SIRI » Topics » Subscriber Revenue Recognition.

This excerpt taken from the SIRI 10-K filed Mar 13, 2006.
Subscriber Revenue Recognition. Revenue from subscribers consists of subscription fees, including revenues associated with prepaid subscriptions included in the sale or lease price of a new vehicle; revenue derived from our agreement with Hertz; non-refundable activation fees; and the effects of mail-in rebates.

      We recognize subscription fees as our service is provided to a subscriber. We record deferred revenue for prepaid subscription fees and amortize these prepayments to revenue ratably over the term of the respective subscription plan.

      At the time of sale, vehicle owners purchasing or leasing a vehicle with a subscription to our service typically receive between a six month and one year prepaid subscription. We receive payment from automakers for these subscriptions in advance of our service being activated. Such prepayments are recorded to deferred revenue and amortized to revenue ratably over the term

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upon activation. We also reimburse the automakers for certain costs associated with the SIRIUS radio installed in the applicable vehicle at the time the vehicle is manufactured. The associated payments to the automakers are included in subscriber acquisition costs. Although we receive payments from the automakers, they do not resell our service; rather, automakers facilitate the sale of our service to our customers, acting similar to an agent. We believe this is the appropriate characterization of our relationship since we are responsible for providing service to our customers including being obligated to the customer if there was interruption of service.

      Activation fees are recognized ratably over the estimated term of a subscriber relationship, currently estimated to be 3.5 years. The estimated term of a subscriber relationship is based on market research and management’s judgment and, if necessary, will be refined in the future as historical data becomes available.

      As required by Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) No. 01-09, “Accounting for Consideration Given by a Vendor to a Customer (Including a Reseller of the Vendor’s Products),” an estimate of mail-in rebates that are paid by us directly to subscribers is recorded as a reduction to subscriber revenue in the period the subscriber activates our service. We estimate the effects of mail-in rebates based on actual take-rates for rebate incentives offered in prior periods, adjusted as deemed necessary based on any current take-rate data available at the time. In subsequent periods, estimates are adjusted when necessary.

      

This excerpt taken from the SIRI 10-Q filed Aug 3, 2005.
Subscriber Revenue Recognition. Revenue from subscribers consists of subscription fees, including revenues associated with prepaid subscriptions included in the sale or lease price of a new vehicle; revenue derived from our agreement with Hertz; and non-refundable activation fees.

      We recognize subscription fees as our service is provided to a subscriber. We record deferred revenue for prepaid subscription fees and amortize these prepayments to revenue ratably over the term of the respective subscription plan. At the time of sale, vehicle owners purchasing or leasing a vehicle with a subscription typically receive between a six-month and one-year prepaid subscription. We receive payment from automakers for these subscriptions in advance of our service being activated. We also reimburse the automakers for certain costs associated with the SIRIUS radio installed in the applicable vehicle at the time the vehicle is manufactured. The associated payments to the automakers are included in subscriber acquisition costs. Although we receive payments from the automakers, they do not resell our service; rather, automakers facilitate the sale of our service to our customers similar to an agent. We believe this is the appropriate characterization of our relationship since we are responsible for providing services to our customers including being obligated to the customer if there were interruption of service.

      Activation fees are recognized ratably over the estimated term of a subscriber relationship, currently estimated to be 3.5 years. The estimated term of a subscriber relationship is based on market research and management's judgment and, if necessary, will be refined in the future as historical data becomes available.

      As required by Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) No. 01-09, “Accounting for Consideration Given by a Vendor to a Customer (Including a Reseller of the Vendor's Products),” an estimate of mail-in rebates that are paid by us directly to subscribers is recorded as a reduction to subscriber revenue in the period the subscriber activates our service. We estimate the effects of mail-in rebates based on actual take-rates for rebate incentives offered in prior periods. In subsequent periods, estimates are adjusted when necessary.

      

EXCERPTS ON THIS PAGE:

10-K
Mar 13, 2006
10-Q
Aug 3, 2005
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