Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Long-Term Debt (Narrative) (Details)

v3.20.4
Long-Term Debt (Narrative) (Details)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2019
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2018
USD ($)
Dec. 30, 2020
USD ($)
Aug. 20, 2020
USD ($)
Feb. 04, 2020
USD ($)
Dec. 06, 2019
USD ($)
Nov. 26, 2019
USD ($)
Jul. 01, 2019
USD ($)
Sep. 13, 2018
USD ($)
Jun. 23, 2016
USD ($)
Jun. 15, 2016
USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                        
Debt instrument interest rate stated percentage 3.50%                      
Line of credit facility maximum borrowing capacity $ 2,950,000,000                      
Line of credit facility remaining borrowing capacity 2,930,000,000                      
Loss on extinguishment of debt $ 42,000,000 $ 0 $ 2,000,000                  
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Ratio 5.2598                      
Debt, Current $ (410,000,000) (18,000,000)                    
Long-term Debt, Gross 218,000,000     $ 218,000,000                
Derivative, Notional Amount                 $ 125,000,000     $ 125,000,000
Derivative, Fair Value, Net $ 3,000,000                      
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Ratio 5.2598                      
Long-Term Debt, Maturity, Year One $ 8,000,000                      
Long-Term Debt, Maturity, Year Two 8,000,000                      
Long-Term Debt, Maturity, Year Three 758,000,000                      
Long-Term Debt, Maturity, Year Four 609,000,000                      
Long-Term Debt, Maturity, Year Five $ 609,000,000                      
Derivative, Fixed Interest Rate     1.05%                  
Debt weighted average interest rate 5.00%                      
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount $ 13,000,000 12,000,000                    
QRTEA [Member]                        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                        
Debt, Current       $ (397,000,000)                
July 2019 Swap [Member]                        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                        
Derivative, Fair Value, Net   $ 1,000,000                    
5.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2022                        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                        
Debt instrument interest rate stated percentage 3.125%                      
4.375% Senior Secured Notes due 2023, net of original issue discount                        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                        
Debt instrument interest rate stated percentage 5.125%       5.125%              
4.85% Senior Secured Notes due 2024, net of original issue discount                        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                        
Debt instrument interest rate stated percentage 4.375%                      
4.45% Senior Secured Notes due 2025, net of original issue discount                        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                        
Debt instrument interest rate stated percentage 4.85%                      
4.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2027                        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                        
Debt instrument interest rate stated percentage 4.45%                      
5.45% Senior Secured Notes due 2034, net of original issue discount                        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                        
Debt instrument interest rate stated percentage 5.45%                      
5.95% Senior Secured Notes due 2043, net of original issue discount                        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                        
Debt instrument interest rate stated percentage 5.95%                      
6.375% Senior Secured Notes [Member]                        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                        
Debt instrument interest rate stated percentage 6.375%                      
Debt Instrument, Face Amount                   $ 225,000,000    
Debt Instrument, Term 5 years                      
6.25% Senior Secured Notes [Member] [Member]                        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                        
Debt instrument interest rate stated percentage 6.25%           6.25%          
Debt Instrument, Face Amount             $ 65,000,000 $ 435,000,000        
Debt Instrument, Term 5 years                      
Long-term Debt, Gross             $ 500,000,000          
250 million interest rate swap [Member]                        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                        
Derivative, Notional Amount     $ 250,000,000                  
4.75% Senior Secured Notes [Member] [Member]                        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                        
Debt instrument interest rate stated percentage 4.75%         4.75%            
Debt Instrument, Face Amount           $ 575,000,000            
4.375% Senior Secured Notes due 2028                        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                        
Debt instrument interest rate stated percentage 4.375%       4.375%              
Debt Instrument, Face Amount         $ 500,000,000              
Exchangeable Senior Debentures Due 2031 [Member]                        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                        
Debt instrument interest rate stated percentage 3.50%                      
Debt Instrument, Face Amount $ 1,000                      
Debt Instrument, Face Amount per Debenture 497                      
Debt Instrument, Face Amount per Debenture 497                      
Standby Letters of Credit                        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                        
Line of credit facility maximum borrowing capacity 450,000,000                      
Uncommitted Incremental Revolving Loan Commitments [Member]                        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                        
Line of credit facility maximum borrowing capacity $ 1,500,000,000                      
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) | Minimum                        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                        
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate 1.25%                      
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) | Maximum                        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                        
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate 1.75%                      
Minimum                        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                        
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate 0.25%                      
Maximum                        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                        
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate 0.75%                      
Tranche One, Shared with Related Party [Member] | Senior secured credit facility                        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                        
Line of credit facility maximum borrowing capacity $ 400,000,000                   $ 400,000,000  
Tranche One, Shared with Related Party [Member] | Standby Letters of Credit                        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                        
Line of credit facility maximum borrowing capacity 50,000,000                      
QVC [Member] | Senior secured credit facility                        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                        
Line of credit facility maximum borrowing capacity $ 2,550,000,000