Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Commitments and Contingencies

v2.4.0.8
Commitments and Contingencies
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments and Contingencies


Operating Lease Commitments

Operating lease commitments include payments on outstanding, noncancelable, operating lease obligations. The Company leases its operating facilities under noncancelable operating leases that expire through 2017. The Company also leases certain facilities and vehicles under month-to-month arrangements. Total rent expense for the three months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 was $1.0 million and $0.9 million, respectively. Rent expense for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 was $2.1 million and $1.5 million respectively. The Company is responsible for certain operating expenses in connection with these leases.
     
Satellite Cost Commitments

During the six months ended June 30, 2014 the Company had in place a Master Services Agreement ("MSA") with its satellite service provider to provide for satellite capacity over Russia, the North Atlantic and for expansion of its existing capacity in the US and Europe. As of June 30, 2014, the MSA satellite cost commitments totaled $170.6 million through December 31, 2020. The Company expenses these satellite fees in the month the service is provided as a charge to cost of services.

Legal Matters

On December 28, 2012, Advanced Media Networks, L.L.C. filed suit in the United States District Court for the Central District of California against Row 44 and one of its customers which Row 44 has agreed to indemnify for allegedly infringing two of its patents and seeking injunctive relief and unspecified monetary damages. Row 44 is direct subsidiary of the Company. Based on currently available information, the Company believes it has strong defenses and intends to defend vigorously against this lawsuit, but the outcome of this matter is inherently uncertain and could have a materially adverse effect on its Connectivity business, financial condition and results of operations. As of March 31, 2014, the potential range of loss related to this matter cannot be determined.

On October 22, 2013, Arista Music, Sony Music Entertainment and certain parties believed to be related to the foregoing filed suit in the United States Direct Court for the Southern District of New York against Inflight Productions Ltd. (“IFP”), one of its customers and a third party contractor of IFP for copyright infringement and related claims and unspecified money damages. IFP is a direct subsidiary of AIA and an indirect subsidiary of the Company. The Company is in the process of evaluating the merits of this matter, and intends to defend against it vigorously; however the outcome is inherently uncertain and could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations. As of June 30, 2014, the potential range of loss related to this matter cannot be determined.

On May 6, 2014, UMG Recordings, Inc., Capital Records, Universal Music Corp and entities affiliated with the foregoing (collectively, “UMG”) filed suit in the United States District Court for the Central District of California against the Company and IFP for copyright infringement and related claims and unspecified money damages. The Company is in the process of evaluating the merits of this matter, and intends to defend against it vigorously; however the outcome is inherently uncertain and could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations. As of June 30, 2014, the potential range of loss related to this matter cannot be determined.

While the resolution of the above matters cannot be predicted with certainty, the Company does not believe, based on current knowledge, that the outcome of the currently pending claims or legal proceedings in which the Company is currently involved will have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial statements.

Acquisitions

As a result of the AIA Stock Purchase, the Company assumed certain commitments. AIA’s long-term commitments include contracts for office space leases and operating equipment leases of $5.6 million, movie license fees of $23.1 million and certain guaranteed minimum payments owed to movie content providers of $7.5 million. In addition, as a result of the PMG asset purchase, the Company assumed obligations of $1.8 million associated with a 25-year operating lease agreement.

The operating lease contracts usually have a contract period from 1 to 5 years. The movie license contracts have a contract period of 3 years. Minimum payments for already signed contracts are mainly to be paid within 12 months. The EIM earn-out payments and the PMG additional consideration will be due in the years 2014 through 2016.