Financial Information for Tracking Stock Groups - Statement of Cash Flow (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions |
3 Months Ended |
9 Months Ended |
Sep. 30, 2017 |
Sep. 30, 2016 |
Sep. 30, 2017 |
Sep. 30, 2016 |
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items] |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Net earnings (loss) |
$ 308
|
$ 478
|
$ 1,011
|
$ 944
|
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations |
Ìý
|
(27)
|
Ìý
|
(14)
|
Depreciation and amortization |
180
|
225
|
594
|
663
|
Stock-based compensation |
22
|
20
|
59
|
75
|
Cash payments for stock based compensation |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(92)
|
Share of losses (earnings) of affiliates, net |
86
|
22
|
122
|
21
|
Cash receipts from returns on equity investments |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
21
|
24
|
Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments, net |
(369)
|
(606)
|
(1,186)
|
(942)
|
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
356
|
422
|
Other noncash charges (credits), net |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
8
|
(46)
|
Current and other assets |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
161
|
349
|
Payables and other current liabilities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(67)
|
(384)
|
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
1,020
|
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
1,079
|
Ìý
|
Proceeds From Disposition Of Investments |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
350
|
Investments in and loans to cost and equity investees |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(140)
|
(67)
|
Capital expended for property and equipment |
(126)
|
Ìý
|
(126)
|
(177)
|
Purchases of short-term and other marketable securities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(264)
|
Sales of short term and other marketable securities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
1,174
|
Investments in equity investees measured at fair value |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(2,400)
|
Other investing activities, net |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(36)
|
(14)
|
Net cash used by investing activities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(1,398)
|
Net cash used by investing activities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(302)
|
Ìý
|
Borrowings of debt |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
1,689
|
2,688
|
Repayments of debt |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(1,917)
|
(3,629)
|
Repurchases of Liberty common stock |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(452)
|
(603)
|
Withholding taxes on net share settlements of stock-based compensation |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(14)
|
(16)
|
Other financing activities, net |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(26)
|
(28)
|
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(1,588)
|
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(720)
|
Ìý
|
Effect of foreign currency exchange rates on cash |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
13
|
7
|
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, discontinued operations |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
15
|
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities, discontinued operations |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
0
|
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities, discontinued operations |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
0
|
Change in available cash held by discontinued operations |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
0
|
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Discontinued Operations, Total |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
15
|
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
70
|
(1,944)
|
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
825
|
2,449
|
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period |
895
|
505
|
895
|
505
|
QVC Group Common Stock |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items] |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Net earnings (loss) |
131
|
70
|
354
|
313
|
Depreciation and amortization |
180
|
219
|
592
|
642
|
Stock-based compensation |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
48
|
57
|
Share of losses (earnings) of affiliates, net |
(11)
|
(8)
|
(31)
|
(38)
|
Cash receipts from returns on equity investments |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
21
|
21
|
Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments, net |
(1)
|
6
|
Ìý
|
2
|
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(115)
|
(167)
|
Intergroup tax allocation |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
167
|
301
|
Intergroup tax payments |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(231)
|
(224)
|
Other noncash charges (credits), net |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
7
|
31
|
Current and other assets |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
152
|
312
|
Payables and other current liabilities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(63)
|
(357)
|
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
893
|
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
901
|
Ìý
|
Capital expended for property and equipment |
(124)
|
Ìý
|
(124)
|
(158)
|
Sales of short term and other marketable securities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
12
|
Other investing activities, net |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(35)
|
(11)
|
Net cash used by investing activities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(157)
|
Net cash used by investing activities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(159)
|
Ìý
|
Borrowings of debt |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
1,689
|
1,143
|
Repayments of debt |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(1,906)
|
(1,340)
|
Repurchases of Liberty common stock |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(452)
|
(603)
|
Withholding taxes on net share settlements of stock-based compensation |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(13)
|
(15)
|
Other financing activities, net |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(28)
|
(6)
|
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(821)
|
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(710)
|
Ìý
|
Effect of foreign currency exchange rates on cash |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
13
|
7
|
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, discontinued operations |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
0
|
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities, discontinued operations |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
0
|
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities, discontinued operations |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
0
|
Change in available cash held by discontinued operations |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
0
|
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Discontinued Operations, Total |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
0
|
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
45
|
(78)
|
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
338
|
426
|
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period |
383
|
348
|
383
|
348
|
Liberty Ventures common stock |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items] |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Net earnings (loss) |
177
|
408
|
657
|
631
|
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations |
Ìý
|
(27)
|
Ìý
|
(14)
|
Depreciation and amortization |
Ìý
|
6
|
2
|
21
|
Stock-based compensation |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
11
|
18
|
Cash payments for stock based compensation |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(92)
|
Share of losses (earnings) of affiliates, net |
97
|
30
|
153
|
59
|
Cash receipts from returns on equity investments |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
3
|
Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments, net |
(368)
|
(612)
|
(1,186)
|
(944)
|
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
471
|
589
|
Intergroup tax allocation |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(167)
|
(301)
|
Intergroup tax payments |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
231
|
224
|
Other noncash charges (credits), net |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
1
|
(77)
|
Current and other assets |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
9
|
37
|
Payables and other current liabilities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(4)
|
(27)
|
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
127
|
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
178
|
Ìý
|
Proceeds From Disposition Of Investments |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
350
|
Investments in and loans to cost and equity investees |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(140)
|
(67)
|
Capital expended for property and equipment |
(2)
|
Ìý
|
(2)
|
(19)
|
Purchases of short-term and other marketable securities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(264)
|
Sales of short term and other marketable securities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
1,162
|
Investments in equity investees measured at fair value |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(2,400)
|
Other investing activities, net |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(1)
|
(3)
|
Net cash used by investing activities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(1,241)
|
Net cash used by investing activities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(143)
|
Ìý
|
Borrowings of debt |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
1,545
|
Repayments of debt |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(11)
|
(2,289)
|
Withholding taxes on net share settlements of stock-based compensation |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(1)
|
(1)
|
Other financing activities, net |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
2
|
(22)
|
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(767)
|
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
(10)
|
Ìý
|
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, discontinued operations |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
15
|
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities, discontinued operations |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
0
|
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities, discontinued operations |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
0
|
Change in available cash held by discontinued operations |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
0
|
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Discontinued Operations, Total |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
15
|
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
25
|
(1,866)
|
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period |
Ìý
|
Ìý
|
487
|
2,023
|
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period |
$ 512
|
$ 157
|
$ 512
|
$ 157
|