NEXSTAR MEDIA GROUP, INC. Leases Disclosure
Note 9: Leases
The Company as a Lessee
The Company has operating leases for office spaces, tower facilities, antenna sites, studios and other real estate properties and equipment. The operating leases have remaining lease terms of up to 89 years, some of which may include options to extend the leases from one year to 99 years. Lease contracts that the Company has executed but which have not yet commenced as of December 31, 2025 were not material.
Supplemental balance sheet information related to operating leases as of December 31 was as follows ($ in millions):
|
|
Balance Sheet Classification |
|
2025 |
|
|
2024 |
|
||
Operating leases |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
Other noncurrent assets, net |
|
$ |
265 |
|
|
$ |
276 |
|
|
|
Operating lease liabilities |
|
$ |
41 |
|
|
$ |
37 |
|
|
|
Other noncurrent liabilities |
|
$ |
242 |
|
|
$ |
253 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term of Operating leases |
|
7.9 years |
|
|
8 years |
|
||||
Weighted Average Discount Rate of Operating leases |
|
|
4.7 |
% |
|
|
4.9 |
% |
||
Operating lease expenses for the year ended December 31, 2025 were $60 million, of which $27 million and $33 million were included in Direct operating and Selling, general and administrative expenses, respectively, excluding depreciation and amortization, in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Operating lease expenses for the year ended December 31, 2024 were $66 million, of which $29 million and $37 million were included in Direct operating and Selling, general and administrative expenses, respectively, excluding depreciation and amortization, in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Operating lease expenses for the year ended December 31, 2023 were $65 million, of which $28 million and $37 million were included in Direct operating and Selling, general and administrative expenses, respectively, excluding depreciation and amortization, in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Cash paid for operating leases included in the operating cash flows was $58 million, $63 million and $64 million for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable leases as of December 31, 2025 were as follows (in millions):
|
|
Operating Leases |
|
|
2026 |
|
$ |
53 |
|
2027 |
|
|
48 |
|
2028 |
|
|
45 |
|
2029 |
|
|
41 |
|
2030 |
|
|
38 |
|
Thereafter |
|
|
120 |
|
Total future minimum lease payments |
|
|
345 |
|
Less: imputed interest |
|
|
(62 |
) |
Total |
|
$ |
283 |
|
Historical Timeline
| Fiscal Year | Filed | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Feb 27, 2026 | Showing above |
| 2024 | Feb 27, 2025 | |
| 2023 | Feb 28, 2024 | |
| 2022 | Feb 28, 2023 | |
| 2021 | Feb 28, 2022 | |
| 2020 | Mar 1, 2021 | |
| 2019 | Mar 2, 2020 | |
About Leases Disclosures
Lease disclosures under ASC 842 provide a comprehensive view of a company's leased asset portfolio, including the split between operating and finance leases, discount rates used to present-value future payments, and the maturity schedule of lease obligations. This section reveals a significant source of off-balance-sheet commitments that were largely hidden before the current standard.
Key signals: the weighted-average discount rate affects the size of recorded lease liabilities — a higher rate reduces the reported obligation, so compare the chosen rate against the company's incremental borrowing rate. The operating versus finance lease mix affects both EBITDA and operating income presentation. Watch the maturity table for concentration risk: large payment cliffs in specific years may create cash flow pressure. Variable lease payments excluded from the liability measurement represent real obligations that do not appear on the balance sheet. Compare total lease costs against prior-year operating lease expense to assess the true economic burden.