporting purposes, net periodic pension expense (income) is calculated based upon a number of actuarial assumptions, including a discount rate for plan obligations and an expected rate of return on plan assets. The Company considers current market conditions, including changes in investment returns and interest rates, in making these assumptions. In developing the expected long-term rate of return, the Company considered the pension portfolio’s past average rate of returns, and future return expectations of the various asset classes. The expected long-term rate of return is based on an asset allocation assumption of 44% equities, 41% fixed-income securities and 15% in cash and other investments.

The discount rate reflects the market rate for high-quality fixed-income investments on the Company’s annual measurement date of June 30 and is subject to change each fiscal year. The discount rate assumptions used to account for pension and other postretirement benefit plans reflect the rates at which the benefit obligations could be effectively settled. The rate was determined by matching the Company’s expected benefit payments for the primary plans to a hypothetical yield curve developed using a portfolio of several hundred high-quality non-callable corporate bonds.

The key assumptions used in developing the Company’s fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010 net periodic pension expense for its plans consist of the following:

 

     2012     2011     2010  
     ($ in millions)  

Discount rate used to determine net periodic benefit cost

     5.7     5.7     7.0

Assets:

      

Expected rate of return

     7.0     7.0     7.0

Expected return

   $ 185     $ 171     $ 138  

Actual return

   $ 68     $ 326     $ 237  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Loss)/Gain

   $ (117   $ 155     $ 99  

One year actual return

     2.6     13.7     12.7

Five year actual return

     2.3     4.4     3.9

The weighted average discount rate is volatile from year to year because it is determined based upon the prevailing rates in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia as of the measurement date. The Company will utilize a weighted average discount rate of 4.3% in calculating the fiscal 2013 net periodic pension expense for its plans. The Company will use a weighted average long-term rate of return of 6.9% for fiscal 2013 based principally on a combination of asset mix and historical experience of actual plan returns. The accumulated net pre-tax losses on the Company’s pension plans at June 30, 2012 were approximately $1.5 billion which increased from approximately $800 million at June 30, 2011. This increase of approximately $700 million was due primarily to a decrease in the discount rate used to measure the benefit obligation at June 30, 2012. The

 

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accumulated pre-tax net losses at June 30, 2012 were primarily the result of changes in discount rates and deferred asset losses. Lower discount rates increase present values of benefit obligations and increase the Company’s deferred losses and also increase subsequent-year pension expense. Higher discount rates decrease the present values of benefit obligations and reduce the Company’s accumulated net loss and also decrease subsequent-year pension expense. These deferred losses are being systematically recognized in future net periodic pension expense in accordance with ASC 715, “Compensation—Retirement Benefits.” Unrecognized losses in excess of 10% of the greater of the market-related value of plan assets or the plans projected benefit obligation are recognized over the average future service of the plan participants.

The Company made contributions of $255 million, $158 million and $338 million to its pension plans in fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The majority of these contributions were voluntarily made to improve the funding status of the plans which were impacted by the economic conditions noted above. Future plan contributions are dependent upon actual plan asset returns, statutory requirements and interest rate movements. Assuming that actual plan returns are consistent with the Company’s expected plan returns in fiscal 2012 and beyond, and that interest rates remain constant, the Company would not be required to make any material statutory contributions to its primary U.S. pension plans for the immediate future. The Company will continue to make voluntary contributions as necessary to improve funded status.

Changes in net periodic pension expense may occur in the future due to changes in the Company’s expected rate of return on plan assets and discount rate resulting from economic events. The following table highlights the sensitivity of the Company’s pension obligations and expense to changes in these assumptions, assuming all other assumptions remain constant:

 

Changes in Assumption

  

Impact on Annual
Pension Expense

  

Impact on PBO

0.25 percentage point decrease in
discount rate

   Increase $16 million    Increase $155 million

0.25 percentage point increase in
discount rate

   Decrease $15 million    Decrease $146 million

0.25 percentage point decrease in
expected rate of return on assets

   Increase $7 million                —  

0.25 percentage point increase in
expected rate of return on assets

   Decrease $7 million                —  

Fiscal 2013 net periodic pension expense for the Company’s pension plans is expected to be approximately $205 million as compared to $150 million for fiscal 2012. The increase is primarily related to higher amortization of deferred losses as a result of the change in the discount rate.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of News Corporation for discussion of recent accounting pronouncements.

 

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

The Company has exposure to several types of market risk: changes in foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates and stock prices. The Company neither holds nor issues financial instruments for trading purposes.

The following sections provide quantitative information on the Company’s exposure to foreign currency exchange rate risk, interest rate risk and stock price risk. The Company makes use of sensitivity analyses that are inherently limited in estimating actual losses in fair value that can occur from changes in market conditions.

Foreign Currency Exchange Rates

The Company conducts operations in four principal currencies: the U.S. dollar; the British pound sterling; the Euro; and the Australian dollar. These currencies operate as the functional currency for the Company’s U.S., United Kingdom, Italian and Australian operations, respectively. Cash is managed centrally within each of the four regions with net earnings reinvested locally and working capital requirements met from existing liquid funds. To the extent such funds are not sufficient to meet working capital requirements, draw downs in the appropriate local currency are available from intercompany borrowings. Since earnings of the Company’s Australian, United Kingdom and Italian operations are expected to be reinvested in those businesses indefinitely, the Company does not hedge its investment in the net assets of those foreign operations.

