The Company calculates the impact of foreign currency fluctuations for businesses reporting in currencies other than the U.S. dollar by multiplying the results for each quarter in the current period by the difference between the average exchange rate for that quarter and the average exchange rate in effect during the corresponding quarter of the prior year and totaling the impact for all quarters in the current period.
Operating expenses— Operating expenses increased $345 million, or 30%, and $536 million, or 23%, for the three and six months ended December 31, 2018, respectively, as compared to the corresponding periods of fiscal 2018.
The increase in Operating expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2018 was mainly due to higher operating expenses at the Subscription Video Services segment of $336 million primarily resulting from the Transaction. The impact of foreign currency fluctuations of the U.S. dollar against local currencies resulted in an Operating expense decrease of $33 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018 as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2018.
The increase in Operating expenses for the six months ended December 31, 2018 was mainly due to higher operating expenses at the Subscription Video Services segment of $553 million primarily resulting from the Transaction. The increase was partially offset by lower operating expenses at the News and Information Services segment of $36 million for the six months ended December 31, 2018, primarily at News Corp Australia, due to the $25 million positive impact of foreign currency fluctuations, lower newsprint, production and distribution costs and cost savings initiatives. The impact of foreign currency fluctuations of the U.S. dollar against local currencies resulted in an Operating expense decrease of $50 million for the six months ended December 31, 2018 as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2018.
Selling, general and administrative—Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $60 million, or 8%, and $225 million, or 16%, for the three and six months ended December 31, 2018, respectively, as compared to the corresponding periods of fiscal 2018.
The increase in Selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2018 was primarily due to higher expenses of $55 million at the Subscription Video Services segment, primarily as a result of the Transaction. The impact of foreign currency fluctuations of the U.S. dollar against local currencies resulted in a Selling, general and administrative expense decrease of $21 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018 as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2018.
The increase in Selling, general and administrative expenses for the six months ended December 31, 2018 was primarily due to higher expenses of $172 million at the Subscription Video Services segment, primarily as a result of the Transaction, and the absence of the $46 million impact from the reversal of a portion of the previously accrued liability for the U.K. Newspaper Matters and the corresponding receivable from 21st Century Fox as the result of an agreement reached with the relevant tax authority with respect to certain employment taxes in the first quarter of fiscal 2018. The impact of foreign currency fluctuations of the U.S. dollar against local currencies resulted in a Selling, general and administrative expense decrease of $42 million for the six months ended December 31, 2018 as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2018.
Depreciation and amortization— Depreciation and amortization expense increased $63 million, or 63%, and $129 million, or 65%, for the three and six months ended December 31, 2018, respectively, as compared to the corresponding periods of fiscal 2018. The increase for the three and six months ended December 31, 2018 was primarily as a result of an additional $68 million and $136 million, respectively, of depreciation and amortization expense due to the Transaction.
Impairment and restructuring charges— During the three and six months ended December 31, 2018, the Company recorded restructuring charges of $19 million and $37 million, respectively. During the three and six months ended December 31, 2017, the Company recorded restructuring charges of $12 million and $27 million, respectively.
See Note 4—Impairment and Restructuring Charges in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements.
The Company continually evaluates whether current factors or indicators require the performance of an interim impairment assessment of goodwill, long-lived assets and investments. The valuation of goodwill and long-lived assets requires assumptions and estimates of many factors, including revenue and market growth, operating cash flows, market multiples and discount rates. In the quarter ended December 31, 2018, the Company revised its future outlook for a reporting unit within the Subscription Video Services segment primarily due to declines in Australian broadcast subscribers during the first half of fiscal 2019.
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