Edgar Filing: AMC Networks Inc.

10-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K



þ	Annual report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015



¨	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: 1-35106

AMC Networks Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



Delaware		27-5403694
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

11 Penn Plaza, New York, NY		10001
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

(212) 324-8500

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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 Stock Market LLC

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

None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

Yes þ No ¨

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

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 þ No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, 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 þ No ¨

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) 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. þ

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2).



Large accelerated filer	þ	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 Exchange Act). Yes ¨ No þ

The aggregate market value of the registrant’s common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant, computed by reference to the closing price of a share of common stock on June 30, 2015 (the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter) was approximately $4.9 billion.

The number of shares of common stock outstanding as of February 10, 2016:



Class A Common Stock par value $0.01 per share	60,909,831
Class B Common Stock par value $0.01 per share	11,484,408

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE:

Certain information required in Item 10 through Item 14 of Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K is incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s definitive Proxy Statement for its 2016 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 the Registrant’s fiscal year end.

TABLE OF CONTENTS



		Page
Forward-Looking Statements		4
Part I
Item 1.	Business	5
Item 1A.	Risk Factors	14
Item 1B.	Unresolved Staff Comments	25
Item 2.	Properties	25
Item 3.	Legal Proceedings	25
Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures	25
Part II
Item 5.	Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities	26
Item 6.	Selected Financial Data	28
Item 7.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	29
Item 7A.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk	54
Item 8.	Financial Statements and Supplementary Data	55
Item 9.	Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure	55
Item 9A.	Controls and Procedures	55
Item 9B.	Other Information	56
Part III
Item 10.	Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance	57
Item 11.	Executive Compensation	57
Item 12.	Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters	57
Item 13.	Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence	57
Item 14.	Principal Accounting Fees and Services	57
Part IV
Item 15.	Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules	58
SIGNATURES		62

Forward-Looking Statements

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains statements that constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In this Annual Report on Form 10-K there are statements concerning our future operating results and future financial performance. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “potential,” “continue,” “intends,” “plans” and similar words and terms used in the discussion of future operating results and future financial performance identify forward-looking statements. You are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or results and involve risks and uncertainties and that actual results or developments may differ materially from the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Factors that may cause such differences to occur include, but are not limited to:

• the level of our revenues;

• market demand for our programming networks and our programming;

• demand for advertising inventory;

• the highly competitive nature of the cable, telecommunications and digital programming industries;


•	our ability to maintain and renew distribution or affiliation agreements with video programming distributors;


•	the cost of, and our ability to obtain or produce, desirable programming content for our networks, other forms of distribution, including digital and licensing in international markets, as well as our independent film distribution business;


•	market demand for our owned original programming and our independent film content;

• the security of our program rights and other electronic data;

• the loss of any of our key personnel and artistic talent;

• changes in domestic or foreign laws or regulations under which we operate;

• economic and business conditions and industry trends in the countries in which we operate;

• fluctuations in currency exchange rates and interest rates;


•	changes in laws or treaties relating to taxation, or the interpretation thereof, in the U.S. or in the countries in which we operate;

• our substantial debt and high leverage;

• reduced access to capital markets or significant increases in costs to borrow;

• the level of our expenses;

• the level of our capital expenditures;

• future acquisitions and dispositions of assets;


•	our ability to successfully acquire new businesses and, if acquired, to integrate, and implement our plan with respect to businesses we acquire;


•	problems we may discover post-closing with the operations, including the internal controls and financial reporting process, of businesses we acquire;

•changes in the nature of key strategic relationships with partners and joint ventures;


•	the outcome of litigation and other proceedings;


•	whether pending uncompleted transactions, if any, are completed on the terms and at the times set forth (if at all);

• other risks and uncertainties inherent in our programming and distribution business;


•	financial community and rating agency perceptions of our business, operations, financial condition and the industry in which we operate;


•	events that are outside our control, such as political unrest in international markets, terrorist attacks, natural disasters and other similar events; and

•the factors described under Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report.

We disclaim any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein, except as otherwise required by applicable federal securities laws.

Part I

Item 1. Business.

General

AMC Networks Inc. is a Delaware corporation with our principal executive offices located at 11 Penn Plaza, New York, NY 10001. AMC Networks Inc. is a holding company and conducts substantially all of its operations through its majority owned or controlled subsidiaries. Unless the context otherwise requires, all references to “we,” “our,” “us,” “AMC Networks” or the “Company” refer to AMC Networks Inc., together with its direct and indirect subsidiaries. “AMC Networks Inc.” refers to AMC Networks Inc. individually as a separate entity. Our telephone number is (212) 324-8500. Our corporate website is http://www.amcnetworks.com and the investor relations section of our website is located at http://investor.amcnetworks.com. We make available, free of charge through the investor relations section of our website, our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and 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 well as our proxy statements, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). References to our website in this Annual Report on Form 10-K (this “Annual Report”) are provided as a convenience and the information contained on, or available through, the website is not part of this or any other report we file with or furnish to the SEC.

AMC Networks Inc. was incorporated on March 9, 2011 as an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (Cablevision Systems Corporation and its subsidiaries are referred to as “Cablevision”). On June 30, 2011, Cablevision spun off the Company (the “Distribution”), and AMC Networks Inc. became an independent public company. In connection with the Distribution, Cablevision contributed all of the membership interests of Rainbow Media Holdings LLC (“RMH”) to the Company. RMH owned, directly or indirectly, the businesses included in Cablevision’s Rainbow Media segment. Both Cablevision and AMC Networks continue to be controlled by Charles F. Dolan, certain members of his immediate family and certain family-related entities (collectively the “Dolan Family”).

Our Company

AMC Networks owns and operates several of the most recognized brands in television, delivering high quality content to audiences and a valuable platform to distributors and advertisers. We have operated in the cable programming industry for more than 30 years, and, over this time, we have continually enhanced the value of our network portfolio. Our programming networks are well known and well regarded by our key constituents — our viewers, distributors and advertisers — and have developed strong followings within their respective targeted demographics, increasing their value to distributors and advertisers.

In the United States (“U.S.”), our programming channels are AMC, WE tv, BBC AMERICA (our joint venture with BBC Worldwide Americas, Inc.), IFC and SundanceTV. Each of our programming channels have established themselves within their respective markets. Our deep and established presence in the industry and the recognition we have received for our brands through industry awards and other honors lend us a high degree of credibility with distributors and content producers, and help provide us with stable affiliate and studio relationships, advantageous channel placements and heightened viewer engagement. Over the past several years, we have begun to produce some of our own original programming. Our ability to produce owned high quality content has provided us with the opportunity to distribute such content on platforms other than our domestic networks. We have principally licensed content for linear distribution internationally, digital distribution, home video and syndication.

Internationally, we deliver programming that reaches subscribers in more than 140 countries and territories, including countries and territories in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and parts of Asia and Africa. The global division of the Company, AMC Networks International (“AMCNI”) consists of global brands, including Sundance Channel and AMC, in the movie and entertainment programming genres, as well as popular, locally recognized channels in various other programming genres.

Our Strategy

Our strategy is to maintain and improve our position as a leading programming and entertainment company by owning and operating several of the most popular and award-winning brands in cable television that create engagement with audiences globally across multiple media and distribution platforms. The key focuses of our strategy are:

Continued Development of High-Quality Original Programming. We intend to continue developing strong original programming across all of our programming networks to enhance our brands, strengthen our relationships with our viewers, distributors and advertisers, and increase distribution and audience ratings. We intend to continue to seek increased distribution of our national networks to grow affiliate and advertising revenues. We believe that our continued investment in original programming supports future growth in distribution and advertising revenue. We also intend to continue to expand the exploitation of our original programming across multiple media and distribution platforms.

Increased Global Distribution. We are expanding the distribution of our programming networks around the globe. We first expanded beyond the U.S. market with the launch in Canada of IFC (in 2001) and AMC (in 2006), and Sundance Channel in Europe (in 2010). In 2014, AMC was launched internationally and is now available in over 120 countries, replacing the

MGM channel in certain territories. Additionally, Sundance Channel has expanded its distribution to over 70 countries. AMC Networks International's channels are available in over 390 million homes worldwide.

Continued Growth of Advertising Revenue. We have a proven track record of significantly increasing revenue by introducing advertising on networks that were previously not advertiser-supported. We first accomplished this in 2002, when we moved AMC and WE tv to an advertiser-supported model, followed by IFC in December 2010, and SundanceTV in September 2013. Prior to September 2013, SundanceTV principally sold sponsorships. We seek to continue to evolve the programming on each of our networks to achieve even stronger viewer engagement within their respective core targeted demographics, thereby increasing the value of our programming to advertisers and allowing us to obtain higher advertising rates. We are continuing to seek additional advertising revenue through higher Nielsen ratings in desirable demographics.

Increased Control of Content. We believe that control (including long-term contract arrangements) and ownership of content is becoming increasingly important, and we intend to increase our control position over our programming content. We currently control, own or have long-term license agreements covering significant portions of our content across our programming networks as well as in our independent film distribution business operated by IFC Films. We intend to continue to focus on obtaining the broadest possible control rights (both as to territory and platforms) for our content.

Exploitation of Other Media Platforms. The technological landscape surrounding the distribution of entertainment content has expanded to include other digital platforms. We distribute our content across many of these platforms, when it makes business sense to do so, so that our viewers can access our content where, when and how they want it. To that end, our programming networks are allowing many of our distributors to offer our content to subscribers on computers and other digital devices, and on video-on-demand platforms, all of which permit subscribers to access programs at their convenience. We also make our IFC Films library and certain of our other content available on third-party digital platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime and iTunes. We recently launched two subscription based, digital video-on-demand services called SundanceNow DocClub^TM, featuring independent films and documentaries, and Shudder^TM, dedicated to the horror genre. In addition to amc.com, which delivers approximately 5 million unique browsers each month, our networks each host dedicated websites that promote their brands, provide programming information and provide access to content.

Revenue

We earn revenue principally from the distribution of our programming and the sale of advertising. Distribution revenues primarily include affiliation fees paid by distributors to carry our programming networks as well as revenue earned from the licensing of original programming for digital, foreign and home video distribution. In 2015, distribution revenues and advertising sales accounted for 60% and 40% of our consolidated revenues, net, respectively. No customer accounted for more than 10% of consolidated revenues, net for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Distribution Revenue

Affiliation Agreements. Our programming networks are distributed to our viewing audience throughout the U.S. and around the world via cable and other multichannel video programming distribution platforms, including direct broadcast satellite (“DBS”) and platforms operated by telecommunications providers (collectively “distributors”) pursuant to affiliation agreements with the distributors. These agreements, which typically have durations of several years, require us to deliver programming that meets certain standards set forth in the agreement. We earn affiliation fees under these agreements, generally based upon the number of each distributor’s subscribers or, in some cases, based on a fixed contractual monthly fee. Our affiliation agreements also give us the right to sell a specific amount of advertising time on our programming networks. Our programming networks’ existing affiliation agreements expire at various dates through 2024.

We frequently negotiate with distributors in an effort to increase the subscriber base for our networks. We have in some instances made upfront payments to distributors in exchange for these additional subscribers or agreed to waive or accept lower subscriber fees if certain numbers of additional subscribers are provided. We also may help fund the distributors’ efforts to market our programming networks or we may permit distributors to offer limited promotional periods without payment of subscriber fees. As we continue our efforts to add subscribers, our subscriber revenue may be negatively affected by such deferred carriage fee arrangements, discounted subscriber fees and other payments; however, we believe that these transactions generate a positive return on investment over the contract period.

Licensing Agreements: Our programming businesses sell rights to our owned original programming and related brands for distribution in a variety of forms including television markets worldwide, subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) services, such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime and physical (DVD and Blu-ray) formats.

Advertising Revenue

We earn advertising revenue by selling advertising time on our programming networks. In the U.S., we sell advertising time in both the upfront and scatter markets. In the upfront market, advertisers buy advertising time for the upcoming season, and by purchasing in advance, often receive discounted rates. In the scatter market, advertisers buy advertising time close to

the time when the commercials will be run, and often pay a premium. The mix between the upfront and scatter markets is based upon a number of factors, such as pricing, demand for advertising time and economic conditions. Internationally, advertising markets vary by jurisdiction. The majority of international advertising is sold close to the time when the commercials will be run (similar to the U.S. scatter market) and we are represented by third-party sales agents in a number of markets.

Our arrangements with advertisers provide for a set number of advertising units to air over a specific period of time at a negotiated price per unit. In most domestic advertising sales arrangements, our programming networks guarantee specified viewer ratings for their programming. If these guaranteed viewer ratings are not met, we are generally required to provide additional advertising units to the advertiser at no charge. For these types of arrangements, a portion of the related revenue is deferred if the guaranteed viewer ratings are not met and is subsequently recognized either when we provide the required additional advertising time, the guarantee obligation contractually expires or performance requirements become remote. In the U.S., most of our advertising revenues vary based upon the popularity of our programming as measured by Nielsen. In addition to the Nielsen rating, our advertising rates are also influenced by the demographic mix of our viewing audiences, since advertisers tend to pay premium rates for more desirable demographic groups of viewers.

Our programming networks have advertisers representing companies in a broad range of sectors, including the health, automotive, food, insurance and entertainment industries. All of our National Networks use a traditional advertising sales model.

Programming

We obtain programming through a combination of development, production and licensing; and we distribute programming directly to consumers in the U.S. and throughout the world through our programming networks as well as theatrical release. Our programming includes original programming that we control, either through outright ownership or through long-term licensing arrangements, as well as acquired programming that we license from studios and other rights holders. Since our founding in 1980, we have been a pioneer in the cable television programming industry, having created or developed some of the industry’s leading programming networks, with a focus on programming of film and original productions. AMC, which was created in 1984, features original programming that includes critically-acclaimed original scripted dramatic series.

Original Programming

We contract with some of the industry’s leading production companies to produce most of the original programming that appears on our programming networks. These contractual arrangements either provide us with outright ownership of the programming, in which case we hold all programming and other rights to the content, or they consist of long-term licensing arrangements, which provide us with exclusive rights to exhibit the content on our programming networks, but may be limited in terms of specific geographic markets or distribution platforms. The license agreements are typically of multi-season duration and provide us with a right of first negotiation or a right of first refusal on the renewal of the license for additional programming seasons.

We also produce certain original programming through our AMC Studios operation, which we license to third-parties as well as amongst our operating segments for distribution. Decisions as to how to distribute programming are made on the basis of a variety of factors including the relative value of any particular alternative.

Acquired Programming

The majority of the content on our programming networks consists of films, episodic series and specials that we acquire pursuant to rights agreements with film studios, production companies or other rights holders. This acquired programming includes episodic series such as Law and Order, CSI: Miami, Will & Grace, Roseanne, Malcolm in the Middle and Batman, as well as an extensive film library. The rights agreements for this content are of varying duration and generally permit our programming networks to carry these series, films and other programming during certain window periods.

Segments

We manage our business through the following two operating segments:

•

National Networks: Principally includes activities of our programming businesses which include our five programming networks distributed in the U.S. and Canada. These programming networks are AMC, WE tv, BBC AMERICA, IFC, and SundanceTV in the U.S.; and AMC, IFC and Sundance Channel in Canada. Our programming businesses within the National Networks segment may also sell rights worldwide to their owned original programming. The National Networks operating segment also includes AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology, the technical services business, which primarily services most of the programming networks included in the National Networks segment.


