Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details)

v3.8.0.1
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2017
Sep. 30, 2017
Jun. 30, 2017
Mar. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Sep. 30, 2016
Jun. 30, 2016
Mar. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Stock-based compensation                   $ 123 $ 97 $ 127
Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Operating Activities                       33
Available-for-sale Securities, Noncurrent $ 2,363 $ 2,363       $ 1,922       2,363 1,922  
Available-for-sale securities 2,275 2,275       1,846       2,275 1,846  
Inventory Valuation Reserves 93 93       76       93 76  
Advertising Expense                   217 231 154
Sales Returns and Allowances, Goods                   1,861 1,865 2,037
Net earnings (loss) attributable to shareholders                   2,441 1,235 869
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current, Beginning Balance         $ 99       $ 87 99 87 92
Provision for Doubtful Accounts                   73 109 84
Premiums Receivable, Allowance for Doubtful Accounts, Write Offs Against Allowance                   (79) (96) (88)
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current, Ending Balance 92 92       99       92 99 87
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross 2,564 2,564       2,163       2,564 2,163  
Depreciation                   176 171 153
Reclassification adjustments 405                      
Allowance for sales returns, beginning balance                   98 106 109
Additions, charged to earnings                   1,027 1,051 1,213
Deductions                   (1,023) (1,060) (1,216)
Allowance for sales returns, ending balance                   102 98 $ 106
Land                        
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross 108 108       81       108 81  
Building and Building Improvements                        
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross 1,165 1,165       1,016       1,165 1,016  
Support Equipment                        
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross 1,240 1,240       1,034       1,240 1,034  
Projects in Progress                        
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross 51 51       32       51 32  
QVC Group Common Stock                        
Available-for-sale Securities, Noncurrent 3 3       4       $ 3 $ 4  
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount                   20,000,000 13,000,000 6,000,000
Basic EPS (WA shares outstanding)                   445,000,000 476,000,000 475,000,000
Potentially dilutive shares                   3,000,000 5,000,000 6,000,000
Diluted EPS (WA shares outstanding)                   448,000,000 481,000,000 481,000,000
Net earnings (loss) attributable to shareholders   887 $ 119 $ 111 91 188 $ 61 $ 130 94 $ 1,208 $ 473 $ 640
Liberty Ventures common stock                        
Available-for-sale Securities, Noncurrent 2,360 2,360       1,918       $ 2,360 $ 1,918  
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount                   0 0 0
Basic EPS (WA shares outstanding)                   86,000,000 134,000,000 142,000,000
Potentially dilutive shares                   1,000,000 1,000,000 1,000,000
Diluted EPS (WA shares outstanding)                   87,000,000 135,000,000 143,000,000
Net earnings (loss) attributable to shareholders   576 $ 177 $ 64 $ 416 131 $ 408 $ 249 $ (26) $ 1,233 $ 762 $ 229
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 $ 2,275 $ 2,275       $ 1,846       $ 2,275 1,846  
Other Expense [Member]                        
Provision for Doubtful Accounts                   (1) (1) (1)
Continuing Operations [Member] | QVC Group Common Stock                        
Net earnings (loss) attributable to shareholders                   1,208 473 640
Continuing Operations [Member] | Liberty Ventures common stock                        
Net earnings (loss) attributable to shareholders                   $ 1,233 742 (51)
Discontinued Operations [Member] | Liberty Ventures common stock                        
Net earnings (loss) attributable to shareholders                     $ 20 $ 280