Financial Information for Tracking Stock Groups - Statement of Cash Flow (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions |
3 Months Ended |
9 Months Ended |
Sep. 30, 2015 |
Sep. 30, 2014 |
Sep. 30, 2015 |
Sep. 30, 2014 |
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items] |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Net earnings (loss) |
$ 198
|
$ 139
|
$ 608
|
$ 355
|
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations |
Ìý
|
(10)
|
Ìý
|
(48)
|
Depreciation and amortization |
150
|
166
|
479
|
493
|
Stock-based compensation |
37
|
20
|
81
|
71
|
Cash payments for stock based compensation |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(11)
|
(15)
|
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(22)
|
(11)
|
Share of losses (earnings) of affiliates, net |
(31)
|
(36)
|
(121)
|
(38)
|
Cash receipts from returns on equity investments |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
42
|
31
|
Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments, net |
(70)
|
(18)
|
(98)
|
48
|
(Gains) losses on transactions, net |
1
|
Ìý
|
(110)
|
Ìý
|
(Gains) Losses on extinguishment of debt |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
21
|
48
|
Impairment of intangible assets |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
7
|
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
2
|
(67)
|
Other noncash charges (credits), net |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(6)
|
3
|
Current and other assets |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(35)
|
165
|
Payables and other current liabilities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(49)
|
66
|
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
781
|
1,108
|
Proceeds from Sale of Other Assets, Investing Activities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
271
|
40
|
Investments in and loans to cost and equity investees |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(126)
|
(51)
|
Capital expended for property and equipment |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(164)
|
(142)
|
Cash receipts from returns of equity investments |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
250
|
Ìý
|
Cash (paid) for acquisitions, net of cash acquired |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(20)
|
Ìý
|
Purchases of short-term and other marketable securities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(1,194)
|
(423)
|
Sales of short term and other marketable securities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
1,180
|
358
|
Other investing activities, net |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(48)
|
(12)
|
Net cash used by investing activities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
149
|
(230)
|
Borrowings of debt |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
1,956
|
3,233
|
Repayments of debt |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(2,100)
|
(2,920)
|
Repurchases of Liberty common stock |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(531)
|
(736)
|
Taxes paid in lieu of shares issued for stock-based compensation |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(17)
|
(16)
|
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
22
|
11
|
Other financing activities, net |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(16)
|
(49)
|
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(686)
|
(477)
|
Effect of foreign currency exchange rates on cash |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(4)
|
(31)
|
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, discontinued operations |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
273
|
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities, discontinued operations |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(194)
|
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities, discontinued operations |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
371
|
Change in available cash held by discontinued operations |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(116)
|
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Discontinued Operations, Total |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
334
|
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
240
|
704
|
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
2,306
|
902
|
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period |
2,546
|
1,606
|
2,546
|
1,606
|
QVC Group Common Stock |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items] |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Net earnings (loss) |
162
|
91
|
442
|
325
|
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations |
Ìý
|
4
|
Ìý
|
15
|
Depreciation and amortization |
141
|
166
|
442
|
493
|
Stock-based compensation |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
40
|
66
|
Cash payments for stock based compensation |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(13)
|
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(17)
|
(10)
|
Share of losses (earnings) of affiliates, net |
(13)
|
(13)
|
(46)
|
(41)
|
Cash receipts from returns on equity investments |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
21
|
13
|
Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments, net |
(30)
|
(2)
|
(28)
|
(9)
|
(Gains) Losses on extinguishment of debt |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
21
|
48
|
Impairment of intangible assets |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
7
|
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(103)
|
(146)
|
Intergroup tax allocation |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
90
|
158
|
Intergroup tax payments |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(51)
|
(330)
|
Other noncash charges (credits), net |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(5)
|
2
|
Current and other assets |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(39)
|
166
|
Payables and other current liabilities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
2
|
71
|
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
769
|
815
|
Investments in and loans to cost and equity investees |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(4)
|
(3)
|
Capital expended for property and equipment |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(132)
|
(142)
|
Cash receipts from returns of equity investments |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
200
|
Ìý
|
Purchases of short-term and other marketable securities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(154)
|
(59)
|
Sales of short term and other marketable securities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
160
|
43
|
Other investing activities, net |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(48)
|
(28)
|
Net cash used by investing activities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
22
|
(189)
|
Borrowings of debt |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
1,470
|
3,233
|
Repayments of debt |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(1,638)
|
(2,910)
|
Reattribution Of Subsidiary |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
25
|
Repurchases of Liberty common stock |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(531)
|
(736)
|
Taxes paid in lieu of shares issued for stock-based compensation |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(17)
|
(16)
|
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
17
|
10
|
Other financing activities, net |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
2
|
(49)
|
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(697)
|
(443)
|
Effect of foreign currency exchange rates on cash |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(4)
|
(31)
|
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, discontinued operations |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(20)
|
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities, discontinued operations |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
3
|
Change in available cash held by discontinued operations |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
3
|
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Discontinued Operations, Total |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(14)
|
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
90
|
138
|
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
422
|
595
|
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period |
512
|
733
|
512
|
733
|
Liberty Ventures common stock |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items] |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Net earnings (loss) |
36
|
48
|
166
|
30
|
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations |
Ìý
|
(14)
|
Ìý
|
(63)
|
Depreciation and amortization |
9
|
Ìý
|
37
|
Ìý
|
Stock-based compensation |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
41
|
5
|
Cash payments for stock based compensation |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(11)
|
(2)
|
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(5)
|
(1)
|
Share of losses (earnings) of affiliates, net |
(18)
|
(23)
|
(75)
|
3
|
Cash receipts from returns on equity investments |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
21
|
18
|
Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments, net |
(40)
|
(16)
|
(70)
|
57
|
(Gains) losses on transactions, net |
1
|
Ìý
|
(110)
|
Ìý
|
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
105
|
79
|
Intergroup tax allocation |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(90)
|
(158)
|
Intergroup tax payments |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
51
|
330
|
Other noncash charges (credits), net |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(1)
|
1
|
Current and other assets |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
4
|
(1)
|
Payables and other current liabilities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(51)
|
(5)
|
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
12
|
293
|
Proceeds from Sale of Other Assets, Investing Activities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
271
|
40
|
Investments in and loans to cost and equity investees |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(122)
|
(48)
|
Capital expended for property and equipment |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(32)
|
Ìý
|
Cash receipts from returns of equity investments |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
50
|
Ìý
|
Cash (paid) for acquisitions, net of cash acquired |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(20)
|
Ìý
|
Purchases of short-term and other marketable securities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(1,040)
|
(364)
|
Sales of short term and other marketable securities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
1,020
|
315
|
Other investing activities, net |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
16
|
Net cash used by investing activities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
127
|
(41)
|
Borrowings of debt |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
486
|
Ìý
|
Repayments of debt |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(462)
|
(10)
|
Reattribution Of Subsidiary |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(25)
|
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
5
|
1
|
Other financing activities, net |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(18)
|
Ìý
|
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
11
|
(34)
|
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, discontinued operations |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
293
|
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities, discontinued operations |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(194)
|
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities, discontinued operations |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
368
|
Change in available cash held by discontinued operations |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(119)
|
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Discontinued Operations, Total |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
348
|
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
150
|
566
|
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
1,884
|
307
|
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period |
$ 2,034
|
$ 873
|
$ 2,034
|
$ 873
|