LEASES
In September 2023, the Company completed the sale of 122 of our broadcast tower sites and related assets for $45.3 million and entered into operating leases for the use of space on 121 of the broadcast tower sites and related assets sold. The Company realized a net loss of $3.2 million on the sale, which was recorded in Other operating expense, net in the statement of comprehensive loss. The leases are for an initial term of ten years and include four optional five-year renewal periods. In connection with the transaction, the Company recorded ROU assets and lease liabilities with aggregate values of $26.3 million related to these leases.
The following tables provide the components of lease expense included within the statement of comprehensive loss:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year Ended December 31, |
| (In thousands) | 2025 | | 2024 | | 2023 |
| Operating lease expense | $ | 133,186 | | | $ | 132,443 | | | $ | 132,059 | |
| Variable lease expense | 26,803 | | | 27,150 | | | 25,114 | |
| Non-cash impairment of ROU assets | 5,407 | | | 2,045 | | | 6,058 | |
The following table provides the weighted average remaining lease term and the weighted average discount rate for the Company's leases:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year Ended December 31, |
| (In thousands) | 2025 | | 2024 |
| Operating lease weighted average remaining lease term (in years) | 12.0 | | 12.4 |
| Operating lease weighted average discount rate | 10.1 | % | | 9.8 | % |
As of December 31, 2025, the Company’s future maturities of operating lease liabilities were as follows:
| | | | | |
| (In thousands) |
| 2026 | $ | 127,357 | |
| 2027 | 128,610 | |
| 2028 | 121,811 | |
| 2029 | 111,229 | |
| 2030 | 99,642 | |
| Thereafter | 764,160 | |
| Total lease payments | $ | 1,352,809 | |
| Less: Effect of discounting | 617,649 | |
| Total operating lease liability | $ | 735,160 | |
The following table provides supplemental cash flow information related to leases:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year Ended December 31, |
| (In thousands) | 2025 | | 2024 | | 2023 |
| Cash paid for amounts included in measurement of operating lease liabilities | $ | 148,211 | | | $ | 149,432 | | | $ | 141,869 | |
Lease liabilities arising from obtaining right-of-use assets(1) | $ | 29,142 | | | 29,819 | | | 47,430 | |
(1)Lease liabilities from obtaining right-of-use assets includes new leases entered into during the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023.
The Company reflects changes in the lease liability and changes in the ROU asset on a net basis in the Statements of Cash Flows. The non-cash operating lease expense was $63.4 million, $62.1 million, and $67.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively.