(6) Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill and Indefinite Lived Assets

Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill are as follows:

    

 

GCI Holdings

Total

 

 

amounts in millions

Balance at December 31, 2022

$

755

755

Balance at December 31, 2023

755

755

Balance at December 31, 2024

$

755

755

As presented in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, cable certificates are the majority of the other significant indefinite lived intangible assets.

Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization, net

    

December 31, 2024

    

December 31, 2023

Gross

Net

Gross

Net

carrying

Accumulated

carrying

carrying

Accumulated

carrying

    

amount

    

amortization

    

amount

    

amount

    

amortization

    

amount

amounts in millions

Customer relationships

$

515

(173)

342

515

(132)

383

Other amortizable intangible assets

 

165

(96)

69

 

156

(78)

78

Total

$

680

(269)

411

671

(210)

461

Intangible assets are being amortized generally on an accelerated basis as reflected in amortization expense and in the future amortization table below.

Amortization expense for intangible assets with finite useful lives was $60 million, $64 million and $67 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Amortization expense for amortizable intangible assets for each of the five succeeding fiscal years is estimated to be (amounts in millions):

    

  

2025

$

56

2026

$

53

2027

$

50

2028

$

49

2029

$

42

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2024Feb 27, 2025Showing above
2023Feb 16, 2024
2022Feb 17, 2023
2021Feb 25, 2022
2020Feb 26, 2021
2016Feb 17, 2017
2015Feb 12, 2016

About Goodwill & Intangibles Disclosures

Goodwill and intangible asset disclosures reveal the premium paid in acquisitions and how management assesses whether that premium retains its value. Since goodwill is no longer amortized under US GAAP, the annual impairment test is the only mechanism that adjusts carrying values downward — making the assumptions behind that test critically important for investors.

Key signals: a history of goodwill impairments suggests management consistently overpays for acquisitions. Watch the gap between reporting unit fair value and carrying amount — when fair value exceeds carrying amount by less than 10-20%, a small decline in business performance could trigger a write-down. For finite-lived intangibles, examine useful life assumptions across customer relationships, technology, and trade names; aggressive estimates inflate near-term earnings. Compare total intangibles-to-total-assets ratios against peers to assess acquisition dependency. Rising goodwill as a percentage of equity can signal balance sheet fragility.