•	International and Other: Principally includes AMC Networks International, the Company’s international programming businesses consisting of a portfolio of channels in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and parts

of Asia and Africa; IFC Films, the Company’s independent film distribution business; AMCNI- DMC, the broadcast solutions unit of certain networks of AMCNI and third-party networks, and various developing on-line content distribution initiatives.

For financial information of the Company by operating segment, see Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Consolidated Results of Operations” and Note 21 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

National Networks

AMC

Whether commemorating favorite films from various genres and decades or creating acclaimed original programming, AMC is a television network dedicated to the highest-quality storytelling in keeping with its "Something More" brand. AMC, launched in 1984, has garnered many of the industry’s highest honors, including multiple Emmy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards, Peabody Awards, and American Film Institute (AFI) Awards for Top 10 Most Outstanding Television Programs of the Year. The network is the only cable network in history to win the Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series four years in a row (Mad Men from 2008-2011), and for six out of the last eight years (Breaking Bad in 2013 and 2014). Also in 2015, Mad Men's Jon Hamm received the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series and in 2014, Breaking Bad’s Bryan Cranston received the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, Aaron Paul received the Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, and Anna Gunn received the Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. In addition, AMC is home to The Walking Dead, the highest-rated drama series in basic cable history and the number one show on all of television among adults 18-49 in 2015.

AMC’s original drama series include The Walking Dead, Better Call Saul, Hell on Wheels, TURN: Washington’s Spies, Halt and Catch Fire, Fear the Walking Dead, Into the Badlands and Humans. The network will premiere five new series in 2016: The Night Manager, based on the John le Carré novel; the drama Feed the Beast; Preacher, based on the popular comic book franchise; Ride with Norman Reedus, a non-fiction series that will explore motorcycle culture; and The American West, another non-fiction series that will chronicle the little-known stories of Western legends. Additionally, AMC's programming includes the unscripted original shows Talking Dead, The Making of The Mob and Comic Book Men.

AMC’s film library consists of films that are licensed under long-term contracts with major studios such as Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Bros., Sony, MGM, NBC Universal, Paramount and Buena Vista. AMC generally structures its contracts for the exclusive cable television rights to air the films during identified window periods.

AMC Subscribers and Affiliation Agreements. As of December 31, 2015, AMC had affiliation agreements with all major U.S. distributors and reached approximately 94 million Nielsen subscribers.

Historical Subscribers—AMC



(in millions)	2015		2014		2013
Nielsen Subscribers (at year-end)	93.6		95.0		97.4
Change from Prior Year-end	(1	)%	(2	)%	(2	)%

Year-to-year changes in the Nielsen subscribers may be impacted by changes in the Nielsen sample.

WE tv

WE tv’s programming is fueled by personalities and relationships filled with purpose and passion. WE tv welcomes everyone and creates an inclusive experience across all platforms: on TV, online, on demand, and social media, embracing how today’s digitally-savvy, socially-engaged audiences connect through content, using it as a catalyst to drive conversation and build community. WE tv’s popular slate of fresh and modern unscripted original series includes the hit shows Braxton Family Values, Kendra on Top and Mary Mary, among others.

Additionally, WE tv’s programming includes series such as CSI: Miami and Law & Order as well as feature films, with exclusive license rights to certain films from studios such as Paramount, MGM, Disney and Warner Bros.

WE tv Subscribers and Affiliation Agreements. As of December 31, 2015, WE tv had affiliation agreements with all major U.S. distributors and reached approximately 87 million Nielsen subscribers.

Historical Subscribers—WE tv



(in millions)	2015		2014		2013
Nielsen Subscribers (at year-end)	86.5		85.4		84.0
Change from Prior Year-end	1	%	2	%	3	%

The increase in Nielsen subscribers noted in the above table primarily reflects the repositioning of carriage of WE tv with certain operators to more widely distributed tiers of service. Additionally, year-to-year changes in the Nielsen subscribers may be impacted by changes in the Nielsen sample.

BBC AMERICA

BBC AMERICA delivers U.S. audiences high-quality, innovative and intelligent programming. Established in 1998, it has been the launch pad for talent embraced by American mainstream pop culture, including Ricky Gervais, Gordon Ramsay, Graham Norton, and successful programming formats including the dramatic conspiracy thriller, Orphan Black, ground-breaking non-scripted television such as Top Gear, landmark natural history programming such as the upcoming new series, The Hunt, and top-rated science-fiction such as Doctor Who. BBC AMERICA has attracted both critical acclaim and major awards, including four Emmy Awards, five Golden Globes and 12 Peabody Awards.

BBC AMERICA Subscribers and Affiliation Agreements. As of December 31, 2015, BBC AMERICA had affiliation agreements with all major U.S. distributors and reached approximately 77 million Nielsen subscribers.

Historical Subscribers—BBC AMERICA



(in millions)	2015		2014		2013
Nielsen Subscribers (at year-end)	77.1		78.2		79.5
Change from Prior Year-end	(1	)%	(2	)%	(1	)%

Year-to-year changes in the Nielsen subscribers may be impacted by changes in the Nielsen sample.

IFC

IFC creates original comedies that are in keeping with the network’s “Always On. Slightly Off” brand and which air alongside a collection of films and comedic cult TV shows.

The network’s original content includes the comedy series, Portlandia, created by and starring Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein, and executive produced by Saturday Night Live's Lorne Michaels. Other IFC originals include Comedy Bang! Bang!, Documentary Now!, and Maron. IFC's programming also includes films from various film distributors, including Fox, Miramax, Sony, Lionsgate, Universal, Paramount and Warner Bros.

IFC Subscribers and Affiliation Agreements. As of December 31, 2015, IFC had affiliation agreements with all major U.S. distributors and reached approximately 71 million Nielsen subscribers.

Historical Subscribers—IFC



(in millions)	2015		2014		2013
Nielsen Subscribers (at year-end)	71.2		73.7		69.9
Change from Prior Year-end	(3	)%	5	%	—	%

Year-to-year changes in the Nielsen subscribers may be impacted by changes in the Nielsen sample.

SundanceTV

SundanceTV delivers on the spirit of founder Robert Redford’s mission to celebrate creativity by bringing viewers television as distinctive as the best independent films. Working with today’s most innovative talent, SundanceTV is attracting viewer and critical acclaim for its original scripted and unscripted programming, including Rectify, Hap and Leonard, The Last Panthers, and Top of the Lake, among others.

In 2015, SundanceTV's mini-series The Honorable Woman, lead actress, Maggie Gyllenhaal, won the Golden Globe award for Best Actress in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television category.

SundanceTV also has a slate of original unscripted series, each exploring aspects of contemporary culture.

SundanceTV Subscribers and Affiliation Agreements. As of December 31, 2015, SundanceTV had affiliation agreements with all major U.S. distributors and reached approximately 60 million Nielsen subscribers.

Historical Subscribers—SundanceTV



(in millions)	2015		2014		2013
Nielsen Subscribers (at year-end)	59.6		56.6		56.2
Change from Prior Year-end	5	%	1	%	4	%

The increase in Nielsen subscribers noted in the above table primarily reflects the repositioning of carriage of our SundanceTV with certain operators to more widely distributed tiers of service. Additionally, year-to-year changes in the Nielsen subscribers may be impacted by changes in the Nielsen sample.

AMC and Sundance Channel Canada

We provide programming to the Canadian market through our AMC and Sundance Channel brands. AMC is distributed through affiliation arrangements with all major Canadian multichannel video programming distributors and Sundance Channel is distributed through trademark license and content distribution arrangements with Canadian programming outlets.

AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology

AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology is a full-service network programming feed origination and distribution company, which primarily services most of the national programming networks of the Company. AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology’s operations are located in Bethpage, New York, where AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology consolidates origination and satellite communications functions in a 67,000 square-foot facility designed to keep AMC Networks at the forefront of network origination and distribution technology. AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology has 30 plus years of experience across its network services groups, including network origination, affiliate engineering, network transmission, traffic and scheduling that provide day-to-day delivery of any programming network, in high definition or standard definition.

Currently, AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology is responsible for the origination and transmission of multiple highly acclaimed network programming feeds for both national and international distribution. In addition to serving most of the programming networks of the Company, AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology’s affiliated and third-party clients include fuse, MSG Network, MSG+, SNY and Mid Atlantic Sports Network.

International and Other

Our International and Other segment includes the operations of AMCNI, AMCNI - DMC and IFC Films.

AMC Networks International

AMCNI, the global division of the Company, delivers entertaining and acclaimed programming that reaches subscribers in more than 140 countries and territories, including countries and territories in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and parts of Asia and Africa. AMCNI consists of global brands, Sundance Channel and AMC, as well as popular, locally recognized channels in various programming genres.

AMCNI - UK

AMCNI - UK distributes television programming throughout the United Kingdom and other countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (“EMEA”) and Asia and manages a portfolio of 20 channel brands, including AMC, Extreme Sports Channel and Jim Jam. The portfolio includes a number of channels owned through joint ventures in the EMEA region, including the Outdoor Channel and Polsat Jim Jam entertainment channels, as well as CBS Drama, CBS Action, CBS Reality and CBS Europa.

AMCNI - Iberia

AMCNI - Iberia is the largest distributor of thematic television channels in Spain and Portugal. The current portfolio consists of 18 television channels including AMC, Sundance Channel, Canal Hollywood, Odisea, Sol Musica, Canal Cocina and Decasa, and a number of channels owned through joint ventures. The channels are programmed for local audiences, languages and markets.

AMCNI - Central Europe

AMCNI - Central Europe operates a portfolio of thematic television channels with a focus on the Central and Eastern European markets, including 14 television brands in four genres: sport: Sport1, Sport2, SportM, kids: Minimax, Megamax, infotainment: Spektrum, TVPaprika, Spektrum Home, OBN and film: AMC, Film Mánia, Film Café and Film+. The channels are programmed for local audiences, languages and markets.

AMCNI - Latin America

AMCNI - Latin America produces and distributes high quality television programming throughout Spanish and Portuguese speaking Latin America, the Caribbean and other territories. The portfolio consists of five channels including AMC, Sundance Channel, Film&Arts, Europa Europa, Mas Chic and El Gourmet.

AMCNI - Other

AMCNI also distributes television programming in the Middle East and Asia focusing on the global versions of Sundance Channel. An internationally recognized brand, Sundance Channel's global services provide not only the best of the independent film world but also features certain content from AMC, IFC, SundanceTV and IFC Films, as well as a unique pipeline of international content, in an effort to provide distinctive programming to an upscale audience.

AMCNI - DMC

AMCNI - DMC is a media logistics service provider of playout services, content distribution, video on demand and TV everywhere services. The Amsterdam-based advanced digital media facility specializes in the enrichment, publishing and delivery of multi-lingual and multi-platform content. AMCNI-DMC currently transmits over 100 channels across continental Europe, the UK, Middle East, Asia and South Africa. AMCNI- DMC's third-party clients include Fox International Channels, A&E Networks, Sony Pictures Television Entertainment and Liberty Global.

IFC Films

IFC Films, our independent film distribution business, makes independent films available to a worldwide audience. IFC Films operates three distribution labels: Sundance Selects, IFC Films and IFC Midnight, all of which distribute independent films across virtually all available media platforms, including in theaters, on cable/satellite video-on-demand (reaching approximately 50 million homes), DVDs and cable network television, and streaming/downloading to computers and other electronic devices. IFC Films has a film library consisting of more than 700 titles. Recent successes include 45 Years (Sundance Selects) starring Charlotte Rampling (Oscar-nominated for best performance by an actress in a leading role), Oscar-nominated Boyhood (IFC Films) from writer-director Richard Linklater, Two Days, One Night (Sundance Selects) starring Marion Cotillard (Oscar-nominated for best performance by an actress in a leading role), and Oscar-nominated documentary Finding Vivian Maier (IFC Films).

As part of its strategy to encourage the growth of the marketplace for independent films, IFC Films also operates the IFC Center and the DOC NYC Film Festival. IFC Center is a state-of-the-art independent movie theater located in the heart of New York City’s Greenwich Village. DOC NYC, which has grown to be the largest non-fiction film festival in the U.S., is an annual festival also located in New York City celebrating documentary storytelling in film, photography, prose and other media.

Regulation

Our businesses are subject to and affected by regulations of U.S. federal, state and local government authorities, and our international operations are subject to laws and regulations of the countries in which they operate, as well as international bodies, such as the European Union. The Federal Communications Commission (the “FCC”) regulates U.S. programming networks in some respects and in certain other respects when they are affiliated with a cable television operator, as we currently are with Cablevision. Other FCC regulations, although imposed on cable television operators and satellite operators, affect programming networks indirectly. The rules, regulations, policies and procedures affecting our businesses are constantly subject to change. The descriptions below are summary in nature and do not purport to describe all present and proposed laws and regulations affecting our businesses.

Closed Captioning

Certain of our networks must provide closed-captioning of programming for the hearing impaired. The 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 also requires us to provide closed captioning on certain video content that we offer on the Internet or through other Internet Protocol distribution.

CALM Act

FCC rules require multichannel video programming distributors to ensure that all commercials comply with specified volume standards, and our affiliation agreements generally require us to certify compliance with such standards.

Obscenity Restrictions

Cable operators and other distributors are prohibited from transmitting obscene programming, and our affiliation agreements generally require us to refrain from including such programming on our networks.

Violent Programming

In 2007, the FCC issued a report on violence in programming that recommended that the United States Congress prohibit the availability of violent programming, including cable programming, during the hours when children are likely to be watching. Some members of the United States Congress continue to be interested in the alleged effects of violent programming, which could lead to a renewal of interest in limiting the availability of such programming or prohibiting it.

Program Access

The “program access” provisions of the Federal Cable Act generally require satellite delivered video programming in which a cable operator holds an attributable interest, as that term is defined by the FCC, to be made available to all multichannel video programming distributors, including DBS providers and telephone companies, on nondiscriminatory prices, terms and conditions, subject to certain exceptions specified in the statute and the FCC’s rules. FCC rules provide that the FCC may order a cable-affiliated programmer to continue to make a programming service available to a multichannel video programming distributor during the pendency of a program access complaint, under the terms of the existing contract. For purposes of these rules, the common directors and five percent or greater voting stockholders of Cablevision and AMC Networks are deemed to be cable operators with attributable interests in us. As long as we continue to have common directors and major stockholders with Cablevision, our satellite-delivered video programming services will remain subject to the program access provisions. The FCC allowed a previous blanket prohibition on exclusive arrangements with cable operators to expire in October 2012, but will consider case-by-case complaints that exclusive contracts between cable operators and cable-affiliated programmers significantly hinder or prevent a competing distributor from providing satellite cable programming.

The FCC has also extended the program access rules to terrestrially-delivered programming created by cable operator-affiliated programmers such as us when a showing can be made that the lack of such programming significantly hinders or prevents the distributor from providing satellite cable programming. The rules authorize the FCC to compel the licensing of such programming in response to a complaint by a multichannel video programming distributor. These rules could require us to make any terrestrial programming services we create available to multichannel video programming distributors on nondiscriminatory prices, terms and conditions. The FCC is considering expanding the definition of “multichannel video programming distributor” to include certain distributors of video programming over the Internet. This change could expand our program access obligations.

