Income Taxes and Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (Tables)
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12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2023 |
| Income Taxes and Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes |
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| Schedule of components of the (provision for) benefit from income taxes |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | For the Years Ended December 31, | | | | 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 | | | | | (In thousands) | | Current (benefit) provision: | | | | | | | | | | | Federal | | $ | 528,689 | | $ | 572,754 | | $ | 486,736 | | State | | | 118,540 | | | 133,475 | | | 106,594 | | Foreign | | | 2,475 | | | (4,255) | | | 2,387 | | Total current (benefit) provision | | | 649,704 | | | 701,974 | | | 595,717 | | | | | | | | | | | | | Deferred (benefit) provision: | | | | | | | | | | | Federal | | | (69,321) | | | (95,995) | | | (31,424) | | State | | | (15,794) | | | (20,720) | | | (7,090) | | Increase (decrease) in valuation allowance | | | 515 | | | — | | | (2,790) | | Total deferred (benefit) provision | | | (84,600) | | | (116,715) | | | (41,304) | | Total (benefit) provision | | $ | 565,104 | | $ | 585,259 | | $ | 554,413 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| Schedule of reconciliation of amounts computed by applying the statutory Federal tax rate to income before taxes |
| | | | | | | | | | For the Years Ended December 31, | | | | 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 | | | | | % of pre-tax income/(loss) | | Statutory rate | | 21.0 | | 21.0 | | 21.0 | | State income taxes, net of federal benefit | | 3.4 | | 3.5 | | 3.5 | | Other, net | | 0.1 | | (0.1) | | (0.3) | | Total (benefit) provision for income taxes | | 24.5 | | 24.4 | | 24.2 | | | | | | | | | |
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| Schedule of deferred tax assets and liabilities |
| | | | | | | | | | As of December 31, | | | | 2023 | | 2022 | | | | | (In thousands) | | Deferred tax assets: | | | | | | | | NOL, interest, credit and other carryforwards | | $ | 7,277 | | $ | 7,642 | | Accrued and prepaid expenses | | | 22,449 | | | 8,526 | | Stock-based compensation | | | 16,686 | | | 19,374 | | Deferred revenue | | | 6,118 | | | 7,344 | | Bases differences in partnerships and cost method investments | | | 3,360 | | | 1,281 | | Total deferred tax assets | | | 55,890 | | | 44,167 | | Valuation allowance | | | (8,194) | | | (7,679) | | Deferred tax asset after valuation allowance | | | 47,696 | | | 36,488 | | | | | | | | | | Deferred tax liabilities: | | | | | | | | Depreciation | | | (193,564) | | | (235,498) | | Regulatory authorizations and other intangible amortization | | | (122,302) | | | (153,738) | | Total deferred tax liabilities | | | (315,866) | | | (389,236) | | Net deferred tax asset (liability) | | $ | (268,170) | | $ | (352,748) | | | | | | | | | |
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| Schedule of reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits included in long-term deferred revenue, distribution and carriage payments and other long-term liabilities |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | For the Years Ended December 31, | | Unrecognized tax benefit | | 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 | | | | | (In thousands) | | Balance as of beginning of period | | $ | 204,378 | | $ | 198,511 | | $ | 188,141 | | Additions based on tax positions related to the current year | | | 3,601 | | | 3,444 | | | 303 | | Additions based on tax positions related to prior years | | | 2,892 | | | 9,523 | | | 12,095 | | Reductions based on tax positions related to prior years | | | (7,219) | | | (7,100) | | | (1,400) | | Reductions based on tax positions related to settlements with taxing authorities | | | (834) | | | — | | | — | | Reductions based on tax positions related to the lapse of the statute of limitations | | | (352) | | | — | | | (628) | | Balance as of end of period | | $ | 202,466 | | $ | 204,378 | | $ | 198,511 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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