Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Stock Options and Other Share-Based Awards (Stock Options Activity) (Details)

v2.4.1.9
Stock Options and Other Share-Based Awards (Stock Options Activity) (Details) (Liberty Incentive Plan, USD $)
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
LINTA    
Options    
Outstanding at beginning of the year (in shares) 15,638,139us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= qvc_LibertyIncentivePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= qvc_LINTAMember
 
Granted (in shares) 1,819,559us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= qvc_LibertyIncentivePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= qvc_LINTAMember
 
Exercised (in shares) (3,784,111)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= qvc_LibertyIncentivePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= qvc_LINTAMember
 
Forfeited (in shares) (1,007,491)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriod
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= qvc_LibertyIncentivePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= qvc_LINTAMember
 
Net effect of 2014 reattribution (in shares) 512,995qvc_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsReattribution
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= qvc_LibertyIncentivePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= qvc_LINTAMember
 
Outstanding at end of the year (in shares) 13,179,091us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= qvc_LibertyIncentivePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= qvc_LINTAMember
15,638,139us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= qvc_LibertyIncentivePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= qvc_LINTAMember
Weighted average exercise price    
Outstanding at beginning of the year ( in dollars per share) $ 17.01us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= qvc_LibertyIncentivePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= qvc_LINTAMember
 
Granted (in dollars per share) $ 26.90us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= qvc_LibertyIncentivePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= qvc_LINTAMember
 
Exercised (in dollars per share) $ 14.42us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= qvc_LibertyIncentivePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= qvc_LINTAMember
 
Forfeited (in dollars per share) $ 19.31us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= qvc_LibertyIncentivePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= qvc_LINTAMember
 
Net effect of 2014 reattributioin (in dollars per share) $ 16.36qvc_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsReattributionweightedaverageshareprice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= qvc_LibertyIncentivePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= qvc_LINTAMember
 
Outstanding at ending of the year ( in dollars per share) $ 17.34us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= qvc_LibertyIncentivePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= qvc_LINTAMember
$ 17.01us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= qvc_LibertyIncentivePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= qvc_LINTAMember
Additional Stock Option Disclosures    
Aggregate intrinsic value (000s) $ 159,203us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= qvc_LibertyIncentivePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= qvc_LINTAMember
$ 192,975us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= qvc_LibertyIncentivePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= qvc_LINTAMember
Weighted average remaining life (years) 3 years 8 months 12 days 4 years 4 months 24 days
Exercisable at December 31, 2014    
Options (in shares) 7,325,843us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableNumber
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= qvc_LibertyIncentivePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= qvc_LINTAMember
 
Weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share) $ 14.94us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= qvc_LibertyIncentivePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= qvc_LINTAMember
 
Aggregate intrinsic value (000s) 106,078us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableIntrinsicValue1
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= qvc_LibertyIncentivePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= qvc_LINTAMember
 
Weighted average remaining life (years) 2 years 10 months 24 days  
LVNTA    
Options    
Outstanding at beginning of the year (in shares) 441,212us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= qvc_LibertyIncentivePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= qvc_LVNTAMember
 
Granted (in shares) 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= qvc_LibertyIncentivePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= qvc_LVNTAMember
 
Exercised (in shares) (106,709)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= qvc_LibertyIncentivePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= qvc_LVNTAMember
 
Forfeited (in shares) 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriod
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= qvc_LibertyIncentivePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= qvc_LVNTAMember
 
Adjustment for tripAdvisor holdings spin-off (in shares) 6,736qvc_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAdjustmentsinperiod
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= qvc_LibertyIncentivePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= qvc_LVNTAMember
 
Net effect of 2014 reattribution (in shares) 612,138qvc_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsReattribution
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= qvc_LibertyIncentivePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= qvc_LVNTAMember
 
Outstanding at end of the year (in shares) 953,377us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= qvc_LibertyIncentivePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= qvc_LVNTAMember
441,212us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= qvc_LibertyIncentivePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= qvc_LVNTAMember
Weighted average exercise price    
Outstanding at beginning of the year ( in dollars per share) $ 29.40us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= qvc_LibertyIncentivePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= qvc_LVNTAMember
 
Granted (in dollars per share) $ 0.00us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= qvc_LibertyIncentivePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= qvc_LVNTAMember
 
Exercised (in dollars per share) $ 16.02us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= qvc_LibertyIncentivePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= qvc_LVNTAMember
 
Forfeited (in dollars per share) $ 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= qvc_LibertyIncentivePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= qvc_LVNTAMember
 
Adjustment for tripadvisor holdings spin-off (in dollars per share) $ 14.86qvc_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsadjustmentsinperiodweightedaverageexerciseprice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= qvc_LibertyIncentivePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= qvc_LVNTAMember
 
Net effect of 2014 reattributioin (in dollars per share) $ 22.31qvc_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsReattributionweightedaverageshareprice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= qvc_LibertyIncentivePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= qvc_LVNTAMember
 
Outstanding at ending of the year ( in dollars per share) $ 19.51us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= qvc_LibertyIncentivePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= qvc_LVNTAMember
$ 29.40us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= qvc_LibertyIncentivePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= qvc_LVNTAMember
Additional Stock Option Disclosures    
Aggregate intrinsic value (000s) 17,361us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= qvc_LibertyIncentivePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= qvc_LVNTAMember
14,072us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= qvc_LibertyIncentivePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= qvc_LVNTAMember
Weighted average remaining life (years) 2 years 9 months 18 days 3 years 7 months 6 days
Exercisable at December 31, 2014    
Options (in shares) 597,523us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableNumber
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= qvc_LibertyIncentivePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= qvc_LVNTAMember
 
Weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share) $ 19.70us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= qvc_LibertyIncentivePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= qvc_LVNTAMember
 
Aggregate intrinsic value (000s) $ 10,767us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableIntrinsicValue1
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= qvc_LibertyIncentivePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= qvc_LVNTAMember
 
Weighted average remaining life (years) 2 years 7 months 6 days