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Long-Term Debt (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
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3 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Mar. 31, 2013
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Mar. 31, 2012
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Dec. 31, 2012
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Mar. 31, 2013
QVC Bank Credit Facilities [Member]
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Mar. 31, 2013
3.25% Exchangeable Senior Debentures Due 2031 [Member]
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Mar. 18, 2013
QVC 4.375% Senior Secured Notes due 2023 [Member]
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Mar. 31, 2013
QVC Bank Credit Facilities [Member]
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Mar. 18, 2013
QVC 5.95% Senior Secured Notes due 2043 [Member]
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Apr. 09, 2013
0.75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2043 [Member]
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Mar. 31, 2013
Margin over base rate [Member]
QVC Bank Credit Facilities [Member]
Alternate Base Rate [Member]
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Mar. 31, 2013
Margin over LIBOR rate [Member]
QVC Bank Credit Facilities [Member]
LIBOR loan [Member]
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Mar. 31, 2013
Interactive Group [Member]
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Mar. 31, 2012
Interactive Group [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2012
Interactive Group [Member]
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Mar. 31, 2013
Interactive Group [Member]
Subsidiary Debt [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2012
Interactive Group [Member]
Subsidiary Debt [Member]
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Mar. 31, 2013
Interactive Group [Member]
QVC 5.95% Senior Secured Notes due 2043 [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2012
Interactive Group [Member]
QVC 5.95% Senior Secured Notes due 2043 [Member]
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Mar. 31, 2013
Interactive Group [Member]
QVC 7.375% Senior Secured Notes Due 2020 [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2012
Interactive Group [Member]
QVC 7.375% Senior Secured Notes Due 2020 [Member]
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Mar. 31, 2013
Interactive Group [Member]
5.7% Senior Notes Due 2013 [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2012
Interactive Group [Member]
5.7% Senior Notes Due 2013 [Member]
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Mar. 31, 2013
Interactive Group [Member]
QVC 7.5% Senior Secured Notes Due 2019 [Member]
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Mar. 04, 2013
Interactive Group [Member]
QVC 7.5% Senior Secured Notes Due 2019 [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2012
Interactive Group [Member]
QVC 7.5% Senior Secured Notes Due 2019 [Member]
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Mar. 31, 2013
Interactive Group [Member]
QVC 4.375% Senior Secured Notes due 2023 [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2012
Interactive Group [Member]
QVC 4.375% Senior Secured Notes due 2023 [Member]
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Mar. 31, 2013
Interactive Group [Member]
8.25% Senior Debentures Due 2030 [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2012
Interactive Group [Member]
8.25% Senior Debentures Due 2030 [Member]
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Mar. 31, 2013
Interactive Group [Member]
QVC Bank Credit Facilities [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2012
Interactive Group [Member]
QVC Bank Credit Facilities [Member]
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Mar. 31, 2013
Interactive Group [Member]
QVC 5.125% Senior Secured Notes 2022 [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2012
Interactive Group [Member]
QVC 5.125% Senior Secured Notes 2022 [Member]
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Mar. 31, 2013
Interactive Group [Member]
8.5% Senior Debentures Due 2029 [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2012
Interactive Group [Member]
8.5% Senior Debentures Due 2029 [Member]
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Apr. 01, 2013
Interactive Group [Member]
QVC 7.125% Senior Secured Notes Due 2017 [Member]
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Mar. 31, 2013
Interactive Group [Member]
QVC 7.125% Senior Secured Notes Due 2017 [Member]
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Mar. 15, 2013
Interactive Group [Member]
QVC 7.125% Senior Secured Notes Due 2017 [Member]
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Mar. 04, 2013
Interactive Group [Member]
QVC 7.125% Senior Secured Notes Due 2017 [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2012
Interactive Group [Member]
QVC 7.125% Senior Secured Notes Due 2017 [Member]
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Mar. 31, 2013
Ventures Group [Member]
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Mar. 31, 2012
Ventures Group [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2012
Ventures Group [Member]
