Long-Term Debt (Narrative) (Details)

v3.8.0.1

Long-Term Debt (Narrative) (Details)								1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 01, 2018 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2018 $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 29, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 23, 2016 USD ($)	Apr. 15, 2015 USD ($)	Jan. 27, 2015 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2016 USD ($) $ / shares	May 31, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Apr. 24, 2017 USD ($)	Apr. 04, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 09, 2015 USD ($)	Aug. 21, 2014 USD ($)	Mar. 18, 2014 USD ($)	May 22, 2012 $ / shares
Loss on extinguishment of debt												$ (6,000,000)	$ (21,000,000)
Debt Instrument Carrying Amount			$ 8,681,000,000								$ 8,681,000,000
Debt, Current			996,000,000								996,000,000	876,000,000
Senior Debentures
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount			$ 4,000,000								$ 4,000,000	5,000,000
Motorola Mobility [Member]
Business Acquisition, Share Price | $ / shares																			$ 40
8.5% Senior Debentures Due 2029
Interest rate (as a percent)			8.50%								8.50%
8.25% Senior Debentures Due 2030
Interest rate (as a percent)			8.25%								8.25%
Exchangeable Senior Debentures
Debt, Current			$ 978,000,000								$ 978,000,000
QVC 3.125% Senior Secured Notes Due 2019 [Member]
Interest rate (as a percent)			3.125%								3.125%
4% Exchangeable Senior Debentures Due 2029
Debt Instrument, Face Amount			$ 1,000								$ 1,000
Interest rate (as a percent)			4.00%								4.00%
4% Exchangeable Senior Debentures Due 2029 | Sprint [Member]
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Ratio											3.2265
4% Exchangeable Senior Debentures Due 2029 | Century Link, Inc. [Member]
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Ratio											0.7860
3.75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures Due 2030
Debt Instrument, Face Amount			$ 1,000								$ 1,000
Interest rate (as a percent)			3.75%								3.75%
3.75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures Due 2030 | Sprint [Member]
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Ratio											2.3578
3.75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures Due 2030 | Century Link, Inc. [Member]
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Ratio											0.5746
3.5% Exchangeable Senior Debentures Due 2031
Debt Instrument, Face Amount			$ 1,000								$ 1,000
Repayments of Debt										$ 111,000,000
Interest rate (as a percent)			3.50%								3.50%
3.5% Exchangeable Senior Debentures Due 2031 | Motorola Solutions [Member]
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Ratio											5.2598
Stock split, conversion ratio											7
3.5% Exchangeable Senior Debentures Due 2031 | Motorola Mobility [Member]
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Ratio											4.6024
Stock split, conversion ratio											8
0.75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2043
Debt Instrument, Face Amount			$ 1,000								$ 1,000
Debt exchanged												523,000,000
Extraordinary Distribution to Bondholder	$ 11.9399								$ 325,000,000
Interest rate (as a percent)			0.75%								0.75%
Proceeds from (Repayments of) Long-term Debt and Capital Securities												1,181,000,000
0.75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2043 | Time Warner Cable Inc
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Ratio											3.1648
0.75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2043 | Time Warner Inc
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Ratio											5.1635
0.75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2043 | Time Inc
Cash consideration per share due to acquisition | $ / shares		$ 18.50
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Ratio											0.6454
1.75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2046
Debt Instrument, Face Amount								$ 1,000,000
Interest rate (as a percent)			1.75%								1.75%
Debt Instrument Carrying Amount			$ 750,000,000					$ 750,000,000			$ 750,000,000
1.75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2046 | Charter
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Ratio								2.9317
Exchange Price of Shares Attributable to Debentures | $ / shares								$ 341.10
principal repayment per debenture [Member] | 3.5% Exchangeable Senior Debentures Due 2031