Program Carriage

The FCC has sought comment on proposed changes to the rules governing carriage agreements between cable programming networks and cable operators or other multichannel video programming distributors. The FCC also has launched a new proceeding examining how programming networks not affiliated with any distributor gain access to distribution, including online distribution. Any changes could give an advantage to cable programming networks that are not affiliated with any distributor and make it easier for those programming networks to challenge a distributor’s decision to terminate a carriage agreement or to decline to carry a network in the first place.

Packaging Programming and Volume Discounts

The FCC periodically considers opening a rulemaking proceeding to examine whether to adopt rules restricting how programmers package and price their networks. We do not currently require distributors to carry more than one of our national programming networks in order to obtain the right to carry a particular national programming network. However, we generally negotiate with a distributor for the carriage of all of our national networks concurrently, and we offer volume discounts to distributors who make our programming available to larger numbers of subscribers or who carry more of our programming networks.

The FCC has launched a proceeding to consider allowing third party set-top box providers access to the content in multichannel video programming distributors programming line-up. The proposal could allow those third parties to dismantle those line-ups and repackage content like ours as they choose, without regard to the contractual restrictions we have negotiated with multichannel video programming distributors.

Effect of “Must-Carry” Requirements

The FCC’s implementation of the statutory “must-carry” obligations requires cable and DBS operators to give broadcasters preferential access to channel space, and FCC rules allow broadcasters to require cable and DBS operators to carry broadcast-affiliated networks as a condition of access to the local broadcast station. In contrast, programming networks, such as ours, have no guaranteed right of carriage on cable television or DBS systems. This may reduce the amount of channel space that is available for carriage of our networks by cable television systems and DBS operators.

Satellite Carriage

All satellite carriers must under federal law offer their service to deliver our and our competitor’s programming networks on a nondiscriminatory basis (including by means of a lottery). A satellite carrier cannot unreasonably discriminate against any customer in its charges or conditions of carriage.

Media Ownership Restrictions

FCC rules set media ownership limits that restrict, among other things, the number of daily newspapers and radio and television stations in which a single entity may hold an attributable interest as that term is defined by the FCC. Pursuant to a Congressional mandate, the FCC must review these rules every four years. Such a review is currently underway. Cablevision currently owns Newsday, a daily newspaper published on Long Island, New York. The fact that the common directors and five

percent or greater voting stockholders of Cablevision and AMC Networks currently hold attributable interests in each of the companies for purposes of these rules means that these cross-ownership rules may have the effect of limiting the activities or strategic business alternatives available to us, at least for as long as we continue to have common directors and major stockholders with Cablevision. Although we have no plans or intentions to become involved in the businesses affected by these restrictions, we would need to be mindful of these rules if we were to consider engaging in any such business in the future.

Website Requirements

We maintain various websites that provide information regarding our businesses and offer content for sale. The operation of these websites may be subject to a range of federal, state and local laws such as privacy, data security, accessibility, child safety and consumer protection regulations.

Other Regulation

The FCC also imposes rules regarding political broadcasts and telemarketing. Programming businesses are subject to regulation of the country in which they operate, as well as international bodies, such as the European Union. These regulations may include restrictions on types of advertising that can be sold on our networks, programming content requirements, requirements to make programming available on non-discriminatory terms, and local content quotas.

Competition

Our programming networks operate in two highly competitive markets. First, our programming networks compete with other programming networks to obtain distribution on cable television systems and other multichannel video programming distribution systems, such as DBS, and ultimately for viewing by each system’s subscribers. Second, our programming networks compete with other programming networks and other sources of video content, including broadcast networks, to secure desired entertainment programming. Additionally, video content delivered directly or through online video distributors to viewers over the Internet competes with our programming networks for viewership. The success of our businesses depends on our ability to license and produce content for our programming networks that is adequate in quantity and quality and will generate satisfactory viewer ratings. In each of these cases, some of our competitors are large publicly held companies that have greater financial resources than we do. In addition, we compete with these entities for advertising revenue.

Distribution of Programming Networks

The business of distributing programming networks to cable television systems and other multichannel video programming distributors is highly competitive. Our programming networks face competition from other programming networks’ carriage by a particular multichannel video programming distributor, and for the carriage on the service tier that will attract the most subscribers. Once our programming network is selected by a distributor for carriage, that network competes for viewers not only with the other programming networks available on the distributor’s system, but also with over-the-air broadcast television, Internet-based video and other online services, mobile services, radio, print media, motion picture theaters, DVDs, and other sources of information and entertainment.

Important to our success in each area of competition we face are the prices we charge for our programming networks, the quantity, quality and variety of the programming offered on our networks, and the effectiveness of our networks’ marketing efforts. The competition for viewers among advertiser supported networks is directly correlated with the competition for advertising revenues with each of our competitors.

Our ability to successfully compete with other networks may be hampered because the cable television systems or other multichannel video programming distributors through which we seek distribution may be affiliated with other programming networks. In addition, because such distributors may have a substantial number of subscribers, the ability of such programming networks to obtain distribution on the systems of affiliated distributors may lead to increased affiliation and advertising revenue for such programming networks because of their increased penetration compared to our programming networks. Even if such affiliated distributors carry our programming networks, such distributors may place their affiliated programming network on a more desirable tier, thereby giving the affiliated programming network a competitive advantage over our own.

New or existing programming networks that are affiliated with broadcasting networks like NBC, ABC, CBS or Fox may also have a competitive advantage over our programming networks in obtaining distribution through the “bundling” of agreements to carry those programming networks with agreements giving the distributor the right to carry a broadcast station affiliated with the broadcasting network.

An important part of our strategy involves exploiting identified markets of the cable television viewing audience that are generally well defined and limited in size. Our networks have faced and will continue to face increasing competition as other programming networks and online or other services seek to serve the same or similar niches.

Sources of Programming

We also compete with other programming networks to secure desired programming. Most of our original programming and all of our acquired programming is obtained through agreements with other parties that have produced or own the rights to such programming. Competition for this programming will increase as the number of programming networks increases. Other programming networks that are affiliated with programming sources such as movie or television studios or film libraries may have a competitive advantage over us in this area.

With respect to the acquisition of entertainment programming, such as syndicated programs and movies that are not produced by or specifically for networks, our competitors include national broadcast television networks, local broadcast television stations, other cable programming networks, Internet-based video content distributors, and video-on-demand programs. Some of these competitors have exclusive contracts with motion picture studios or independent motion picture distributors or own film libraries.

Competition for Advertising Revenue

Our programming networks must compete with other sellers of advertising time and space, including other cable programming networks, radio, newspapers, outdoor media and, increasingly, Internet sites. We compete for advertisers on the basis of rates we charge and also on the number and demographic nature of viewers who watch our programming. Advertisers will often seek to target their advertising content to those demographic categories they consider most likely to purchase the product or service they advertise. Accordingly, the demographic make-up of our viewership can be equally or more important than the number of viewers watching our programming.

Employees

As of December 31, 2015 we had 2,175 full-time employees and 331 part-time employees. In addition, certain of our U.S. subsidiaries engage the services of writers who are subject to a collective bargaining agreement. Approximately 287 of our employees outside of the U.S. are covered by collective bargaining agreements or works councils. We believe that our relations with the labor unions and our employees are generally good.

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

A wide range of risks may affect our business, financial condition and results of operations, now and in the future. We consider the risks described below to be the most significant. There may be other currently unknown or unpredictable economic, business, competitive, regulatory or other factors that could have material adverse effects on our future results.

Risks Relating to Our Business

Our business depends on the appeal of our programming to our distributors and our U.S. and foreign viewers, which may be unpredictable and volatile.

Our business depends in part upon viewer preferences and audience acceptance in the U.S. and abroad of the programming on our networks. These factors are often unpredictable and volatile, and subject to influences that are beyond our control, such as the quality and appeal of competing programming, general economic conditions and the availability of other entertainment activities. We may not be able to anticipate and react effectively to shifts in tastes and interests in our markets. A change in viewer preferences could cause our programming to decline in popularity, which could cause a reduction in advertising revenues and jeopardize renewal of our contracts with distributors. In addition, our competitors may have more flexible programming arrangements, as well as greater amounts of available content, distribution and capital resources, and may be able to react more quickly than we can to shifts in tastes and interests.

To an increasing extent, the success of our business depends on original programming, and our ability to predict accurately how audiences will respond to our original programming is particularly important. Because original programming often involves a greater degree of commitment on our part, as compared to acquired programming that we license from third parties, and because our network branding strategies depend significantly on a relatively small number of original programs, a failure to anticipate viewer preferences for such programs could be especially detrimental to our business. We periodically review the programming usefulness of our program rights based on a series of factors, including ratings, type and quality of program material, standards and practices, and fitness for exhibition. We have incurred write-offs of programming rights in the past, and may incur future programming rights write-offs if it is determined that program rights have no future usefulness.

In addition, feature films constitute a significant portion of the programming on our AMC, IFC and SundanceTV programming networks. In general, the popularity of feature-film content on linear television is declining, due in part to the broad availability of such content through an increasing number of distribution platforms. Should the popularity of feature-film programming suffer significant further declines, we may lose viewership or be forced to rely more heavily on original programming, which could increase our costs.

If our programming does not gain the level of audience acceptance we expect, or if we are unable to maintain the popularity of our programming, our ratings may suffer, which will negatively affect advertising revenues, and we may have a diminished bargaining position when dealing with distributors, which could reduce our distribution revenues. We cannot assure you that we will be able to maintain the success of any of our current programming, or generate sufficient demand and market acceptance for our new programming.

Our programming networks’ success depends upon the availability of programming that is adequate in quantity and quality, and we may be unable to secure or maintain such programming.

Our programming networks' success depends upon the availability of quality programming, particularly original programming and films, that is suitable for our target markets. While we produce some of our original programming, we obtain most of the programming on our networks (including original programming, films and other acquired programming) through agreements with third parties that have produced or control the rights to such programming. These agreements expire at varying times and may be terminated by the other parties if we are not in compliance with their terms.

Competition for programming has increased as the number of programming networks has increased. Other programming networks that are affiliated with programming sources such as movie or television studios or film libraries may have a competitive advantage over us in this area. In addition to other cable programming networks, we also compete for programming with national broadcast television networks, local broadcast television stations, video-on-demand services and Internet-based content delivery services, such as Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime. Some of these competitors have exclusive contracts with motion picture studios or independent motion picture distributors or own film libraries.

We cannot assure you that we will ultimately be successful in negotiating renewals of our programming rights agreements or in negotiating adequate substitute agreements in the event that these agreements expire or are terminated.

Increased programming costs may adversely affect our profits.

We plan to produce a significant amount of original programming and other content and continue to invest in this area, the costs of which are significant. We also acquire programming and television series, as well as a variety of digital content and other ancillary rights such as consumer and home entertainment product offerings from other companies, and we pay license fees, royalties or contingent compensation in connection with these acquired rights. Our investments in original and acquired programming are significant and involve complex negotiations with numerous third parties. These costs may not be recouped when the content is broadcast or distributed and higher costs may lead to decreased profitability or potential write-downs.

We incur costs for the creative talent, including actors, writers and producers, who create our original programming. Some of our original programming has achieved significant popularity and critical acclaim, which has increased and could continue to increase the costs of such programming in the future. In addition, from time to time we have disputes with writers, producers and other creative talent over the amount of royalty and other payments. For example, we are involved in litigation with Frank Darabont, the creator of The Walking Dead, and one other party with respect to the participations to be paid to them in the future in respect of that series. The Company believes that disputes of this type are endemic to its business and similar disputes may arise from time to time in the future. An increase in the costs of programming may lead to decreased profitability or otherwise adversely affect our business.

Original programming requires substantial financial commitment. In some cases, the financial commitment can be offset by foreign, state or local tax incentives. However, there is a risk that the tax incentives will not remain available for the duration of a series. If tax incentives are no longer available, reduced substantially, or cannot be utilized, it may result in increased costs for us to complete the production or make the production of additional seasons more expensive. If we are unable to produce original programming content on a cost effective basis our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely affected.

Theft of our content, including digital copyright theft and other unauthorized exhibitions of our content, may decrease revenue received from our programming and adversely affect our businesses and profitability.

The success of our businesses depends in part on our ability to maintain and monetize our intellectual property rights to our entertainment content. We are fundamentally a content company and theft of our brands, television programming, digital content and other intellectual property has the potential to significantly affect us and the value of our content. Copyright theft is particularly prevalent in many parts of the world that lack effective copyright and technical protective measures similar to those existing in the United States or that lack effective enforcement of such measures, including some of the jurisdictions in which we operate. The interpretation of copyright, privacy and other laws as applied to our content, and piracy detection and enforcement efforts, remain in flux. The failure to strengthen, or the weakening of, existing intellectual property laws could make it more difficult for us to adequately protect our intellectual property and negatively affect its value.

Content theft has been made easier by the wide availability of higher bandwidth and reduced storage costs, as well as tools that undermine security features such as encryption and the ability of pirates to cloak their identities online. In addition, we and

our numerous production and distribution partners operate various technology systems in connection with the production and distribution of our programming, and intentional or unintentional acts could result in unauthorized access to our content, a disruption of our services, or improper disclosure of confidential information. The increasing use of digital formats and technologies heightens this risk. Unauthorized access to our content could result in the premature release of television shows, which is likely to have a significant adverse effect on the value of the affected programming.

Copyright theft has an adverse effect on our business because it reduces the revenue that we are able to receive from the legitimate sale and distribution of our content, undermines lawful distribution channels and inhibits our ability to recoup or profit from the costs incurred to create such works. Efforts to prevent the unauthorized distribution, performance and copying of our content may affect our profitability and may not be successful in preventing harm to our business.

Litigation may be necessary to enforce our intellectual property rights, protect trade secrets or to determine the validity and scope of proprietary rights claimed by others. Any litigation of this nature, regardless of outcome or merit, could result in substantial costs and diversion of management and technical resources, any of which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Our failure to protect our intellectual property rights, particularly our brand, in a meaningful manner or challenges to related contractual rights could result in erosion of our brand and limit our ability to control marketing of our networks, which could have a materially adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Because a limited number of distributors account for a large portion of our business, failure to renew our programming networks’ affiliation agreements, or renewal on less favorable terms, or the termination of those agreements, both in the U.S. and internationally, could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Our programming networks depend upon agreements with a limited number of cable television system operators and other multichannel video programming distributors. The loss of any significant distributor could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations.

Currently our programming networks have affiliation agreements that have staggered expiration dates through 2024. Failure to renew these affiliation agreements, or renewal on less favorable terms, or the termination of those agreements could have a material adverse effect on our business. A reduced distribution of our programming networks would adversely affect our distribution revenues, and impact our ability to sell advertising or the rates we charge for such advertising. Even if affiliation agreements are renewed, we cannot assure you that the renewal rates will equal or exceed the rates that we currently charge these distributors.

In addition, we have in some instances made upfront payments to distributors in exchange for additional subscribers or have agreed to waive or accept lower affiliation fees if certain numbers of additional subscribers are provided. We also may help fund our distributors' efforts to market our programming networks or we may permit distributors to offer promotional periods without payment of subscriber fees. As we continue our efforts to add viewing subscribers, our net revenues may be negatively affected by these deferred carriage fee arrangements, discounted subscriber fees or other payments.

Further consolidation among cable and satellite providers could adversely affect our revenue and profitability.

In some cases, if a distributor is acquired, the affiliation agreement of the acquiring distributor will govern following the acquisition. In those circumstances, the acquisition of a distributor that is party to one or more affiliation agreements with our programming networks on terms that are more favorable to us could adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations.

