Adelphia overstated its estimated 2001 cash flow (EBITDA) by tens of millions in a complex swap transaction on the purchase of digital set-top boxes from Motorola and Scientific Atlanta.

... In the set-top box transaction, Adelphia would pay $125 for a box that cost $100. That expenditure stayed on the company's balance sheet. But the sellers then agreed to pay Adelphia a $25 fee, which helped increase Adelphia's cash flow because it appeared as revenue without a corresponding cost against it.