At June 30, 2012, the Company’s outstanding financial instruments with foreign currency exchange rate risk exposure had an aggregate fair value of $147 million (including the Company’s non-U.S. dollar-denominated fixed rate debt). The potential increase in the fair values of these instruments resulting from a 10% adverse change in quoted foreign currency exchange rates would be approximately $26 million at June 30, 2012.

Interest Rates

The Company’s current financing arrangements and facilities include approximately $15,455 million of outstanding fixed-rate debt and the New Credit Agreement, which carries variable interest. Fixed and variable rate debts are impacted differently by changes in interest rates. A change in the interest rate or yield of fixed rate debt will only impact the fair market value of such debt, while a change in the interest rate of variable debt will impact interest expense, as well as the amount of cash required to service such debt. As of June 30, 2012, substantially all of the Company’s financial instruments with exposure to interest rate risk were denominated in U.S. dollars and had an aggregate fair value of approximately $18,300 million. The potential change in fair market value for these financial instruments from an adverse 10% change in quoted interest rates across all maturities, often referred to as a parallel shift in the yield curve, would be approximately $891 million at June 30, 2012.

Stock Prices

The Company has common stock investments in several publicly traded companies that are subject to market price volatility. These investments principally represent the Company’s equity method affiliates and had an aggregate fair value of approximately $9,656 million as of June 30, 2012. A hypothetical decrease in the market price of these investments of 10% would result in a fair value of approximately $8,690 million. Such a hypothetical decrease would result in a before tax decrease in comprehensive income of approximately $35 million, as any changes in fair value of the Company’s equity method affiliates are not recognized unless deemed other-than-temporary.

Credit Risk

Cash and cash equivalents are maintained with several financial institutions. Deposits held with banks may exceed the amount of insurance provided on such deposits. Generally, these deposits may be redeemed upon demand and are maintained with financial institutions of reputable credit and, therefore, bear minimal credit risk.

 

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The Company’s receivables did not represent significant concentrations of credit risk at June 30, 2012 or June 30, 2011 due to the wide variety of customers, markets and geographic areas to which the Company’s products and services are sold.

The Company monitors its positions with, and the credit quality of, the financial institutions which are counterparties to its financial instruments. The Company is exposed to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the counterparties to the agreements. At June 30, 2012, the Company did not anticipate nonperformance by any of the counterparties.

 

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

NEWS CORPORATION

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

     Page

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

   82

Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   83

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010

   85

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2012 and 2011

   86

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010

   87

Consolidated Statements of Equity and Other Comprehensive Income for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010

   88

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

   89

 

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MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

Management of News Corporation is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. News Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:

 

   

pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of News Corporation;

 

   

provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America;

 

   

provide reasonable assurance that receipts and expenditures of News Corporation are being made only in accordance with authorization of management and directors of News Corporation; and

 

   

provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of assets that could have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.

Internal control over financial reporting includes the controls themselves, monitoring and internal auditing practices and actions taken to correct deficiencies as identified.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting, no matter how well designed, may not prevent or detect misstatements. Accordingly, even effective internal control over financial reporting can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation. Also, the assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting was made as of a specific date. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Management, including the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, conducted an assessment of the effectiveness of News Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2012, based on criteria for effective internal control over financial reporting described in “Internal Control—Integrated Framework” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Management’s assessment included an evaluation of the design of News Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting and testing of the operational effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting. Management reviewed the results of its assessment with the Audit Committee of News Corporation’s Board of Directors.

Based on this assessment, management determined that, as of June 30, 2012, News Corporation maintained effective internal control over financial reporting.

Ernst & Young LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm who audited and reported on the Consolidated Financial Statements of News Corporation included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012, has audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Their report appears on the following page.

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Stockholders and Board of Directors of News Corporation:

We have audited News Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2012, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria). News Corporation’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, News Corporation maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2012, based on the COSO criteria.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of News Corporation as of June 30, 2012 and 2011, and the related consolidated statements of operations, cash flows, and equity and other comprehensive income for each of the three years in the period ended June 30, 2012 and our report dated August 14, 2012 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

/s/    Ernst & Young LLP

New York, New York

August 14, 2012

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Stockholders and Board of Directors of News Corporation:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of News Corporation as of June 30, 2012 and 2011, and the related consolidated statements of operations, cash flows, and equity and other comprehensive income for each of the three years in the period ended June 30, 2012. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of News Corporation at June 30, 2012 and 2011, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended June 30, 2012, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), News Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2012, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated August 14, 2012 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

/s/    Ernst & Young LLP

New York, New York

August 14, 2012

 

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NEWS CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

 