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Mar. 31, 2013
Ventures Group [Member]
3.125% Exchangeable Senior Debentures Due 2023 [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2012
Ventures Group [Member]
3.125% Exchangeable Senior Debentures Due 2023 [Member]
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Mar. 31, 2013
Ventures Group [Member]
4% Exchangeable Senior Debentures Due 2029 [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2012
Ventures Group [Member]
4% Exchangeable Senior Debentures Due 2029 [Member]
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Mar. 31, 2013
Ventures Group [Member]
3.75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures Due 2030 [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2012
Ventures Group [Member]
3.75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures Due 2030 [Member]
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Mar. 31, 2013
Ventures Group [Member]
3.5% Exchangeable Senior Debentures Due 2031 [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2012
Ventures Group [Member]
3.5% Exchangeable Senior Debentures Due 2031 [Member]
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Mar. 31, 2013
Ventures Group [Member]
3.25% Exchangeable Senior Debentures Due 2031 [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2012
Ventures Group [Member]
3.25% Exchangeable Senior Debentures Due 2031 [Member]
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Mar. 31, 2013
Ventures Group [Member]
TripAdvisor Debt Facilities [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2012
Ventures Group [Member]
TripAdvisor Debt Facilities [Member]
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Mar. 31, 2013
Principal repayment per senior secured note [Member]
QVC 7.125% Senior Secured Notes Due 2017 [Member]
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Mar. 31, 2013
Principal repayment per senior secured note [Member]
QVC 7.5% Senior Secured Notes Due 2019 [Member]
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Apr. 09, 2013
Time Warner Inc [Member]
0.75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2043 [Member]
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Apr. 09, 2013
Time Warner Cable Inc [Member]
0.75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2043 [Member]
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Mar. 31, 2013
QVC [Member]
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| Debt, Current | $ 1,282,000,000 | $ 1,638,000,000 | $ 262,000,000 | $ 1,020,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities | 6,593,000,000 | 6,246,000,000 | 4,409,000,000 | 2,184,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt Instrument Principal amount tendered and retired | 1,000 | 1,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior Notes | 750,000,000 | 300,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Derivative, Notional Amount | 3,100,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Repayments of Long-term Debt | 1,703,000,000 | 274,000,000 | 414,000,000 | 1,251,000,000 | 272,000,000 | 452,000,000 | 2,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity | 2,000,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| standby letters of credit | 250,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Incremental borrowing capacity | 1,000,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Minimum | 0.25% | 1.25% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Maximum | 1.00% | 2.00% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity | 1,672,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt instrument, face amount called for tender | 250,000,000 | 500,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt Instrument, Repurchased Face Amount | 414,000,000 | 231,000,000 | 376,000,000 | 124,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Repayments of Debt | 1,039.40 | 1,120 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt Instrument, Face Amount | 7,502,000,000 | 4,686,000,000 | 131,000,000 | 300,000,000 | 500,000,000 | 241,000,000 | 769,000,000 | 750,000,000 | 504,000,000 | 328,000,000 | 500,000,000 | 287,000,000 | 376,000,000 | 2,816,000,000 | 1,128,000,000 | 469,000,000 | 460,000,000 | 368,000,000 | 0 | 391,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Long-term Debt | 7,875,000,000 | 7,884,000,000 | 4,671,000,000 | 4,542,000,000 | 131,000,000 | 125,000,000 | 300,000,000 | 0 | 500,000,000 | 500,000,000 | 240,000,000 | 240,000,000 | 760,000,000 | 988,000,000 | 750,000,000 | 0 | 501,000,000 | 501,000,000 | 328,000,000 | 903,000,000 | 500,000,000 | 500,000,000 | 285,000,000 | 285,000,000 | 376,000,000 | 500,000,000 | 3,204,000,000 | 3,342,000,000 | 1,854,000,000 | 1,639,000,000 | 335,000,000 | 311,000,000 | 307,000,000 | 297,000,000 | 317,000,000 | 292,000,000 | 0 | 391,000,000 | 391,000,000 | 412,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Exchangeable Senior Debentures | 850,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt instrument interest rate | 0.75% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt instrument, face amount per debenture | $ 1,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt Conversion, Converted Instrument, Shares Issued | 5.1635 | 6.3040 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||