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Discontinued Operations (Details) (USD $)
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3 Months Ended | 11 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | |||||||
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Dec. 31, 2011
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Nov. 19, 2009
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Dec. 31, 2011
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Dec. 31, 2010
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Dec. 31, 2009
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Sep. 23, 2011
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Dec. 31, 2008
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| Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage | Ìý | 57.00% | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | |||
| Due from Related Parties, Noncurrent | Ìý | $ 226,000,000 | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | |||
| Related Party Costs | 2,000,000 | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | 40,000,000 | Ìý | Ìý | |||
| Cash and cash equivalents | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | 1,826,000,000 | Ìý | 2,075,000,000 | Ìý | |||
| Revenue | Ìý | Ìý | 2,008,000,000 | 2,050,000,000 | 1,853,000,000 | Ìý | Ìý | |||
| Corporate cash of group | 847,000,000 | 120,000,000 | 847,000,000 | 1,353,000,000 | 1,955,000,000 | Ìý | 1,903,000,000 | |||
| Long-term Debt, Gross | 6,583,000,000 | 2,000,000,000 | 6,583,000,000 | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | |||
| Earnings (loss) before income taxes | Ìý | Ìý | 628,000,000 | 594,000,000 | 703,000,000 | Ìý | Ìý | |||
| Investments in available-for-sale securities and other cost investments including $1,115 and $1,219 million pledged as collateral for share borrowing arrangements | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | 3,441,000,000 | Ìý | 2,847,000,000 | Ìý | |||
| Financial instruments | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | 1,230,000,000 | Ìý | 1,125,000,000 | Ìý | |||
| Deferred income tax liabilities | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | 214,000,000 | Ìý | 428,000,000 | Ìý | |||
| Debt | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | 855,000,000 | Ìý | 791,000,000 | Ìý | |||
| Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal of Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax | Ìý | 5,900,000,000 | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | |||
| Investments in affiliates, accounted for using the equity method (note 7) | 1,135,000,000 | 13,475,000,000 | 1,135,000,000 | 949,000,000 | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | |||
| Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee, Cumulative Percentage Ownership after All Transactions | Ìý | 65.00% | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | |||
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Liberty Entertainment, Inc. [Member]
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Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | |||
| Revenues | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | 240,000,000 | Ìý | Ìý | |||
| Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | $ 5,770,000,000 | [1] | Ìý | Ìý | ||
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Segment, Liberty Interactive [Member]
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Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | |||
| Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Basic Share | Ìý | Ìý | $ 0.00 | $ 0.19 | $ (0.04) | Ìý | Ìý | |||
| Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Diluted Share | Ìý | Ìý | $ 0.00 | $ 0.18 | $ (0.04) | Ìý | Ìý | |||
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Segment, Liberty Starz [Member]
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Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | |||
| Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Basic Share | Ìý | Ìý | $ 3.47 | $ 4.12 | $ 13.13 | Ìý | Ìý | |||
| Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Diluted Share | Ìý | Ìý | $ 3.34 | $ 3.96 | $ 13.04 | Ìý | Ìý | |||
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Segment, Liberty Capital [Member]
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Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | |||
| Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Basic Share | Ìý | Ìý | $ 2.48 | $ 8.74 | $ 5.03 | Ìý | Ìý | |||
| Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Diluted Share | Ìý | Ìý | $ 2.42 | $ 8.46 | $ 4.98 | Ìý | Ìý | |||
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Common Class A [Member]
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Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | |||
| Conversion of Stock, Shares Issued | Ìý | 1.1113 | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | |||
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Common Class B [Member]
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Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | |||
| Conversion of Stock, Shares Issued | Ìý | 1.1113 | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | |||
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
Assets of Disposal Group, including discontinued operations, investments No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
Liabilities of Disposal Group, including Discontinued Operation, Financial Instruments No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
Liabilities of Disposal Group, including Discontinued Operations, Debt No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
Includes currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. It also includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits in that the Entity may deposit additional funds at any time and also effectively may withdraw funds at any time without prior notice or penalty. Cash equivalents, excluding items classified as marketable securities, include short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash, and so near their maturity that they present minimal risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Generally, only investments with original maturities of three months or less qualify under that definition. Original maturity means original maturity to the entity holding the investment. For example, both a three-month US Treasury bill and a three-year Treasury note purchased three months from maturity qualify as cash equivalents. However, a Treasury note purchased three years ago does not become a cash equivalent when its remaining maturity is three months. Compensating balance arrangements that do not legally restrict the withdrawal or usage of cash amounts may be reported as Cash and Cash Equivalents, while legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or company statements of intention with regard to particular deposits are not generally reported as cash and cash equivalents. Includes cash and cash equivalents associated with the entity's continuing operations. Excludes cash and cash equivalents associated with the disposal group (and discontinued operation). Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
The number of new shares issued in the conversion of stock in a noncash (or part noncash) transaction. Noncash is defined as transactions during a period that do not result in cash receipts or cash payments in the period. "Part noncash" refers to that portion of the transaction not resulting in cash receipts or cash payments in the period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
Including current and noncurrent portions, aggregate carrying amount of long-term borrowings as of the balance sheet date before deducting unamortized discount or premiums (if any). May include notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, which had initial maturities beyond one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
Gain (loss) after tax expense or benefit, not previously recognized and resulting from the sale of a business component, which is recognized at the date of sale. A gain (loss) reflects the amount by which the consideration received exceeds (is exceeded by) the net carrying amount (reflecting previous provisions for loss on disposal, if any) of the disposal group. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
Pretax income (loss) from operations of a business component (exclusive of any gain (loss) on disposal, or provision therefore) during the reporting period, until its disposal. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
For the disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), cash includes currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Cash equivalents, excluding items classified as marketable securities, include short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash, and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Generally, only investments with original maturities of three months or less qualify under that definition. Original maturity means original maturity to the entity holding the investment. For example, both a three-month US Treasury bill and a three-year Treasury note purchased three months from maturity qualify as cash equivalents. However, a Treasury note purchased three years ago does not become a cash equivalent when its remaining maturity is three months. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
For a disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), represents deferred tax liabilities, which result from applying the applicable tax rate to net taxable temporary differences pertaining to each jurisdiction to which the entity is obligated to pay income tax. A taxable temporary difference is a difference between the tax basis and the carrying amount of a asset or liability in the financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
Amount of sales or other form of revenues attributable to the disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), during the reporting period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
Aggregate amount of receivables to be collected from related parties where one party can exercise control or significant influence over another party; including affiliates, owners or officers and their immediate families, pension trusts, and so forth, at the financial statement date. which are usually due after one year (or one business cycle). Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
This item represents the carrying amount on the entity's balance sheet of its investment in common stock of an equity method investee. This is not an indicator of the fair value of the investment, rather it is the initial cost adjusted for the entity's share of earnings and losses of the investee, adjusted for any distributions (dividends) and other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses recognized. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
This element represents the income or loss from continuing operations attributable to the economic entity which may also be defined as revenue less expenses from ongoing operations, after income or loss from equity method investments, but before income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
The amount of net income (loss) derived from discontinued operations during the period, net of related tax effect, per each share of common stock or unit outstanding during the reporting period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
The amount of net income or loss derived from discontinued operations during the period available to each share of common stock or common unit outstanding during the reporting period and to each share or unit that would have been outstanding assuming the issuance of common shares or units for all dilutive potential common shares or units outstanding during the reporting period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
Direct costs arising from transactions with related parties who are not affiliates or joint Ventures. These costs are categorized as cost of goods sold. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
Aggregate revenue recognized during the period (derived from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an entity's earning process). For financial services companies, also includes investment and interest income, and sales and trading gains. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
Percentage of subsidiary's or equity method investee's stock owned by parent immediately after all stock transactions. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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