Repayments of Debt										$ 184.096
Adjusted face amount per debenture [Member] | 3.5% Exchangeable Senior Debentures Due 2031
Debt instrument, face amount per debenture			$ 547								$ 547
HSNi | HSNi interest rate swap
Derivative, Notional Amount														$ 250,000,000
Derivative, Fixed Interest Rate														1.05%
Debt Instrument Interest Rate Including Derivative Fixed Rate			2.3525%
HSNi | HSNi Bank Credit Facility
Maximum Borrowing Capacity							$ 1,750,000,000
Debt Instrument, Term							5 years
Percentage secured by US subsidiaries							100.00%
Percentage secured by foreign subsidiaries							65.00%
Line of Credit Facility, Current Borrowing Capacity							$ 750,000,000
Secured Debt							1,250,000,000
HSNi | HSNi Bank Credit Facility | Senior secured note [Member]
Secured Debt							$ 500,000,000
HSNi | Amendment No. 1 HSNi Bank Credit Facility
Maximum Borrowing Capacity				$ 1,000,000,000
Debt Instrument, Description of Variable Rate Basis				LIBOR
QVC | Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Derivative, Notional Amount												125,000,000
QVC | QVC 3.125% Senior Secured Notes Due 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount																		$ 400,000,000
Interest rate (as a percent)			3.125%								3.125%
Debt issuance price as percent of par																		99.828%
QVC | QVC 5.125% Senior Secured Notes Due 2022 [Member]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount			$ 500,000,000								$ 500,000,000
Interest rate (as a percent)			5.125%								5.125%
QVC | QVC 4.375% Senior Secured Notes due 2023
Debt Instrument, Face Amount			$ 750,000,000								$ 750,000,000
Interest rate (as a percent)			4.375%								4.375%
QVC | QVC 4.85% Senior Secured Notes Due 2024 [Member]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount																		$ 600,000,000
Interest rate (as a percent)			4.85%								4.85%
Debt issuance price as percent of par																		99.927%
QVC | QVC 4.45% Senior Secured Notes Due 2025 [Member]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount																	$ 600,000,000
Interest rate (as a percent)			4.45%								4.45%
Debt issuance price as percent of par																	99.86%
QVC | QVC 5.45% Senior Secured Notes Due 2034 [Member]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount																	$ 400,000,000
Interest rate (as a percent)			5.45%								5.45%
Debt issuance price as percent of par																	99.784%
QVC | QVC 5.95% Senior Secured Notes due 2043
Debt Instrument, Face Amount			$ 300,000,000								$ 300,000,000
Interest rate (as a percent)			5.95%								5.95%
QVC | QVC 7.375% Senior Secured Notes Due 2020
Debt Instrument, Face Amount			$ 500,000,000								$ 500,000,000
Interest rate (as a percent)			7.375%								7.375%
QVC | QVC 7.375% Senior Secured Notes Due 2020 | Senior secured note [Member]
Debt Instrument, Repurchase Amount						$ 1,036.88
Debt Instrument, Face Amount						1,000
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount						$ 500,000,000
QVC | Amendment No. 2 QVC Bank Credit Facility
Maximum Borrowing Capacity																$ 2,250,000,000
QVC | Amendment No. 3 QVC Bank Credit Facility
Maximum Borrowing Capacity					$ 2,650,000,000
Remaining borrowing capacity			$ 877,000,000								$ 877,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate During Period			3.00%
QVC | Standby Letters of Credit
Maximum Borrowing Capacity					300,000,000											250,000,000
Remaining borrowing capacity			$ 10,000,000								10,000,000
QVC | Uncommitted Incremental Revolving Loan Commitments or Incremental Term Loans
Maximum Borrowing Capacity					1,500,000,000											$ 1,500,000,000
QVC | Portion of Credit Facility Available Only to QVC
Maximum Borrowing Capacity					2,250,000,000
QVC | Portion of Credit Facility Available to QVC and zulily
Maximum Borrowing Capacity					400,000,000
QVC | Portion of Credit Facility that matures on March 9, 2020 [Member]
Maximum Borrowing Capacity					$ 140,000,000
LIBOR | QVC | Amendment No. 3 QVC Bank Credit Facility
Debt Instrument, Description of Variable Rate Basis					LIBOR
ABR | QVC | Amendment No. 3 QVC Bank Credit Facility
Debt Instrument, Description of Variable Rate Basis					ABR
Minimum | HSNi | Amendment No. 1 HSNi Bank Credit Facility
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate				1.25%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage				0.25%