Consolidation among cable and satellite operators has given the largest operators considerable leverage in their relationships with programmers, including us. Most of our U.S. revenues come from a handful of the largest distributors. The four largest distributors provide service to approximately 73% of U.S. households receiving multichannel video programming distribution. In certain countries outside the U.S., one or a small number of distributors have a dominant market position. Continued consolidation within the industry could further reduce the number of distributors available to carry our content and increase the negotiating leverage of our distributors which could adversely affect our revenue.

We are subject to intense competition, which may have a negative effect on our profitability or on our ability to expand our business.

The programming industry is highly competitive. Our programming networks compete with other programming networks and other types of video programming services for marketing and distribution by cable and other multichannel video programming distribution systems. In distributing a programming network, we face competition with other providers of programming networks for the right to be carried by a particular cable or other multichannel video programming distribution system and for the right to be carried by such system on a particular “tier” of service.

Certain programming networks affiliated with broadcast networks like NBC, ABC, CBS or Fox or other key free-to-air programming networks in countries where our networks are distributed may have a competitive advantage over our programming networks in obtaining distribution through the “bundling” of carriage agreements for such programming networks with a distributor's right to carry the affiliated broadcasting network. In addition, our ability to compete with certain programming networks

for distribution may be hampered because the cable television or other multichannel video programming distributors through which we seek distribution may be affiliated with these programming networks. Because such distributors may have a substantial number of subscribers, the ability of such programming networks to obtain distribution on the systems of affiliated distributors may lead to increased affiliation and advertising revenue for such programming networks because of their increased penetration compared to our programming networks. Even if the affiliated distributors carry our programming networks, they may place their affiliated programming network on a more desirable tier, thereby giving their affiliated programming network a competitive advantage over our own. Our competitors could also have preferential access to important technologies, customer data or other competitive information. There can be no assurance that we will be able to compete successfully in the future against existing or potential competitors, or that competition will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

It is difficult to predict the future effect of technology on many of the factors affecting AMC Networks’ competitive position. For example, data compression technology has made it possible for most video programming distributors to increase their channel capacity, which has reduced the competition among programming networks and broadcasters for channel space. On the other hand, the addition of channel space has increased competition for desired entertainment programming and ultimately, for viewing by subscribers. As more channel space becomes available, the position of our programming networks in the most favorable tiers of these distributors has become increasingly important. Additionally, video content delivered directly to viewers over the Internet competes with our programming networks for viewership.

Our programming networks have entered into long-term programming acquisition contracts that require substantial payments over long periods of time, even if we do not use such programming to generate revenues.

Our programming networks have entered into numerous contracts relating to the acquisition of programming, including rights agreements with film companies. These contracts typically require substantial payments over extended periods of time. We must make the required payments under these contracts even if we do not use the programming.

We may not be able to adapt to new content distribution platforms and to changes in consumer behavior resulting from these new technologies, which may adversely affect our business.

We must successfully adapt to technological advances in our industry, including the emergence of alternative distribution platforms. Our ability to exploit new distribution platforms and viewing technologies will affect our ability to maintain or grow our business. Emerging forms of content distribution may provide different economic models and compete with current distribution methods in ways that are not entirely predictable. Such competition could reduce demand for our traditional television offerings or for the offerings of digital distributors and reduce our revenue from these sources. Accordingly, we must adapt to changing consumer behavior driven by advances such as digital video recorders, video-on-demand, Internet-based content delivery, including services such as Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV, Google TV and Amazon Prime and mobile devices. Gaming and other consoles such as Microsoft’s Xbox, Sony’s Playstation and Nintendo’s Wii and Roku are establishing themselves as alternative providers of video services. Such changes may impact the revenues we are able to generate from our traditional distribution methods, either by decreasing the viewership of our programming networks on cable and other multichannel video programming distribution systems which are almost entirely directed at television video delivery or by making advertising on our programming networks less valuable to advertisers. If we fail to adapt our distribution methods and content to emerging technologies, our appeal to our targeted audiences might decline and there could be a negative effect on our business. In addition, advertising revenues could be significantly impacted by emerging technologies, since advertising sales are dependent on audience measurement provided by third parties, and the results of audience measurement techniques can vary independent of the size of the audience for a variety of reasons, including difficulties related to the employed statistical sampling methods, new distribution platforms and viewing technologies, and the shifting of the marketplace to the use of measurement of different viewer behaviors, such as delayed viewing. Moreover, devices that allow users to fast forward or skip programming, including commercials, are causing changes in consumer behavior that may affect the desirability of our programming services to advertisers.

Advertising market conditions could cause our revenues and operating results to decline significantly in any given period or in specific markets

We derive substantial revenues from the sale of advertising on a variety of platforms, and a decline in advertising expenditures could have a significant adverse effect on our revenues and operating results in any given period. The strength of the advertising market can fluctuate in response to the economic prospects of specific advertisers or industries, advertisers’ current spending priorities and the economy in general, and this may adversely affect the growth rate of our advertising revenues.

In addition, the pricing and volume of advertising may be affected by shifts in spending toward online and mobile offerings from more traditional media, or toward new ways of purchasing advertising, such as through automated purchasing, dynamic advertising insertion, third parties selling local advertising spots and advertising exchanges, some or all of which may not be as advantageous to the Company as current advertising methods.

Advertising sales are dependent on audience measurement, and the results of audience measurement techniques can vary independent of the size of the audience for a variety of reasons, including variations in the employed statistical sampling methods. While Nielsen’s statistical sampling method is the primary measurement technique used in our television advertising sales, we measure and monetize our campaign reach and frequency on and across digital platforms based on other third-party data using a variety of methods including the number of impressions served and demographics. In addition, multi-platform campaign verification is in its infancy, and viewership on tablets and smartphones, which is growing rapidly, is presently not measured by any one consistently applied method. These variations and changes could have a significant effect on advertising revenues.

General Risks

We face risks from doing business internationally.

We have operations through which we distribute programming outside the United States. As a result, our business is subject to certain risks inherent in international business, many of which are beyond our control. These risks include:


•	laws and policies affecting trade and taxes, including laws and policies relating to the repatriation of funds and withholding taxes, and changes in these laws;


•	changes in local regulatory requirements, including restrictions on content, imposition of local content quotas and restrictions on foreign ownership;


•	differing degrees of protection for intellectual property and varying attitudes towards the piracy of intellectual property;


•	the instability of foreign economies and governments;


•	war and acts of terrorism;


•	anti-corruption laws and regulations such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the U.K. Bribery Act that impose stringent requirements on how we conduct our foreign operations and changes in these laws and regulations; and


•	shifting consumer preferences regarding the viewing of video programming.

Events or developments related to these and other risks associated with international trade could adversely affect our revenues from non-U.S. sources, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, operating results, liquidity and prospects.

Economic problems in the United States or in other parts of the world could adversely affect our results of operations.

Our business is affected by prevailing economic conditions and by disruptions to financial markets. We derive substantial revenues from advertisers, and these expenditures are sensitive to general economic conditions and consumer buying patterns. Financial instability or a general decline in economic conditions in the United States and other countries where our networks are distributed could adversely affect advertising rates and volume, resulting in a decrease in our advertising revenues.

Decreases in consumer discretionary spending in the U.S and other countries where our networks are distributed may affect cable television and other video service subscriptions, in particular with respect to digital service tiers on which certain of our programming networks are carried. This could lead to a decrease in the number of subscribers receiving our programming from multichannel video programming distributors, which could have a negative impact on our viewing subscribers and affiliation fee revenues. Similarly, a decrease in viewing subscribers would also have a negative impact on the number of viewers actually watching the programs on our programming networks, which could also impact the rates we are able to charge advertisers.

Economic conditions affect a number of aspects of our businesses worldwide and impact the businesses of our advertisers on our networks and reduce their spending on advertising. Economic conditions can also negatively affect the ability of those with whom we do business to satisfy their obligations to us. The general worsening of current global economic conditions could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations, and the worsening of economic conditions in certain parts of the world, specifically, could impact the expansion and success of our businesses in such areas. Furthermore, some foreign markets where we operate may be more adversely affected by economic conditions than those prevailing in the U.S. or other countries.

Fluctuations in foreign exchange rates could have an adverse effect on our results of operations.

We have significant operations in a number of foreign jurisdictions and certain of our operations are conducted in foreign currencies. The value of these currencies fluctuates relative to the U.S. dollar. As a result, we are exposed to exchange rate fluctuations, which have had, and may in the future have, an adverse effect on our results of operations in a given period or in specific markets.

Specifically, we are exposed to foreign currency exchange rate risk to the extent that we enter into transactions denominated in currencies other than ours or our subsidiaries’ respective functional currencies (non-functional currency risk), such as trade receivables, programming contracts, notes payable and notes receivable (including intercompany amounts) that are denominated in a currency other than the applicable functional currency. Changes in exchange rates with respect to amounts recorded in our consolidated balance sheets related to these items will result in unrealized (based upon period-end exchange rates) or realized

foreign currency transaction gains and losses upon settlement of the transactions. Moreover, to the extent that our revenue, costs and expenses are denominated in currencies other than our respective functional currencies, we will experience fluctuations in our revenue, costs and expenses solely as a result of changes in foreign currency exchange rates.

We also are exposed to unfavorable and potentially volatile fluctuations of the U.S. dollar (our reporting currency) against the currencies of our non-U.S. dollar functional currency operating subsidiaries when their respective financial statements are translated into U.S. dollars for inclusion in our consolidated financial statements. Cumulative translation adjustments are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) as a separate component of equity. Any increase (decrease) in the value of the U.S. dollar against any foreign currency that is the functional currency of one of our operating subsidiaries will cause us to experience unrealized foreign currency translation losses (gains) with respect to amounts already invested in such foreign currencies. Accordingly, we may experience a negative impact on our comprehensive income (loss) and equity with respect to our holdings solely as a result of foreign currency translation. Our primary exposure to foreign currency risk from a foreign currency translation perspective is to the euro and, to a lesser extent, other local currencies in Europe. We generally do not hedge against the risk that we may incur non-cash losses upon the translation of the financial statements of our non-U.S. dollar functional currency operating subsidiaries and affiliates into U.S. dollars.

Our business is limited by United States regulatory constraints which may adversely impact our operations.

Although most aspects of our business generally are not directly regulated by the FCC, there are certain FCC regulations that govern our business either directly or indirectly. See Item 1, “Business—Regulation” in this Annual Report. Furthermore, to the extent that regulations and laws, either presently in force or proposed, hinder or stimulate the growth of the cable television and satellite industries, our business will be affected.

The United States Congress and the FCC currently have under consideration, and may in the future adopt, new laws, regulations and policies regarding a wide variety of matters that could, directly or indirectly, affect our operations.

The regulation of cable television services, satellite carriers, and other multichannel video programming distributors is subject to the political process and has been in constant flux over the past two decades. Further material changes in the law and regulatory requirements must be anticipated. We cannot assure you that our business will not be adversely affected by future legislation, new regulation or deregulation.

Our businesses are subject to risks of adverse regulation by foreign governments.

Programming businesses are subject to the regulations of the countries in which they operate as well as international bodies, such as the European Union. These regulations may include advertising that can be sold on our networks, programming content requirements, requirements to make programming available on non-discriminatory terms, and local content quotas. Consequently, our businesses must adapt their ownership and organizational structure as well as their pricing and service offerings to satisfy the rules and regulations to which they are subject. A failure to comply with applicable rules and regulations could result in penalties, restrictions on our business or loss of required licenses or other adverse conditions.

Adverse changes in rules and regulations could have a significant adverse impact on our profitability.

We face continually evolving cybersecurity and similar risks, which could result in the disclosure of confidential information, disruption of our programming, damage to our brands and reputation, legal exposure and financial losses

We maintain information in digital form as necessary to conduct our business, including confidential and proprietary information regarding our content, distributors, advertisers, viewers and employees as well as personal information. Data maintained in digital form is subject to the risk of intrusion, tampering and theft. We develop and maintain systems to prevent this from occurring, but the development and maintenance of these systems is costly and requires ongoing monitoring and updating as technologies change and efforts to overcome security measures become more sophisticated. Despite our efforts, the risks of a data breach cannot be entirely eliminated and our information technology and other systems that maintain and transmit consumer, distributor, advertiser, Company, employee and other confidential information may be compromised by a malicious penetration of our network security, or that of a third party provider due to employee error, computer malware, viruses, hacking and phishing attacks, or otherwise. Additionally, outside parties may attempt to fraudulently induce employees or users to disclose sensitive or confidential information in order to gain access to data. Because the techniques used to obtain unauthorized access, disable or degrade service, or sabotage systems change frequently and often are not recognized until launched against a target, we may be unable to anticipate these techniques or to implement adequate preventative measures. If our data systems are compromised, our ability to conduct our business may be impaired, we may lose profitable opportunities or the value of those opportunities may be diminished and, as described above, we may lose revenue as a result of unlicensed use of our intellectual property. Further, a penetration of our network security or other misappropriation or misuse of personal consumer or employee information could subject us to business, regulatory, litigation and reputation risk, which could have a negative effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

If our technology facilities fail or their operations are disrupted, or if we lose access to third party satellites, our performance could be hindered.

Our programming is transmitted using technology facilities at certain of our subsidiaries. These technology facilities are used for a variety of purposes, including signal processing, program editing, promotions, creation of programming segments to fill short gaps between featured programs, quality control, and live and recorded playback. These facilities are subject to interruption from fire, lightning, adverse weather conditions and other natural causes. Equipment failure, employee misconduct or outside interference could also disrupt the facilities' services. In September 2015, we launched a full time disaster recovery site in Chandler, Arizona. The facility provides simultaneous playout of AMC and evergreen programming for SundanceTV, IFC and WE tv. In the event of a catastrophic failure of the Bethpage facility, the disaster recovery site can be operational within 1-2 hours. Evergreen programming would be replaced with scheduled programming within 12-24 hours for SundanceTV, IFC and WE tv.

In addition, we rely on third-party satellites in order to transmit our programming signals to our distributors. As with all satellites, there is a risk that the satellites we use will be damaged as a result of natural or man-made causes, or will otherwise fail to operate properly. Although we maintain in-orbit protection providing us with back-up satellite transmission facilities should our primary satellites fail, there can be no assurance that such back-up transmission facilities will be effective or will not themselves fail.

Any significant interruption at any of our technology facilities affecting the distribution of our programming, or any failure in satellite transmission of our programming signals, could have an adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition.

The loss of any of our key personnel and artistic talent could adversely affect our business.

We believe that our success depends to a significant extent upon the performance of our senior executives. We generally do not maintain “key man” insurance. In addition, we depend on the availability of third-party production companies to create most of our original programming. Some of the writers employed by certain of our subsidiaries and some of the employees of third party production companies that create our original programming are subject to collective bargaining agreements. Any labor disputes or a strike by one or more unions representing our subsidiary's writers or employees of third-party production companies who are essential to our original programming could have a material adverse effect on our original programming and on our business as a whole. The loss of any significant personnel or artistic talent, or our artistic talent losing their audience base, could also have a material adverse effect on our business.

Our inability to successfully acquire and integrate other businesses, assets, products or technologies

could harm our business, financial condition or operating results.

