Time Warner Cable 2008 Annual Report Download - page 141

Reimbursements of Programming Expense
A subsidiary of Time Warner previously agreed to assume a portion of the cost of TWC’s contractual carriage
arrangements with a programmer in order to secure other forms of content from the same programmer over time
periods consistent with the terms of the respective TWC carriage contract. The amount assumed represented Time
Warner’s best estimate of the fair value of the other content acquired by the Time Warner subsidiary at the time the
agreements were executed. Under this arrangement, the Time Warner subsidiary makes periodic payments to TWC
that are classified as a reduction of programming costs in the consolidated statement of operations. Payments
received or receivable under this agreement totaled $39 million in 2008, $35 million in 2007 and $36 million in
2006.
15. SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
TWC is authorized to issue up to 20 billion shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and
5 billion shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share. As of December 31, 2008, 902 million shares of
Class A common stock and 75 million shares of Class B common stock were issued and outstanding. TWC is also
authorized to issue up to 1 billion shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share; however, no preferred shares
have been issued, nor does the Company have any current plans to issue any preferred shares.
Each share of Class A common stock votes as a single class with respect to the election of Class A directors,
which are required to represent not less than one-sixth of the Company’s directors and not more than one-fifth of the
Company’s directors. Each share of the Company’s Class B common stock votes as a single class with respect to the
election of Class B directors, which are required to represent not less than four-fifths of the Company’s directors.
Each share of Class B common stock issued and outstanding generally has ten votes on any matter submitted to a
vote of the stockholders, and each share of Class A common stock issued and outstanding has one vote on any matter
submitted to a vote of stockholders. Except for the voting rights characteristics described above, there are no
differences between the Class A and Class B common stock. The Class A common stock and the Class B common
stock will generally vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders, except with
respect to the election of directors. The Class B common stock is not convertible into the Company’s Class A
common stock. As a result of its shareholdings, Time Warner has the ability to cause the election of all Class A and
Class B directors.
As of December 31, 2008, Time Warner holds an 84.0% economic interest TWC (representing a 90.6% voting
interest), through ownership of 82.7% of TWC’s Class A common stock and all of the outstanding shares of TWC’s
Class B common stock. Refer to Note 4 for discussion pertaining to TWC’s pending separation from Time Warner.
16. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Prior to the TWE Restructuring, TWE had various contingent commitments, including guarantees, related to
the TWE non-cable businesses. In connection with the TWE Restructuring, some of these commitments were not
transferred with their applicable non-cable business and they remain contingent commitments of TWE. Time
Warner and its subsidiary, WCI, have agreed, on a joint and several basis, to indemnify TWE from and against any
and all of these contingent liabilities, but TWE remains a party to these commitments.
TWC has cable franchise agreements containing provisions requiring the construction of cable plant and the
provision of services to customers within the franchise areas. In connection with these obligations under existing
franchise agreements, TWC obtains surety bonds or letters of credit guaranteeing performance to municipalities and
public utilities and payment of insurance premiums. Such surety bonds and letters of credit as of December 31, 2008
and 2007 totaled $288 million and $299 million, respectively. Payments under these arrangements are required only
in the event of nonperformance. TWC does not expect that these contingent commitments will result in any amounts
being paid in the foreseeable future.
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)