     For the years ended June 30,  
     2012     2011     2010  

Revenues

   $ 33,706     $ 33,405     $ 32,778  

Operating expenses

     (20,785     (21,058     (21,015

Selling, general and administrative

     (6,363     (6,306     (6,619

Depreciation and amortization

     (1,179     (1,191     (1,185

Impairment and restructuring charges

     (3,005     (313     (253

Equity earnings of affiliates

     730       462       448  

Interest expense, net

     (1,034     (966     (991

Interest income

     135       126       91  

Other, net

     7       18       69  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before income tax expense

     2,212       4,177       3,323  

Income tax expense

     (805     (1,029     (679
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

     1,407       3,148       2,644  

Loss on disposition of discontinued operations, net of tax

     —          (254     —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

     1,407       2,894       2,644  

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

     (228     (155     (105
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income attributable to News Corporation stockholders

   $ 1,179     $ 2,739     $ 2,539  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations attributable to News Corporation stockholders—basic and diluted

   $ 0.47     $ 1.14     $ 0.97  

Net income attributable to News Corporation stockholders—basic and diluted

   $ 0.47     $ 1.04     $ 0.97  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these audited consolidated financial statements.

 

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NEWS CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

 

     As of June 30,  
     2012      2011  

Assets:

     

Current assets:

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 9,626      $ 12,680  

Receivables, net

     6,608        6,330  

Inventories, net

     2,595        2,332  

Other

     619        442  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total current assets

     19,448        21,784  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Non-current assets:

     

Receivables

     387        350  

Investments

     4,968        4,867  

Inventories, net

     4,596        4,198  

Property, plant and equipment, net

     5,814        6,542  

Intangible assets, net

     7,133        8,587  

Goodwill

     13,174        14,697  

Other non-current assets

     1,143        955  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 56,663      $ 61,980  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities and Equity:

     

Current liabilities:

     

Borrowings

   $ 273      $ 32  

Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     5,405        5,773  

Participations, residuals and royalties payable

     1,691        1,511  

Program rights payable

     1,368        1,298  

Deferred revenue

     880        957  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     9,617        9,571  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Non-current liabilities:

     

Borrowings

     15,182        15,463  

Other liabilities

     3,650        2,908  

Deferred income taxes

     2,388        3,149  

Redeemable noncontrolling interests

     641        242  

Commitments and contingencies

     

Equity:

     

Class A common stock (a)

     15        18  

Class B common stock (b)

     8        8  

Additional paid-in capital

     16,140        17,435  

Retained earnings and accumulated other comprehensive income

     8,521        12,608  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total News Corporation stockholders’ equity

     24,684        30,069  

Noncontrolling interests

     501        578  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total equity

     25,185        30,647  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity

   $ 56,663      $ 61,980  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Class A common stock, $0.01 par value per share, 6,000,000,000 shares authorized, 1,584,519,372 shares and 1,828,315,242 shares issued and outstanding, net of 1,775,983,637 and 1,776,534,202 treasury shares at par at June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

(b) 

Class B common stock, $0.01 par value per share, 3,000,000,000 shares authorized, 798,520,953 shares issued and outstanding, net of 313,721,702 treasury shares at par at June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these audited consolidated financial statements.

 

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NEWS CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(IN MILLIONS)

 

     For the years ended June 30,  
     2012     2011     2010  

Operating activities:

      

Net income

   $ 1,407     $ 2,894     $ 2,644  

Loss on disposition of discontinued operations, net of tax

     —          254       —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

     1,407       3,148       2,644  

Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to cash provided by operating activities:

      

Depreciation and amortization

     1,179       1,191       1,185  

Amortization of cable distribution investments

     88       92       84  

Equity earnings of affiliates

     (730     (462     (448

Cash distributions received from affiliates

     466       310       317  

Impairment charges (net of tax of $440 million, nil and $19 million, respectively)

     2,368       168       181  

Other, net

     (7     (18     (69

Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:

      

Receivables and other assets

     (642     377       (282

Inventories, net

     (399     (627     (110

Accounts payable and other liabilities

     60       292       352  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

     3,790       4,471       3,854  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investing activities:

      

Property, plant and equipment, net of acquisitions

     (939     (1,171     (914

Acquisitions, net of cash acquired

     (542     (831     (143

Investments in equity affiliates

     (4     (326     (428

Other investments

     (411     (322     (85

Proceeds from dispositions

     475       403       1,257  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (1,421     (2,247     (313
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Financing activities:

      

Borrowings

     —          2,471       1,027  

Repayment of borrowings

     (35     (557     (2,080

Issuance of shares

     167       12       24  

Repurchase of shares

     (4,589     —          —     

Dividends paid

     (593     (500     (418

Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interests

     (65     (116     —     

Sale of subsidiary shares to noncontrolling interests

     —          50       —     

Other, net

     —          —          2  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

     (5,115     1,360       (1,445
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

     (2,746     3,584       2,096  

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year

     12,680       8,709       6,540  

Exchange movement on opening cash balance

     (308     387       73  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of year

   $ 9,626     $ 12,680     $ 8,709  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these audited consolidated financial statements.

 

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NEWS CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(IN MILLIONS)

 

    Class A
Common Stock
    Class B
Common Stock
    Additional
Paid-In
Capital
    Retained
Earnings and
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
    Total News
Corporation
Equity
    Noncontrolling
Interests (a)
    Total
Equity
 
    Shares     Amount     Shares