Our success may depend on opportunities to buy other businesses or technologies that could complement, enhance or expand our current business or products or that might otherwise offer us growth opportunities. We have acquired, and have made strategic investments in, a number of companies (including through joint ventures) in the past, and we expect to make additional acquisitions and strategic investments in the future. Such transactions may result in dilutive issuances of our equity securities, use of our cash resources, and incurrence of debt and amortization expenses related to intangible assets. Any acquisitions and strategic investments that we are able to identify and complete may be accompanied by a number of risks, including:


•	the difficulty of assimilating the operations and personnel of acquired companies into our operations;


•	the potential disruption of our ongoing business and distraction of management;


•	the incurrence of additional operating losses and operating expenses of the businesses we acquired or in which we invested;


•	the difficulty of integrating acquired technology and rights into our services and unanticipated expenses related to such integration;


•	the failure to successfully further develop an acquired business or technology and any resulting impairment of amounts currently capitalized as intangible assets;


•	the failure of strategic investments to perform as expected or to meet financial projections;


•	the potential for patent and trademark infringement and data privacy and security claims against the acquired companies, or companies in which we have invested;


•	litigation or other claims in connection with acquisitions, acquired companies, or companies in which we have invested;


•	the impairment or loss of relationships with customers and partners of the companies we acquired or in which we invested or with our customers and partners as a result of the integration of acquired operations;


•	the impairment of relationships with, or failure to retain, employees of acquired companies or our existing employees as a result of integration of new personnel;


•	the difficulty of integrating operations, systems, and controls as a result of cultural, regulatory, systems, and operational differences;


•	in the case of foreign acquisitions and investments, the impact of particular economic, tax, currency, political, legal and regulatory risks associated with specific countries; and


•	the impact of known potential liabilities or liabilities that may be unknown, including as a result of inadequate internal controls, associated with the companies we acquired or in which we invested.

Our failure to be successful in addressing these risks or other problems encountered in connection with our past or future acquisitions and strategic investments could cause us to fail to realize the anticipated benefits of such acquisitions or investments, incur unanticipated liabilities, and harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We may have exposure to additional tax liabilities.

We are subject to income taxes as well as non-income based taxes, such as payroll, sales, use, value-added, net worth, property and goods and services taxes, in both the United States and various foreign jurisdictions. Significant judgment is required in determining our worldwide provision for income taxes and other tax liabilities. In the ordinary course of our business, there are many transactions and calculations where the ultimate tax determination is uncertain. We are regularly under audit by tax authorities in both the United States and various foreign jurisdictions. Although we believe that our tax estimates are reasonable, (1) there is no assurance that the final determination of tax audits or tax disputes will not be different from what is reflected in our historical income tax provisions, expense amounts for non-income based taxes and accruals and (2) any material differences could have an adverse effect on our financial position and results of operations in the period or periods for which determination is made.

Although a portion of our revenue and operating income is generated outside the United States, we are subject to potential current U.S. income tax on this income due to our being a U.S. corporation. Our worldwide effective tax rate may be reduced under a provision in U.S. tax law that defers the imposition of U.S. tax on certain foreign active income until that income is repatriated to the United States. Any repatriation of assets held in foreign jurisdictions or recognition of foreign income that fails to meet the U.S. tax requirements related to deferral of U.S. income tax may result in a higher effective tax rate for the Company. This includes what is referred to as “Subpart F Income,” which generally includes, but is not limited to, such items as interest, dividends, royalties, gains from the disposition of certain property, certain currency exchange gains in excess of currency exchange losses, and certain related party sales and services income. While the Company may mitigate this increase in its effective tax rate through claiming a foreign tax credit against its U.S. federal income taxes or potentially have foreign or U.S. taxes reduced under applicable income tax treaties, we are subject to various limitations on claiming foreign tax credits or we may lack treaty protections in certain jurisdictions that will potentially limit any reduction of the increased effective tax rate. A higher effective tax rate may also result to the extent that losses are incurred in non-U.S. subsidiaries that do not reduce our U.S. taxable income.

We are subject to changing tax laws, treaties and regulations in and between countries in which we operate, including treaties between the United States and other nations. A change in these tax laws, treaties or regulations, including those in and involving the United States, or in the interpretation thereof, could result in a materially higher income or non-income tax expense. Also, various income tax proposals in the countries in which we operate, such as those relating to fundamental U.S. international tax reform and measures in response to the economic uncertainty in certain European jurisdictions in which we operate, could result in changes to the existing tax laws under which our taxes are calculated. On February 2, 2015, the Obama Administration proposed amendments to the U.S. tax code to impose a 19% minimum tax on U.S. corporations’ future tax profits (with generally an 85% credit for associated foreign taxes paid) and to impose a one-time, immediate 14% tax on U.S. corporations’ current accumulated overseas earnings (with generally a 40% credit for associated foreign taxes paid). We are unable to predict whether any of these or other proposals in the United States or foreign jurisdictions will ultimately be enacted. Any such material changes could negatively impact our business.

A significant amount of our book value consists of intangible assets that may not generate cash in the event of a voluntary or involuntary sale.

At December 31, 2015, our consolidated financial statements included approximately $4.3 billion of consolidated total assets, of which approximately $1.3 billion were classified as intangible assets. Intangible assets primarily include affiliation agreements and affiliate relationships, advertiser relationships, trademarks and goodwill. While we believe that the carrying values of our intangible assets are recoverable, you should not assume that we would receive any cash from the voluntary or involuntary sale of these intangible assets, particularly if we were not continuing as an operating business.

We may have a significant indemnity obligation to Cablevision if the Distribution is treated as a taxable transaction.

Prior to the distribution of all of the outstanding common stock of the Company to Cablevision stockholders in the Distribution, Cablevision received a private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) to the effect that, among other things, the Distribution, and certain related transactions would qualify for tax-free treatment under the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) to Cablevision, AMC Networks, and holders of Cablevision common stock. Although a private letter ruling from the IRS generally is binding on the IRS, if the factual representations or assumptions made in the letter ruling request were untrue or incomplete in any material respect, Cablevision would not be able to rely on the ruling. Furthermore, the IRS will not rule on whether a distribution satisfies certain requirements necessary to obtain tax-free treatment under the Code. Rather, the ruling was based upon

representations by Cablevision that these conditions were satisfied, and any inaccuracy in such representations could invalidate the ruling.

If the Distribution does not qualify for tax-free treatment for United States federal income tax purposes, then, in general, Cablevision would be subject to tax as if it had sold the common stock of our Company in a taxable sale for its fair market value. Cablevision's stockholders would be subject to tax as if they had received a distribution equal to the fair market value of our common stock that was distributed to them, which generally would be treated first as a taxable dividend to the extent of Cablevision's earnings and profits, then as a non-taxable return of capital to the extent of each stockholder's tax basis in his or her Cablevision stock, and thereafter as capital gain with respect to the remaining value. It is expected that the amount of any such taxes to Cablevision's stockholders and Cablevision would be substantial.

As part of the Distribution, we entered into a tax disaffiliation agreement with Cablevision, which sets out each party's rights and obligations with respect to deficiencies and refunds, if any, of federal, state, local or foreign taxes for periods before and after the Distribution and related matters such as the filing of tax returns and the conduct of IRS and other audits. Pursuant to the tax disaffiliation agreement, we are required to indemnify Cablevision for losses and taxes of Cablevision relating to the Distribution or any related debt exchanges resulting from the breach of certain covenants, including as a result of certain acquisitions of our stock or assets or as a result of modification or repayment of certain related debt in a manner inconsistent with the private letter ruling or letter ruling request. If we are required to indemnify Cablevision under the circumstances set forth in the tax disaffiliation agreement, we may be subject to substantial liabilities, which could have a material negative effect on our business, results of operations, financial position and cash flows.

The tax disaffiliation agreement with Cablevision limits our ability to prepay certain of our indebtedness.

The tax disaffiliation agreement with Cablevision limits our ability to prepay, pay down, redeem, retire, or otherwise acquire the 7.75% Notes or the 4.75% Notes. These restrictions may for a time limit our ability to optimize our capital structure or to pursue other transactions that could increase the value of our business.

Risks Relating to Our Debt

Our substantial long-term debt and high leverage could adversely affect our business.

We have a significant amount of long-term debt. As of December 31, 2015, we have $2,706 million principal amount of total long-term debt (excluding capital leases), $1,406 million of which is senior secured debt under our Credit Facility and $1,300 million of which is senior unsecured debt.

Our ability to make payments on, or repay or refinance, our debt, and to fund planned distributions and capital expenditures, will depend largely upon our future operating performance. Our future performance, to a certain extent, is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control. In addition, our ability to borrow funds in the future to make payments on our debt will depend on the satisfaction of the covenants in the Credit Facility and our other debt agreements, including the 7.75% Notes Indenture, the 4.75% Notes Indenture and other agreements we may enter into in the future.

Our substantial amount of debt could have important consequences. For example, it could:


•	increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions;


•	require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to make interest and principal payments on our debt, thereby limiting the availability of our cash flow to fund future programming investments, capital expenditures, working capital, business activities and other general corporate requirements;


•	limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industry in which we operate;


•	place us at a competitive disadvantage compared with our competitors; and


•	limit our ability to borrow additional funds, even when necessary to maintain adequate liquidity.

In the long-term, we do not expect to generate sufficient cash from operations to repay at maturity our outstanding debt obligations. As a result, we will be dependent upon our ability to access the capital and credit markets. Failure to raise significant amounts of funding to repay these obligations at maturity could adversely affect our business. If we are unable to raise such amounts, we would need to take other actions including selling assets, seeking strategic investments from third parties or reducing other discretionary uses of cash. The Credit Facility, the 7.75% Notes Indenture and the 4.75% Notes Indenture will restrict, and market or business conditions may limit, our ability to do some of these things.

A significant portion of our debt bears interest at variable rates. While we have entered into hedging agreements limiting our exposure to higher interest rates, such agreements do not offer complete protection from this risk.

The agreements governing our debt, the Credit Facility, the 7.75% Notes Indenture and the 4.75% Notes Indenture, contain various covenants that impose restrictions on us that may affect our ability to operate our business.

The agreements governing the Credit Facility, the 7.75% Notes Indenture and the 4.75% Notes Indenture contain covenants that, among other things, limit our ability to:


•	borrow money or guarantee debt;


•	create liens;


•	pay dividends on or redeem or repurchase stock;


•	make specified types of investments;


•	enter into transactions with affiliates; and


•	sell assets or merge with other companies.

The Credit Facility requires us to comply with a Cash Flow Ratio and an Interest Coverage Ratio, each as defined in Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Debt Financing Agreements.”

Compliance with these covenants may limit our ability to take actions that might be to the advantage of the Company and our stockholders.

Various risks, uncertainties and events beyond our control could affect our ability to comply with these covenants and maintain these financial ratios. Failure to comply with any of the covenants in our existing or future financing agreements could result in a default under those agreements and under other agreements containing cross-default provisions. A default would permit lenders to accelerate the maturity for the debt under these agreements and to foreclose upon any collateral securing the debt. Under these circumstances, we might not have sufficient funds or other resources to satisfy all of our obligations. In addition, the limitations imposed by financing agreements on our ability to incur additional debt and to take other actions might significantly impair our ability to obtain other financing.

Despite our current levels of debt, we may still be able to incur substantially more debt. This could further exacerbate the risks associated with our substantial debt.

We may be able to incur additional debt in the future. The terms of the Credit Facility, the 7.75% Notes Indenture and the 4.75% Notes Indenture allow us to incur substantial amounts of additional debt, subject to certain limitations. In addition, we may refinance all or a portion of our debt, including borrowings under the Credit Facility, and obtain the ability to incur more debt as a result. If new debt is added to our current debt levels, the related risks we could face would be magnified.

A lowering or withdrawal of the ratings assigned to our debt securities by rating agencies may further increase our future borrowing costs and reduce our access to capital.

The debt ratings for our notes are below the “investment grade” category, which results in higher borrowing costs as well as a reduced pool of potential purchasers of our debt as some investors will not purchase debt securities that are not rated in an investment grade rating category. In addition, there can be no assurance that any rating assigned will remain for any given period of time or that a rating will not be lowered or withdrawn entirely by a rating agency, if in that rating agency's judgment, future circumstances relating to the basis of the rating, such as adverse changes, so warrant. A lowering or withdrawal of a rating may further increase our future borrowing costs and reduce our access to capital.

Risks Relating to Our Controlled Ownership

We are controlled by the Dolan family which may create certain conflicts of interest. In addition, as a result of their control, the Dolan family has the ability to prevent or cause a change in control or approve, prevent or influence certain actions by the Company.

We have two classes of common stock:


•	Class B Common Stock, which is generally entitled to ten votes per share and is entitled collectively to elect 75% of our Board of Directors, and


•	Class A Common Stock, which is entitled to one vote per share and is entitled collectively to elect the remaining 25% of our Board of Directors.

As of December 31, 2015, Charles F. Dolan, our Executive Chairman, and the Dolan family, including trusts for the benefit of members of the Dolan family, collectively own all of our Class B Common Stock, less than 2% of our outstanding Class A Common Stock and approximately 66% of the total voting power of all our outstanding common stock. The members of the Dolan family holding Class B Common Stock have entered into a stockholders agreement pursuant to which, among other things, the voting power of the holders of our Class B Common Stock will be cast as a block with respect to all matters to be voted on by

holders of Class B Common Stock. The Dolan family is able to prevent a change in control of our Company and no person interested in acquiring us will be able to do so without obtaining the consent of the Dolan family.

Charles F. Dolan, members of his family and certain related family entities, by virtue of their stock ownership, have the power to elect all of our directors subject to election by holders of Class B Common Stock and are able collectively to control stockholder decisions on matters on which holders of all classes of our common stock vote together as a single class. These matters could include the amendment of some provisions of our certificate of incorporation and the approval of fundamental corporate transactions.

In addition, the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding shares of the Class B Common Stock, voting separately as a class, is required to approve:


•	the authorization or issuance of any additional shares of Class B Common Stock, and


•	any amendment, alteration or repeal of any of the provisions of our certificate of incorporation that adversely affects the powers, preferences or rights of the Class B Common Stock.

As a result, Charles F. Dolan, members of his family and certain related family entities also collectively have the power to prevent such issuance or amendment.

We have adopted a written policy whereby an independent committee of our Board of Directors will review and approve or take such other action as it may deem appropriate with respect to certain transactions involving the Company and its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and certain related parties, including Charles F. Dolan and certain of his family members and related entities on the other hand. This policy does not address all possible conflicts which may arise, and there can be no assurance that this policy will be effective in dealing with conflict scenarios.

We are a “controlled company” for The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC purposes, which allows us not to comply with certain of the corporate governance rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC.

Charles F. Dolan, members of his family and certain related family entities have entered into a stockholders agreement relating, among other things, to the voting of their shares of our Class B Common Stock. As a result, we are a “controlled company” under the corporate governance rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC ("NASDAQ"). As a controlled company, we have the right to elect not to comply with the corporate governance rules of NASDAQ requiring: (i) a majority of independent directors on our Board of Directors, (ii) an independent compensation committee and (iii) an independent corporate governance and nominating committee. Our Board of Directors has elected for the Company to be treated as a “controlled company” under NASDAQ corporate governance rules and not to comply with the NASDAQ requirement for a majority independent board of directors and an independent corporate governance and nominating committee because of our status as a controlled company. For purposes of this agreement, the term “independent directors” means the directors of the Company who have been determined by our Board of Directors to be independent directors for purposes of NASDAQ corporate governance standards.

