Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Investments In Affiliates Accounted For Using The Equity Method (Schedule Of Equity Ownership And Carrying Amount) (Details)

v2.4.0.8
Investments In Affiliates Accounted For Using The Equity Method (Schedule Of Equity Ownership And Carrying Amount) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Sep. 30, 2012
Sep. 30, 2013
Sep. 30, 2012
Dec. 31, 2012
Investments in affiliates, accounted for using the equity method $ 1,225   $ 1,225   $ 851
Gains (losses) on dispositions, net 0 0 (2) 288  
Interactive Group [Member]
          
Investments in affiliates, accounted for using the equity method 335   335   304
Gains (losses) on dispositions, net     (1) 0  
Interactive Group [Member] | HSN, Inc. [Member]
          
Percentage ownership 38.00%   38.00%    
Investments in affiliates, accounted for using the equity method 283   283   242
Equity Method Investment, Quoted Market Value 1,073   1,073    
Interactive Group [Member] | Equity method investment, other [Member]
          
Investments in affiliates, accounted for using the equity method 52   52   62
Ventures Group [Member]
          
Investments in affiliates, accounted for using the equity method 890   890   547
Gains (losses) on dispositions, net     (1) 288  
Ventures Group [Member] | Expedia [Member]
          
Percentage ownership 17.00%   17.00%    
Investments in affiliates, accounted for using the equity method 465 [1]   465 [1]   431 [1]
Equity Method Investment, Quoted Market Value 1,196   1,196    
Ventures Group [Member] | HSN, Inc. [Member]
          
Payments to Acquire Investments 300        
Ventures Group [Member] | Equity method investment, other [Member]
          
Investments in affiliates, accounted for using the equity method 425 [2]   425 [2]   116
TripAdvisor, Inc. [Member]
          
Ownership Interest In Investee 22.00%   22.00%    
Revenue from Related Parties 56 57 171 164  
TripAdvisor, Inc. [Member] | Ventures Group [Member]
          
Investments in affiliates, accounted for using the equity method $ 0   $ 0    
[1] Liberty's 22% owned consolidated subsidiary TripAdvisor, Inc. earned revenue of approximately $56 million and $171 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, and $57 million and $164 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, from Expedia, Inc. (TripAdvisor's former parent).
[2] Liberty invested $300 million in a solar energy plant on September 30, 2013. Liberty expects to receive a portion of the initial investment back within a year as the entity expects to receive grant proceeds and other favorable tax attributes once the solar plant is operational. Similar to some of Liberty's other alternative energy investments, the Company expects to record the Company's share of losses of the solar plant initially but expects to record the impacts of favorable tax attributes (primarily accelerated depreciation) as a current tax benefit with an offsetting deferred tax expense in the tax expense (benefit) line item in the Statement of Operations.