Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details)

v3.6.0.2
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details)
shares in Millions, $ in Millions
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
Oct. 13, 2014
Aug. 09, 2012
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2016
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2016
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2016
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2015
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2015
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2015
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2015
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
shares
Dec. 31, 2015
USD ($)
shares
Dec. 31, 2014
USD ($)
shares
Stock-based compensation allocated to selling, general, and administrative                       $ 97 $ 127 $ 108
Available-for-sale Securities, Noncurrent $ 1,922     $ 1,922       $ 1,353       1,922 1,353  
Available-for-sale securities 1,846     1,846       1,294       1,846 1,294  
Inventory Valuation Reserves 76     76       87       76 87  
Advertising Expense                       231 154 271
Sales Returns and Allowances, Goods                       1,865 2,037 2,123
Net earnings (loss) attributable to shareholders                       1,235 869 537
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current, Beginning Balance             $ 87       $ 92 87 92 86
Provision for Doubtful Accounts                       109 84 95
Premiums Receivable, Allowance for Doubtful Accounts, Write Offs Against Allowance                       96 88 87
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current, Ending Balance 99     99       87       99 87 92
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross 2,163     2,163       2,124       2,163 2,124  
Depreciation                       171 153 158
Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Operating Activities                         33 21
Reclassification adjustments 341                          
Allowance for sales returns, beginning balance                       106 109 106
Additions, charged to earnings                       1,051 1,213 1,253
Deductions                       (1,060) (1,216) (1,250)
Allowance for sales returns, ending balance                       98 106 $ 109
Land                            
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross 81     81       85       81 85  
Building and Building Improvements                            
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross 1,016     1,016       995       1,016 995  
Support Equipment                            
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross 1,034     1,034       973       1,034 973  
Projects in Progress                            
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross 32     32       71       32 71  
QVC Group Common Stock                            
Available-for-sale Securities, Noncurrent 4     4       4       $ 4 $ 4  
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount | shares                       3 6 1
Basic EPS (WA shares outstanding) | shares                       476 475 484
Potentially dilutive shares | shares                       5 6 8
Diluted EPS (WA shares outstanding) | shares                       481 481 492
Net earnings (loss) attributable to shareholders       188 $ 61 $ 130 94 223 $ 154 $ 112 151 $ 473 $ 640 $ 520
Liberty Ventures common stock                            
Stock split, conversion ratio     0.05                      
Available-for-sale Securities, Noncurrent 1,918     1,918       1,349       $ 1,918 $ 1,349  
Basic EPS (WA shares outstanding) | shares                       134 142 87
Potentially dilutive shares | shares                       1 1 1
Diluted EPS (WA shares outstanding) | shares                       135 143 88
Net earnings (loss) attributable to shareholders       131 $ 408 $ 249 $ (26) 71 $ 36 $ 130 $ (8) $ 762 $ 229 $ 17
Minimum | Building and Building Improvements                            
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life                       8 years    
Minimum | Support Equipment                            
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life                       2 years    
Maximum | Building and Building Improvements                            
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life                       20 years    
Maximum | Support Equipment                            
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life                       15 years    
Fair Value Option Securities - AFS                            
Available-for-sale Securities, Noncurrent 1,846     1,846       $ 1,294       $ 1,846 1,294  
Interest Rate Swap [Member] | QVC Group Common Stock                            
Derivative, Notional Amount $ 125     $ 125               125    
Other Expense [Member]                            
Provision for Doubtful Accounts                       (1) (1) (2)
Continuing Operations [Member] | QVC Group Common Stock                            
Net earnings (loss) attributable to shareholders                       473 640 535
Continuing Operations [Member] | Liberty Ventures common stock                            
Net earnings (loss) attributable to shareholders                       742 (51) (37)
Discontinued Operations [Member] | QVC Group Common Stock                            
Net earnings (loss) attributable to shareholders                           (15)
Discontinued Operations [Member] | Liberty Ventures common stock                            
Net earnings (loss) attributable to shareholders                       $ 20 $ 280 $ 54
Liberty Ventures common stock | Reattribution Transaction | QVC Group Common Stock                            
Ratio applied to the reattribution   0.14217                        
Liberty Ventures common stock | Reattribution Transaction | Liberty Ventures common stock                            
Ratio applied to the reattribution   0.14217