Future stock sales, including as a result of the exercising of registration rights by certain of our shareholders, could adversely affect the trading price of our Class A Common Stock.

Certain parties have registration rights covering a portion of our shares. We have entered into registration rights agreements with Charles F. Dolan, members of his family, certain Dolan family interests and the Dolan Family Foundations that provide them with “demand” and “piggyback” registration rights with respect to approximately 13.4 million shares of Class A Common Stock, including shares issuable upon conversion of shares of Class B Common Stock. Sales of a substantial number of shares of Class A Common Stock could adversely affect the market price of the Class A Common Stock and could impair our future ability to raise capital through an offering of our equity securities.

We share certain executives and directors with Cablevision, The Madison Square Garden Company("MSG") and MSG Networks Inc.("MSG Networks"), which may give rise to conflicts.

Our Executive Chairman, Charles F. Dolan, also serves as the Chairman of Cablevision. In addition, Gregg G. Seibert serves as a Vice Chairman of the Company and he serves as a Vice Chairman of Cablevision, MSG and MSG Networks (collectively Cablevision, MSG and MSG Networks, the "Other Entities"). Each of the Other Entities and the Company are affiliates by virtue of being under common control of the Dolan family. As a result, two of our executives will not be devoting their full time and attention to the Company’s affairs. In addition, eight members of our Board of Directors are also directors of Cablevision, six members of our Board are also directors of MSG and five members of our Board are also directors of MSG Networks. These directors may have actual or apparent conflicts of interest with respect to matters involving or affecting each company. For example, the potential for a conflict of interest exists when we on one hand, and an Other Entity on the other hand, consider acquisitions and other corporate opportunities that may be suitable for us and for the Other Entity. Also, conflicts may arise if there are issues or disputes under the commercial arrangements that exist between the Other Entities and us. In addition, certain of our directors and officers own stock, restricted stock units, options to purchase stock and stock appreciation rights in one or more of the Other Entities, as well as cash performance awards with any payout based on the performance of one or more of the Other Entities. These

ownership interests could create actual, apparent or potential conflicts of interest when these individuals are faced with decisions that could have different implications for our Company and one or more of the Other Entities. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Certain Relationships and Potential Conflicts of Interest” in our proxy statement filed with the SEC on April 30, 2015 for a description of our related party transaction approval policy that we have adopted to help address such potential conflicts that may arise.

Our overlapping directors and executives with the Other Entities may result in the diversion of corporate opportunities to and other conflicts with the Other Entities and provisions in our governance documents may provide us no remedy in that circumstance.

The Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation acknowledges that directors and officers of the Company may also be serving as directors, officers, employees, consultants or agents of Cablevision and its subsidiaries or MSG and its subsidiaries and that the Company may engage in material business transactions with such entities. Our policy concerning certain matters relating to MSG, including responsibilities of overlapping directors and officers (the “overlap policy” and together with the applicable provisions of the amended and restated certificate of incorporation, the “Overlap Provisions”) acknowledges that directors and officers of the Company may also be serving as directors, officers, employees, consultants or agents of Cablevision and its subsidiaries or MSG Networks and its subsidiaries and that the Company may engage in material business transactions with such entities. The Company has renounced its rights to certain business opportunities and the Overlap Provisions provide that no director or officer of the Company who is also serving as a director, officer, employee, consultant or agent of an Other Entity or any subsidiary of an Other Entity will be liable to the Company or its stockholders for breach of any fiduciary duty that would otherwise exist by reason of the fact that any such individual directs a corporate opportunity (other than certain limited types of opportunities set forth in our certificate of incorporation) to the Other Entity or any of its subsidiaries, or does not refer or communicate information regarding such corporate opportunities to the Company. The Overlap Provisions also expressly validate certain contracts, agreements, assignments and transactions (and amendments, modifications or terminations thereof) between the Company and the Other Entities and their subsidiaries and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, provide that the actions of the overlapping directors or officers in connection therewith are not breaches of fiduciary duties owed to the Company, any of its subsidiaries or their respective stockholders.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.

None.

Item 2. Properties.

We lease approximately 712,000 square feet of space in the U.S., including approximately 405,000 square feet of office space that we lease at 11 Penn Plaza, New York, NY 10001, under lease arrangements with remaining terms of up to twelve years. We use this space as our corporate headquarters and as the principal business location of our Company. We also lease approximately 67,000 square-feet of space for our broadcasting and technology center in Bethpage, New York under a lease arrangement with a remaining term of four years, from which AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology conducts its operations. In addition, we lease other properties in New York, California and Florida.

We lease approximately 304,000 square feet of space outside of the U.S., including in the Netherlands, Hungary, Spain, and the United Kingdom that support our international operations.

We believe our properties are adequate for our use.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings.

The Company is party to various lawsuits and claims in the ordinary course of business. Although the outcome of these matters cannot be predicted with certainty and while the impact of these matters on the Company’s results of operations in any particular subsequent reporting period is not known, management does not believe that the resolution of these matters will have a material adverse effect on the financial position of the Company or the ability of the Company to meet its financial obligations as they become due.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

Not applicable.

Part II

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

Our Class A Common Stock is listed on NASDAQ under the symbol “AMCX.” Our Class B Common Stock is not listed on any exchange. Our Class A Common Stock began trading on NASDAQ on July 1, 2011.

Performance Graph

The following graph compares the performance of the Company’s Class A Common Stock with the performance of the S&P Mid-Cap 400 Index and a peer group (the “Peer Group Index”) by measuring the changes in our Class A Common Stock prices from July 1, 2011, the first day our Class A Common Stock began regular-way trading on NASDAQ, through December 31, 2015. Because no published index of comparable media companies currently reports values on a dividends-reinvested basis, the Company has created a Peer Group Index for purposes of this graph in accordance with the requirements of the SEC. The Peer Group Index is made up of companies that engage in cable television programming as a significant element of their business, although not all of the companies included in the Peer Group Index participate in all of the lines of business in which the Company is engaged, and some of the companies included in the Peer Group Index also engage in lines of business in which the Company does not participate. Additionally, the market capitalizations of many of the companies included in the Peer Group are quite different from that of the Company. The common stocks of the following companies have been included in the Peer Group Index: Discovery Communications Inc., the Walt Disney Company, Scripps Networks Interactive Inc., Starz, Time Warner Inc., Twenty-First Century Fox Inc. and Viacom Inc. The chart assumes $100 was invested on July 1, 2011 in each of: i) Company’s Class A Common Stock, ii) the S&P Mid-Cap 400 Index, and iii) in this Peer Group weighted by market capitalization.



	INDEXED RETURNS Period Ended
Company Name / Index	Base Period 7/01/11	12/31/11	12/31/12	12/31/13	12/31/14	12/31/15
AMC Networks Inc.	100	94.30	124.22	170.92	160.03	187.40
S&P MidCap 400 Index	100	89.03	104.94	140.10	153.78	150.44
Peer Group	100	95.90	131.22	206.25	235.19	211.33

This performance graph shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") or incorporated by reference into any of our filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

As of February 10, 2016 there were 779 holders of record of our Class A Common Stock and 33 holders of record of our Class B Common Stock. We did not pay any cash dividend on our common stock during 2015 and do not expect to pay a cash dividend on our common stock for the foreseeable future. Our Amended and Restated Credit Facility, the 7.75% Notes Indenture and the 4.75% Notes Indenture restrict our ability to declare dividends in certain situations, see Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Debt Financing Agreements” and Note 9 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

Price Range of AMC Networks' Class A Common Stock

The following table sets forth for the periods indicated the intra-day high and low sales prices per share of the AMCX Class A Common Stock as reported on the NASDAQ:



Year Ended December 31, 2015	High		Low
First Quarter	$	77.20	$	60.60
Second Quarter	$	83.78	$	74.08
Third Quarter	$	87.18	$	63.37
Fourth Quarter	$	83.78	$	66.76

Year Ended December 31, 2014	High		Low
First Quarter	$	78.39	$	61.27
Second Quarter	$	77.30	$	53.99
Third Quarter	$	65.52	$	58.06
Fourth Quarter	$	65.48	$	52.73

Item 6. Selected Financial Data.

The operating data for each of the three years ended December 31, 2015 and balance sheet data as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 included in the table below have been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company included in this Annual Report and should be read in conjunction with Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the accompanying consolidated financial statements and related notes. The operating data for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 and balance sheet data as of December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 included in the table below have been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company, not included in this Annual Report.



	Years Ended December 31,
	2015			2014			2013			2012			2011
	(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
Operating Data:
Revenues, net	$	2,580,935		$	2,175,641		$	1,591,858		$	1,352,577		$	1,187,741
Operating expenses:
Technical and operating (excluding depreciation and amortization shown below)	1,137,133			983,575			662,233			507,436			425,961
Selling, general and administrative	636,580			560,950			425,735			396,926			335,656
Restructuring expense (credit)	14,998			15,715			—			(3		)	(240		)
Depreciation and amortization	83,031			69,048			54,667			85,380			99,848
Litigation settlement gain	—			—			(132,944		)	—			—
Total operating expenses	1,871,742			1,629,288			1,009,691			989,739			861,225
Operating income	709,193			546,353			582,167			362,838			326,516
Other income (expense)	(126,399		)	(149,325		)	(113,166		)	(140,564		)	(115,906		)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	582,794			397,028			469,001			222,274			210,610
Income tax expense	(201,090		)	(129,155		)	(178,841		)	(86,058		)	(84,248		)
Income from continuing operations	381,704			267,873			290,160			136,216			126,362
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	—			(3,448		)	—			314			92
Net income including noncontrolling interests	381,704			264,425			290,160			136,530			126,454
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(14,916		)	(3,628		)	578			—			—
Net income attributable to AMC Networks' stockholders	$	366,788		$	260,797		$	290,738		$	136,530		$	126,454
Income from continuing operations per share:
Basic	$	5.06		$	3.67		$	4.06		$	1.94		$	1.82
Diluted	$	5.01		$	3.63		$	4.00		$	1.89		$	1.79
Balance Sheet Data, at period end:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	316,321		$	201,367		$	521,951		$	610,970		$	215,836
Total assets	4,264,915			3,949,826			2,612,641			2,576,639			2,159,514
Long-term debt (including capital leases)	2,701,148			2,763,144			2,147,240			2,149,397			2,282,537
Stockholders’ deficiency	(39,277		)	(371,755		)	(571,519		)	(882,352		)	(1,036,995		)

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations, or MD&A, is a supplement to and should be read in conjunction with the accompanying consolidated financial statements and related notes. This section provides additional information regarding our businesses, recent developments, results of operations, cash flows, financial condition, contractual commitments and critical accounting policies.

All dollar amounts and subscriber data included in the following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations are presented in thousands.

Introduction

Our MD&A is provided to enhance the understanding of our financial condition, changes in financial condition and results of our operations and is organized as follows:

Business Overview. This section provides a general description of our business and our operating segments, as well as other matters that we believe are important in understanding our results of operations and financial condition and in anticipating future trends.

Consolidated Results of Operations. This section provides an analysis of our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013. Our discussion is presented on both a consolidated and segment basis. Our two segments are: (i) National Networks and (ii) International and Other.

Liquidity and Capital Resources. This section provides a discussion of our financial condition as of December 31, 2015 as well as an analysis of our cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013. The discussion of our financial condition and liquidity includes summaries of (i) our primary sources of liquidity and (ii) our contractual obligations and off balance sheet arrangements that existed at December 31, 2015.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates. This section provides a discussion of our accounting policies considered to be important to an understanding of our financial condition and results of operations, and which require significant judgment and estimates on the part of management in their application.

Business Overview

We own and operate entertainment businesses and assets. We manage our business through the following two operating segments:

•

National Networks: Principally includes activities of our programming businesses which include our five programming networks distributed in the U.S. and Canada. These programming networks include AMC, WE tv, BBC AMERICA, IFC, and SundanceTV in the U.S.; and AMC, IFC, and Sundance Channel in Canada. Our programming businesses within the National Networks segment may also sell rights worldwide to their owned original programming. The National Networks operating segment also includes AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology, the technical services business, which primarily services most of the programming networks included in the National Networks segment.

•

International and Other: Principally includes AMC Networks International, the Company’s international programming businesses consisting of a portfolio of channels in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and parts of Asia and Africa; IFC Films, the Company’s independent film distribution business; AMC Networks International - DMC, the broadcast solutions unit of certain networks of AMC Networks International and third party networks; and various developing on-line content distribution initiatives.

Items Impacting Comparability

The comparability of our results of operations have been impacted by the the timing of the following significant events:

BBC AMERICA

On October 23, 2014, a subsidiary of AMC Networks entered into a membership interest purchase agreement with BBC Worldwide Americas, Inc. ("BBCWA"), pursuant to which such subsidiary acquired 49.9% of the limited liability company interests of New Video Channel America, L.L.C. ("New Video"), owner of the cable channel BBC AMERICA. The Company has operational control of New Video and the BBC AMERICA channel. The results of the joint venture are consolidated in the financial results of AMC Networks from the acquisition date and included in the National Networks operating segment.

Chellomedia

On January 31, 2014, certain subsidiaries of AMC Networks purchased substantially all of Chellomedia, the international content division of Liberty Global plc. This acquisition has been included in our operating results since the acquisition date and included in the International and Other operating segment. The operating businesses of Chellomedia were rebranded in 2014 to AMC Networks International.

DISH Network

DISH Network L.L.C. (“DISH Network”), VOOM HD Holdings LLC (“VOOM HD”) and CSC Holdings, LLC (“CSC Holdings”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Cablevision, entered into a confidential settlement agreement on October 21, 2012 (the “Settlement Agreement”) to settle the litigation between VOOM HD and DISH Network (see Note 18 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements). In 2013, we entered into an an agreement with Cablevision (the “DISH Network Proceeds Allocation Agreement”) to allocate the settlement proceeds. As a result, we recorded a litigation settlement gain of approximately $133,000, included in operating income within the International and Other segment.

Financial Results Overview

The tables presented below set forth our consolidated revenues, net, operating income (loss) and adjusted operating cash flow (“AOCF”), defined below, for the periods indicated.



	Years Ended December 31,
	2015			2014			2013
Revenues, net
National Networks	$	2,135,367		$	1,743,922		$	1,536,287
International and Other	452,578			434,221			55,887
Inter-segment eliminations	(7,010		)	(2,502		)	(316		)
Consolidated revenues, net	$	2,580,935		$	2,175,641		$	1,591,858
Operating income (loss)
National Networks	$	754,243		$	586,856		$	516,953
International and Other (a)	(42,542		)	(41,977		)	61,321
Inter-segment eliminations	(2,508		)	1,474			3,893
Consolidated operating income	$	709,193		$	546,353		$	582,167
AOCF (deficit)
National Networks	$	810,993		$	633,584		$	576,772
International and Other	29,757			24,421			(56,476		)
Inter-segment eliminations	(2,508		)	1,474			3,893
Consolidated AOCF	$	838,242		$	659,479		$	524,189

(a) Amounts for the year ended December 31, 2013 include the litigation settlement gain of approximately $133,000 recorded in connection with the settlement with DISH Network. See DISH Network discussion above.

We evaluate segment performance based on several factors, of which the primary financial measure is operating segment AOCF. We define AOCF, which is a financial measure that is not calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), as operating income (loss) before depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation expense or benefit, restructuring expense or credit and the litigation settlement gain recorded in connection with the settlement with DISH Network. We do not consider the one-time litigation settlement gain with DISH Network to be indicative of our ongoing operating performance.

We believe that AOCF is an appropriate measure for evaluating the operating performance on both an operating segment and consolidated basis. AOCF and similar measures with similar titles are common performance measures used by investors, analysts and peers to compare performance in the industry.

Internally, we use revenues, net and AOCF measures as the most important indicators of our business performance, and evaluate management’s effectiveness with specific reference to these indicators. AOCF should be viewed as a supplement to and not a substitute for operating income (loss), net income (loss), cash flows from operating activities and other measures of performance and/or liquidity presented in accordance with GAAP. Since AOCF is not a measure of performance calculated in accordance with GAAP, this measure may not be comparable to similar measures with similar titles used by other companies.

The following is a reconciliation of consolidated operating income to AOCF for the periods indicated:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2015		2014		2013
Operating income	$	709,193	$	546,353	$	582,167
Share-based compensation expense	31,020		28,363		20,299
Depreciation and amortization	83,031		69,048		54,667
Litigation settlement gain	—		—		(132,944		)
Restructuring expense	14,998		15,715		—
AOCF	$	838,242	$	659,479	$	524,189

National Networks

In our National Networks segment, which accounted for 83% of our consolidated revenues, net for the year ended December 31, 2015, we earn revenue principally from the distribution of our programming and the sale of advertising. Distribution revenue primarily includes affiliation fees paid by distributors to carry our programming networks and the licensing of original programming for digital, foreign and home video distribution. Affiliation fees paid by distributors represent the largest component of distribution revenue. Our affiliation fee revenues are generally based on a per subscriber fee under multi-year contracts, commonly referred to as “affiliation agreements,” which generally provide for annual affiliation rate increases. The specific affiliation fee revenues we earn vary from period to period, distributor to distributor and also vary among our networks, but are generally based upon the number of each distributor’s subscribers who receive our programming, referred to as viewing subscribers. The terms of certain other affiliation agreements provide that the affiliation fee revenues we earn are a fixed contractual monthly fee, which could be adjusted for acquisitions and dispositions of multichannel video programming systems by the distributor. Revenue from the licensing of original programming for digital and foreign distribution is recognized upon availability or distribution by the licensee.

Under affiliation agreements with our distributors, we have the right to sell a specified amount of national advertising time on our programming networks. Our advertising revenues are more variable than affiliation fee revenues because the majority of our advertising is sold on a short-term basis, not under long-term contracts. Our advertising arrangements with advertisers provide for a set number of advertising units to air over a specific period of time at a negotiated price per unit. Additionally, in these advertising sales arrangements, our programming networks generally guarantee specified viewer ratings for their programming. If these guaranteed viewer ratings are not met, we are generally required to provide additional advertising units to the advertiser at no charge. For these types of arrangements, a portion of the related revenue is deferred if the guaranteed viewer ratings are not met and is subsequently recognized either when we provide the required additional advertising time, the guarantee obligation contractually expires or performance requirements become remote. Most of our advertising revenues vary based upon the popularity of our programming as measured by Nielsen. Our national programming networks have advertisers representing companies in a broad range of sectors, including the health, automotive, food, insurance, and entertainment industries. All of our National Networks distributed throughout the U.S. use a traditional advertising sales model. Prior to September 2013, SundanceTV principally sold sponsorships.

Changes in revenue are primarily derived from changes in contractual affiliation rates charged for our services, changes in the number of subscribers, changes in the prices and level of advertising on our networks and changes in the availability, amount and timing of licensing fees earned from the distribution of our original programming. We seek to grow our revenues by increasing the number of viewing subscribers of the distributors that carry our services. We refer to this as our “penetration.” AMC, which is widely distributed throughout the U.S., has a more limited ability to increase its penetration than WE tv, BBC AMERICA, IFC and SundanceTV. To the extent not already carried on more widely penetrated service tiers, WE tv, BBC AMERICA, IFC and SundanceTV, although carried by all of the larger U.S. distributors, have higher growth opportunities due to their current penetration levels with those distributors. WE tv, BBC AMERICA, and IFC are currently carried on either expanded basic or digital tiers, while SundanceTV is currently carried primarily on digital tiers. Our revenues may also increase over time through contractual rate increases stipulated in most of our affiliation agreements. In negotiating for increased or extended carriage, we have agreed in some instances to make upfront payments in exchange for additional subscribers or extended carriage, which we record as deferred carriage fees and which are amortized as a reduction to revenue over the period of the related affiliation agreements, or agreed to waive for a specified period or accept lower per subscriber fees if certain additional subscribers are provided. We also may help fund the distributors’ efforts to market our channels. We believe that these transactions generate a positive return on investment over the contract period. We seek to increase our advertising revenues by increasing the rates we charge for such advertising, which is directly related to the overall distribution of our programming, penetration of our services and the popularity (including within desirable demographic groups) of our services as measured by Nielsen. Distribution revenues in each quarter also vary based on the timing of availability of our programming to distributors. We also seek to increase our revenues by expanding the opportunities for distribution of our programming through digital, foreign and home video services.

Our principal goal is to increase our revenues by increasing distribution and penetration of our services, and increasing our ratings. To do this, we must continue to contract for and produce high-quality, attractive programming. As competition for programming increases and alternative distribution technologies continue to emerge and develop in the industry, costs for content acquisition and original programming may increase. There is a concentration of subscribers in the hands of a few distributors, which could create disparate bargaining power between the largest distributors and us by giving those distributors greater leverage in negotiating the price and other terms of affiliation agreements.

Programming expense, included in technical and operating expense, represents the largest expense of the National Networks segment and primarily consists of amortization and impairments or write-offs of programming rights, such as those for original programming, feature films and licensed series, as well as participation and residual costs. The other components of technical and operating expense primarily include distribution and production related costs and program operating costs, such as origination, transmission, uplinking and encryption.

To an increasing extent, the success of our business depends on original programming, both scripted and unscripted, across all of our networks. In recent years, we have introduced a number of scripted original series. These series generally result in higher audience ratings for our networks. Among other things, higher audience ratings drive increased revenues through higher advertising revenues. The timing of exhibition and distribution of original programming varies from period to period, which results in greater variability in our revenues, earnings and cash flows from operating activities. We will continue to increase our investment in programming across all of our channels. There may be significant changes in the level of our technical and operating expenses due to the amortization of content acquisition and/or original programming costs and/or the impact of management’s periodic assessment of programming usefulness. Such costs will also fluctuate with the level of revenues derived from owned original programming in each period as these costs are amortized based on the film-forecast-computation method.

Most original series require us to make up-front investments, which are often significant amounts. Not all of our programming efforts are commercially successful, which could result in a write-off of program rights. If it is determined that programming rights have no future programming usefulness based on actual demand or market conditions, a write-off of the unamortized cost is recorded in technical and operating expense. Program rights write-offs of $40,987, $44,000 and $61,005 were recorded for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively (see further discussion below).

See “— Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” for a discussion of the amortization and write-off of program rights.

International and Other

Our International and Other segment primarily includes the operations of AMC Networks International and IFC Films.

In our International and Other segment, which accounted for 17% of our consolidated revenues for the year ended December 31, 2015, we earn revenue principally from the international distribution of programming and, to a lesser extent, the sale of advertising. Distribution revenue primarily includes affiliation fees paid by distributors to carry our programming networks. Affiliation fees paid by distributors represents the largest component of distribution revenue. Our affiliation fee revenues are generally based on either a per-subscriber fee or a fixed contractual annual fee, under multi-year affiliation agreements, which may provide for annual affiliation rate increases. For the year ended December 31, 2015, distribution revenues represented 82% of the revenues of the International and Other segment. Most of these revenues are derived primarily from Europe and to a lesser extent, Latin America, the Middle East and parts of Asia and Africa. The International and Other segment also includes IFC Films, our independent film distribution business where revenues are derived principally from theatrical, digital and licensing distribution.

Programming and program operating costs, included in technical and operating expense, represents the largest expense of the International and Other segment and primarily consists of amortization of acquired content, costs of dubbing and sub-titling of programs, participation and residuals. Program operating costs include costs such as origination, transmission, uplinking and encryption. Not all of our programming efforts are commercially successful, which could result in a write-off of program rights. If it is determined that programming rights have no future programming usefulness based on actual demand or market conditions, a write-off of the unamortized cost is recorded in technical and operating expense.

We view our international expansion as an important long-term strategy. We may experience an adverse impact to the International and Other segment's operating results and cash flows in periods of increased international investment by the Company. Similar to our domestic businesses, the most significant business challenges we expect to encounter in our international business include programming competition (from both foreign and domestic programmers), limited channel capacity on distributors’ platforms, the growth of subscribers on those platforms and economic pressures on affiliation fees. Other significant business challenges unique to our international operations include increased programming costs for international rights and translation (i.e. dubbing and subtitling), a lack of availability of international rights for a portion of our domestic programming content, increased distribution costs for cable, satellite or fiber feeds and a limited physical presence in certain territories, and our exposure to foreign currency exchange rate risk. See also the risk factors described under Item 1A, “Risk Factors - We face risks from doing business internationally.” in in this Annual Report.

Corporate Expenses

We allocate corporate overhead within operating expenses to each segment based upon its proportionate estimated usage of services. The segment financial information set forth below, including the discussion related to individual line items, does not reflect inter-segment eliminations unless specifically indicated.

Impact of Economic Conditions

Our future performance is dependent, to a large extent, on general economic conditions including the impact of direct competition, our ability to manage our businesses effectively, and our relative strength and leverage in the marketplace, both with suppliers and customers.

Capital and credit market disruptions could cause economic downturns, which may lead to lower demand for our products, such as lower demand for television advertising and a decrease in the number of subscribers receiving our programming networks from our distributors. Events such as these may adversely impact our results of operations, cash flows and financial position.

Consolidated Results of Operations

The amounts presented and discussed below represent 100% of each operating segment's revenues, net and expenses. Where we have management control of an entity, we consolidate 100% of such entity in our consolidated statements of operations notwithstanding that a third-party owns a significant interest in such entity. The noncontrolling owner's interest in the operating results of majority-owned subsidiaries are reflected in net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in our consolidated statements of operations.

Year Ended December 31, 2015 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2014

The following table sets forth our consolidated results of operations for the periods indicated.



	Years Ended December 31,
	2015					2014
	Amount			% of Revenues, net		Amount			% of Revenues, net		$ change			% change
Revenues, net	$	2,580,935		100.0	%	$	2,175,641		100.0	%	$	405,294		18.6	%
Operating expenses:
Technical and operating (excluding depreciation and amortization)	1,137,133			44.1		983,575			45.2		153,558			15.6
Selling, general and administrative	636,580			24.7		560,950			25.8		75,630			13.5
Restructuring expense	14,998			0.6		15,715			0.7		(717		)	(4.6	)
Depreciation and amortization	83,031			3.2		69,048			3.2		13,983			20.3
Total operating expenses	1,871,742			72.5		1,629,288			74.9		242,454			14.9
Operating income	709,193			27.5		546,353			25.1		162,840			29.8	%
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net	(125,708		)	(4.9	)	(128,829		)	(5.9	)	3,121			(2.4	)
Miscellaneous, net	(691		)	—		(20,496		)	(0.9	)	19,805			(96.6	)
Total other income (expense)	(126,399		)	(4.9	)	(149,325		)	(6.9	)	22,926			(15.4	)
Net income from continuing operations before income taxes	582,794			22.6		397,028			18.2		185,766			46.8
Income tax expense	(201,090		)	(7.8	)	(129,155		)	(5.9	)	(71,935		)	55.7
Income from continuing operations	381,704			14.8		267,873			12.3		113,831			42.5
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	—			—		(3,448		)	(0.2	)	3,448			(100.0	)
Net income including noncontrolling interests	381,704			14.8	%	264,425			12.2	%	117,279			44.4
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(14,916		)	(0.6	)%	(3,628		)	(0.2	)%	(11,288		)	311.1
Net income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders	$	366,788		14.2	%	$	260,797		12.0	%	$	105,991		40.6	%

The following is a reconciliation of our consolidated operating income to AOCF:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2015		2014		$ change			% change
Operating income	$	709,193	$	546,353	$	162,840		29.8	%
Share-based compensation expense	31,020		28,363		2,657			9.4
Depreciation and amortization	83,031		69,048		13,983			20.3
Restructuring expense	14,998		15,715		(717		)	(4.6	)
Consolidated AOCF	$	838,242	$	659,479	$	178,763		27.1	%

National Networks Segment Results

The following table sets forth our National Networks segment results for the periods indicated.



	Years Ended December 31,
	2015				2014
	Amount		% of Revenues, net		Amount		% of Revenues, net		$ change			% change
Revenues, net	$	2,135,367	100.0	%	$	1,743,922	100.0	%	$	391,445		22.4	%
Operating expenses:
Technical and operating (excluding depreciation and amortization)	863,704		40.4		728,690		41.8		135,014			18.5
Selling, general and administrative	484,484		22.7		403,232		23.1		81,252			20.2
Restructuring expense	3,194		0.1		3,664		0.2		(470		)	(12.8	)
Depreciation and amortization	29,742		1.4		21,480		1.2		8,262			38.5
Operating income	$	754,243	35.3	%	$	586,856	33.7	%	$	167,387		28.5	%
Share-based compensation expense	23,814		1.1		21,584		1.2		2,230			10.3
Depreciation and amortization	29,742		1.4		21,480		1.2		8,262			38.5
Restructuring expense	3,194		0.1		3,664		0.2		(470		)	(12.8	)
AOCF	$	810,993	38.0	%	$	633,584	36.3	%	$	177,409		28.0	%

International and Other Segment Results

The following table sets forth our International and Other segment results for the periods indicated.



	Years Ended December 31,
	2015					2014
	Amount			% of Revenues, net		Amount			% of Revenues, net		$ change			% change
Revenues, net	$	452,578		100.0	%	$	434,221		100.0	%	$	18,357		4.2	%
Operating expenses:
Technical and operating (excluding depreciation and amortization)	277,895			61.4		258,803			59.6		19,092			7.4
Selling, general and administrative	152,132			33.6		157,776			36.3		(5,644		)	(3.6	)
Restructuring expense	11,804			2.6		12,051			2.8		(247		)	(2.0	)
Depreciation and amortization	53,289			11.8		47,568			11.0		5,721			12.0
Operating loss	$	(42,542	)	(9.4	)%	$	(41,977	)	(9.7	)%	$	(565	)	1.3	%
Share-based compensation expense	7,206			1.6		6,779			1.6		427			6.3
Depreciation and amortization	53,289			11.8		47,568			11.0		5,721			12.0
Restructuring expense	11,804			2.6		12,051			2.8		(247		)	(2.0	)
AOCF	$	29,757		6.6	%	$	24,421		5.6	%	$	5,336		21.9	%

Revenues, net

Revenues, net increased $405,294 to $2,580,935 for the year ended December 31, 2015 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2014. The net change by segment was as follows:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2015			% of total		2014			% of total		$ change			% change
National Networks	$	2,135,367		82.7	%	$	1,743,922		80.2	%	$	391,445		22.4	%
International and Other	452,578			17.5		434,221			20.0		18,357			4.2
Inter-segment eliminations	(7,010		)	(0.3	)	(2,502		)	(0.1	)	(4,508		)	180.2
Consolidated revenues, net	$	2,580,935		100.0	%	$	2,175,641		100.0	%	$	405,294		18.6	%

National Networks

The increase in National Networks revenues, net was attributable to the following:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2015		% of total		2014		% of total		$ change		% change
Advertising	$	945,288	44.3	%	$	764,610	43.8	%	$	180,678	23.6	%
Distribution	1,190,079		55.7		979,312		56.2		210,767		21.5
	$	2,135,367	100.0	%	$	1,743,922	100.0	%	$	391,445	22.4	%

•

Advertising revenues increased $180,678 across all of our networks, with the largest increase at AMC resulting from higher pricing per unit sold due to an increased demand for our programming by advertisers, led by The Walking Dead. In addition, the increase reflects the impact of a full twelve months of results in 2015 from the acquisition of BBC AMERICA as compared to approximately two months in 2014. As previously discussed, most of our advertising revenues vary based on the timing of our original programming series and the popularity of our programming as measured by Nielsen. Due to these factors, we expect advertising revenues to vary from quarter to quarter.