Line of Credit Facility, Commitment Fee Percentage				0.20%
Minimum | QVC | Amendment No. 3 QVC Bank Credit Facility
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate					0.25%
Maximum | HSNi | Amendment No. 1 HSNi Bank Credit Facility
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate				1.75%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage				0.75%
Line of Credit Facility, Commitment Fee Percentage				0.30%
Maximum | QVC | Amendment No. 3 QVC Bank Credit Facility
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate					1.75%
Maximum | QVC | Portion of Credit Facility Available to QVC and zulily
Maximum Borrowing Capacity					$ 50,000,000
QVC Group Common Stock
Loss on extinguishment of debt												1,000,000	$ (21,000,000)
Debt Instrument Carrying Amount			6,734,000,000								6,734,000,000
Debt, Current			$ 17,000,000								$ 17,000,000	14,000,000
QVC Group Common Stock | 8.5% Senior Debentures Due 2029
Interest rate (as a percent)			8.50%								8.50%
Debt Instrument Carrying Amount			$ 287,000,000								$ 287,000,000
QVC Group Common Stock | 8.25% Senior Debentures Due 2030
Interest rate (as a percent)			8.25%								8.25%
Debt Instrument Carrying Amount			$ 504,000,000								$ 504,000,000
QVC Group Common Stock | QVC 3.125% Senior Secured Notes Due 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument Carrying Amount			$ 400,000,000								$ 400,000,000
QVC Group Common Stock | QVC 5.125% Senior Secured Notes Due 2022 [Member]
Interest rate (as a percent)			5.125%								5.125%
Debt Instrument Carrying Amount			$ 500,000,000								$ 500,000,000
QVC Group Common Stock | QVC 4.375% Senior Secured Notes due 2023
Interest rate (as a percent)			4.375%								4.375%
Debt Instrument Carrying Amount			$ 750,000,000								$ 750,000,000
QVC Group Common Stock | QVC 4.85% Senior Secured Notes Due 2024 [Member]
Interest rate (as a percent)			4.85%								4.85%
Debt Instrument Carrying Amount			$ 600,000,000								$ 600,000,000
QVC Group Common Stock | QVC 4.45% Senior Secured Notes Due 2025 [Member]
Interest rate (as a percent)			4.45%								4.45%
Debt Instrument Carrying Amount			$ 600,000,000								$ 600,000,000
QVC Group Common Stock | QVC 5.45% Senior Secured Notes Due 2034 [Member]
Interest rate (as a percent)			5.45%								5.45%
Debt Instrument Carrying Amount			$ 400,000,000								$ 400,000,000
QVC Group Common Stock | QVC 5.95% Senior Secured Notes due 2043
Interest rate (as a percent)			5.95%								5.95%
Debt Instrument Carrying Amount			$ 300,000,000								$ 300,000,000
QVC Group Common Stock | Amendment No. 2 QVC Bank Credit Facility
Debt Instrument Carrying Amount			1,763,000,000								1,763,000,000
QVC Group Common Stock | HSNi Bank Credit Facility
Debt Instrument Carrying Amount			$ 460,000,000								$ 460,000,000
QVC Group Common Stock | Amendment No. 1 HSNi Bank Credit Facility
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage			3.07%								3.07%
Remaining borrowing capacity			$ 533,000,000								$ 533,000,000
Debt Instrument Carrying Amount			460,000,000								460,000,000
Leverage ratio				3.50
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount			7,000,000								7,000,000
Liberty Ventures common stock
Loss on extinguishment of debt												(7,000,000)
Debt Instrument Carrying Amount			1,947,000,000								1,947,000,000
Debt, Current			$ 979,000,000								$ 979,000,000	$ 862,000,000
Liberty Ventures common stock | 4% Exchangeable Senior Debentures Due 2029
Interest rate (as a percent)			4.00%								4.00%
Debt Instrument Carrying Amount			$ 434,000,000								$ 434,000,000
Liberty Ventures common stock | 3.75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures Due 2030
Interest rate (as a percent)			3.75%								3.75%
Debt Instrument Carrying Amount			$ 435,000,000								$ 435,000,000
Liberty Ventures common stock | 3.5% Exchangeable Senior Debentures Due 2031
Interest rate (as a percent)			3.50%								3.50%
Debt Instrument Carrying Amount			$ 328,000,000								$ 328,000,000
Liberty Ventures common stock | 0.75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2043
Interest rate (as a percent)			0.75%								0.75%
Liberty Ventures common stock | 1.75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2046
Interest rate (as a percent)			1.75%								1.75%
Liberty Ventures common stock | Ventures Margin Loan
Maximum Borrowing Capacity															$ 1,000,000,000