•

Distribution revenues increased $210,767 principally due to an increase of $58,273 principally from digital distribution and licensing revenues derived from our original programming, primarily at AMC and SundanceTV, as well as the impact of a full twelve months of results in 2015 from the acquisition of BBC AMERICA as compared to approximately two months in 2014. In addition, affiliation fee revenues increased across all networks due to an increase in rates during the year ended December 31, 2015 as compared to the same period in 2014. Distribution revenues vary based on the impact of renewals of affiliation agreements and the timing of availability of our programming to distributors. Because of these factors, we expect distribution revenues to vary from quarter to quarter.


•	The increase in total revenues, net of $391,445 includes $125,834 due to the impact of a full twelve months of results in 2015 from the acquisition of BBC AMERICA as compared to approximately two months in 2014.

The following table presents certain subscriber information at December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014:



	Estimated Domestic Subscribers ⁽¹⁾
	December 31, 2015	December 31, 2014
National Programming Networks:
AMC	93,600	95,000
WE tv	86,500	85,400
BBC AMERICA	77,100	78,200
IFC	71,200	73,700
SundanceTV	59,600	56,600

________________


(1)	Estimated U.S. subscribers as measured by Nielsen.

International and Other

The increase in International and Other revenues, net was attributable to the following:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2015		% of total		2014		% of total		$ change			% change
Advertising	$	82,972	18.3	%	$	55,726	12.8	%	$	27,246		48.9	%
Distribution	369,606		81.7		378,495		87.2		(8,889		)	(2.3	)
	$	452,578	100.0	%	$	434,221	100.0	%	$	18,357		4.2	%

The increase in advertising revenues is due to an increase at AMC Networks International principally from increased demand for our programming by advertisers. The decrease in distribution revenues is primarily due to a decrease at AMC Networks International related to a one-time contract termination benefit of approximately $9,700 recorded in 2014, partially offset by an increase at IFC Films of $3,160 due to an increase in home video and licensing revenues. In addition, foreign currency translation had an unfavorable impact on total revenues of approximately $51,000, which was partially offset by the comparison of twelve months of results from the acquisition of Chellomedia in 2015 as compared to eleven months in 2014.

Technical and operating expense (excluding depreciation and amortization)

The components of technical and operating expense primarily include the amortization and impairments or write-offs of program rights, such as those for original programming, feature films and licensed series, participation and residual costs, distribution and production related costs and program operating costs, such as origination, transmission, uplinking and encryption.

Technical and operating expense (excluding depreciation and amortization) increased $153,558 to $1,137,133 for 2015 as compared to 2014. The net change by segment was as follows:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2015			2014			$ change			% change
National Networks	$	863,704		$	728,690		$	135,014		18.5	%
International and Other	277,895			258,803			19,092			7.4
Inter-segment eliminations	(4,466		)	(3,918		)	(548		)	14.0
Total	$	1,137,133		$	983,575		$	153,558		15.6	%
Percentage of revenues, net	44.1		%	45.2		%

National Networks

The increase in the National Networks segment was attributable to increased program rights amortization expense of $102,181 and an increase of $32,833 for other direct programming related costs, primarily including development costs, participation and residuals. The increase in program rights amortization expense is due to our increased investment in owned original series primarily at AMC and the impact of a full twelve months of results in 2015 from the acquisition of BBC AMERICA as compared to approximately two months in 2014. Program rights amortization expense in 2015 includes write-offs of $40,987 based on management's assessment of programming usefulness of certain scripted series at SundanceTV, original series at WE tv, and pilot costs at AMC. Program rights amortization expense in 2014 includes write-offs of $44,000 primarily related to management's assessment of programming usefulness of certain pilot costs and unscripted series at AMC based on management's decision to focus on scripted series and a canceled scripted original series at WE tv. There may be significant changes in the level of our technical and operating expenses due to the amortization of content acquisition and/or original programming costs and/or the impact of management’s periodic assessment of programming usefulness. Such costs will also fluctuate with the level of revenues derived from owned original programming in each period as these costs are amortized based on the film-forecast-computation method. As additional competition for programming increases and alternate distribution technologies continue to develop in the industry, costs for content acquisition and original programming may increase.

International and Other

The increase in the International and Other segment was primarily due to an increase at AMC Networks International of $13,151 due to an increase in program rights amortization expense and other direct programming related costs due to the increased investment in original programming as well as the comparison of twelve months of results from the acquisition of Chellomedia in 2015 as compared to eleven months in 2014. In addition, technical and operating expense increased $6,801 at IFC Films principally due to increased participation expense related to the film, Boyhood. Foreign currency translation had a favorable impact on the change in technical and operating expense of approximately $29,800.

Selling, general and administrative expense

The components of selling, general and administrative expense primarily include sales, marketing and advertising expenses, administrative costs and costs of facilities.

Selling, general and administrative expense increased $75,630 to $636,580 for 2015 as compared to 2014. The net change by segment was as follows:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2015			2014			$ change			% change
National Networks	$	484,484		$	403,232		$	81,252		20.2	%
International and Other	152,132			157,776			(5,644		)	(3.6	)
Inter-segment eliminations	(36		)	(58		)	22			(37.9	)
Total	$	636,580		$	560,950		$	75,630		13.5	%
Percentage of revenues, net	24.7		%	25.8		%

National Networks

The increase in the National Networks segment was primarily attributable to the impact of a full twelve months of results from the acquisition of BBC AMERICA as compared to approximately two months in 2014, an increase in marketing expense of $32,670 (excluding BBC AMERICA) primarily at AMC due to the promotion of our original programming series and an increase in share-based compensation expense and expenses relating to long-term incentive compensation of $13,653. There may be significant changes in the level of our selling, general and administrative expense from quarter to quarter and year to year due to the timing of promotion and marketing of original programming series and subscriber retention marketing efforts.

International and Other

The decrease in the International and Other segment was primarily due to acquisition and integration related professional fees incurred in 2014 of $16,552, partially offset by the comparison of twelve months of results in 2015 from the acquisition of Chellomedia as compared to eleven months in 2014. Foreign currency translation had a favorable impact on the change in selling, general and administrative expenses of approximately $8,600.

Restructuring expense

Restructuring expense of $14,998 is due to $3,194 in the National Networks segment and $11,804 in the International and Other segment, which includes corporate headquarter related charges. Restructuring expense at the National Networks segment represents severance charges incurred related to employee terminations associated with the elimination of certain positions. Restructuring expense at the International and Other segment primarily represents $7,899 of severance charges incurred related to employee terminations associated with the elimination of certain positions and $3,905 of costs related to the elimination of distribution in certain territories.

Depreciation and amortization

Depreciation and amortization increased $13,983 to $83,031 for 2015 as compared to 2014. The net change by segment was as follows:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2015		2014		$ change		% change
National Networks	$	29,742	$	21,480	$	8,262	38.5	%
International and Other	53,289		47,568		5,721		12.0
	$	83,031	$	69,048	$	13,983	20.3	%

The increase in depreciation and amortization expense at the National Networks segment was primarily attributable to an increase in amortization expense of $6,747 related to identifiable intangible assets acquired as a result of the impact of a full twelve months of results in 2015 from the acquisition of BBC AMERICA as compared to approximately two months in 2014 and an increase in depreciation expense of $1,514 due to fixed asset additions.

The increase in depreciation and amortization expense in the International and Other segment was primarily attributable to an increase of $3,617 in depreciation of fixed assets and amortization of identifiable intangible assets related to the timing of the Chellomedia acquisition which occurred on January 31, 2014 as well as the impact of other smaller acquisitions and the impact of acceleration of amortization of certain identifiable intangible assets associated with certain channel closures. In addition, foreign currency translation had a favorable impact on depreciation and amortization of $3,992.

AOCF

AOCF increased $178,763 to $838,242 for 2015 as compared to 2014. The net change by segment was as follows:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2015			2014		$ change			% change
National Networks	$	810,993		$	633,584	$	177,409		28.0	%
International and Other	29,757			24,421		5,336			21.9
Inter-segment eliminations	(2,508		)	1,474		(3,982		)	(270.1	)
AOCF	$	838,242		$	659,479	$	178,763		27.1	%

National Networks AOCF increased due to an increase in revenues, net of $391,445, partially offset by an increase in technical and operating expenses of $135,014 resulting primarily from an increase in program rights expense and an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses of $79,022. These changes are affected by the timing of the acquisition of BBC AMERICA on October 23, 2014. As a result of the factors discussed above impacting the variability in revenues and operating expenses, we expect AOCF to vary from quarter to quarter.

International and Other AOCF increased due to an increase in revenues, net of $18,357 and a decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses of $6,071, partially offset by an increase in technical and operating expenses of $19,092. These changes are affected by the timing of the acquisition of Chellomedia on January 31, 2014 and smaller acquisitions which occurred in 2015 and 2014. In addition, foreign currency translation had an unfavorable impact on AOCF of approximately $12,000.

Interest expense, net

The decrease in interest expense, net of $3,121 from 2014 to 2015 was attributable to a combination of changes in the fair value of interest rate swap contracts and an increase in interest income.

Miscellaneous, net

The decrease in miscellaneous expense, net of $19,805 is primarily the result of a gain recorded in 2015 on the acquisition of a controlling interest in a previously non-consolidated joint-venture of approximately $16,137, an increase in earnings of equity method investments of $4,866, a decrease in net foreign currency transaction losses of $1,738 principally from the translation of monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in currencies other than the underlying functional currency of the applicable entity, a net decrease in the loss on derivative contracts of $2,361 primarily related to a loss on foreign currency option contracts recorded in 2014 due to such contracts being settled with the counterparties prior to their expiration, partially offset by a gain of $4,789 realized on the sale of an investment in 2014.

Income tax expense

Income tax expense attributable to continuing operations was $201,090 for the year ended December 31, 2015, representing an effective tax rate of 34%. The effective tax rate differs from the federal statutory rate of 35% due primarily to state income tax expense of $11,555, tax benefit from foreign subsidiary earnings indefinitely reinvested outside of the U.S. of $10,996, tax benefit from the domestic production activities deduction of $15,229, tax expense of $2,841 related to uncertain tax positions, including accrued interest and tax expense of $7,944 resulting from an increase in the valuation allowance relating primarily to certain foreign and local income tax credit carry forwards.

Income tax expense attributable to continuing operations was $129,155 for the year ended December 31, 2014, representing an effective tax rate of 32%. The effective tax rate differs from the federal statutory rate of 35% due primarily to state income tax expense of $7,941, tax benefit from foreign subsidiary earnings indefinitely reinvested outside of the U.S. of $7,407, tax benefit from the domestic production activities deduction of $9,873, tax benefit of $5,065 related to uncertain tax positions, including accrued interest and tax expense of $5,705 resulting from an increase in the valuation allowance relating primarily to certain foreign and local income tax credit carry forwards. The tax benefit relating to reductions in uncertain tax positions is primarily due to an audit settlement.

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests consists of the noncontrolling parties' share of net earnings of consolidated joint ventures. The net change for the year ended December 31, 2015 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2014 is primarily due to the impact of the acquisitions of BBC AMERICA (October 23, 2014) and Chellomedia (January 31, 2014).

Year Ended December 31, 2014 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2013

The following table sets forth our consolidated results of operations for the periods indicated.



	Years Ended December 31,
	2014					2013
	Amount			% of Revenues, net		Amount			% of Revenues, net		$ change			% change
Revenues, net	$	2,175,641		100.0	%	$	1,591,858		100.0	%	$	583,783		36.7	%
Operating expenses:
Technical and operating (excluding depreciation and amortization)	983,575			45.2		662,233			41.6		321,342			48.5
Selling, general and administrative	560,950			25.8		425,735			26.7		135,215			31.8
Restructuring expense	15,715			0.7		—			—		15,715			n/m
Depreciation and amortization	69,048			3.2		54,667			3.4		14,381			26.3
Litigation settlement gain	—			—		(132,944		)	(8.4	)	132,944			(100.0	)
Total operating expenses	1,629,288			74.9		1,009,691			63.4		619,597			61.4
Operating income	546,353			25.1		582,167			36.6		(35,814		)	(6.2	)%
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net	(128,829		)	(5.9	)	(115,041		)	(7.2	)	(13,788		)	12.0
Write-off of deferred financing costs	—			—		(4,007		)	(0.3	)	4,007			(100.0	)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	—			—		(1,087		)	(0.1	)	1,087			(100.0	)
Miscellaneous, net	(20,496		)	(0.9	)	6,969			0.4		(27,465		)	(394.1	)
Total other income (expense)	(149,325		)	(6.9	)	(113,166		)	(7.1	)	(36,159		)	32.0
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	397,028			18.2		469,001			29.5		(71,973		)	(15.3	)
Income tax expense	(129,155		)	(5.9	)	(178,841		)	(11.2	)	49,686			(27.8	)
Income from continuing operations	267,873			12.3		290,160			18.2		(22,287		)	(7.7	)
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	(3,448		)	(0.2	)	—			—		(3,448		)	n/m
Net income including noncontrolling interests	264,425			12.2	%	290,160			18.2	%	(25,735		)	(8.9	)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(3,628		)	(0.2	)%	578			—	%	(4,206		)	(727.7	)%
Net income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders	$	260,797		12.0	%	$	290,738		18.3	%	$	(29,941	)	(10.3	)%

The following is a reconciliation of our consolidated operating income to AOCF:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2014		2013			$ change			% change
Operating income	$	546,353	$	582,167		$	(35,814	)	(6.2	)%
Share-based compensation expense	28,363		20,299			8,064			39.7
Depreciation and amortization	69,048		54,667			14,381			26.3
Litigation settlement gain	—		(132,944		)	132,944			(100.0	)
Restructuring expense	15,715		—			15,715			n/m
Consolidated AOCF	$	659,479	$	524,189		$	135,290		25.8	%

National Networks Segment Results

The following table sets forth our National Networks segment results for the periods indicated.



	Years Ended December 31,
	2014				2013
	Amount		% of Revenues, net		Amount		% of Revenues, net		$ change		% change
Revenues, net	$	1,743,922	100.0	%	$	1,536,287	100.0	%	$	207,635	13.5	%
Operating expenses:
Technical and operating (excluding depreciation and amortization)	728,690		41.8		608,656		39.6		120,034		19.7
Selling, general and administrative	403,232		23.1		368,642		24.0		34,590		9.4
Restructuring expense	3,664		0.2		—		—		3,664		n/m
Depreciation and amortization	21,480		1.2