Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Long-Term Debt - Narrative (Details)

v3.10.0.1
Long-Term Debt - Narrative (Details)
1 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Jun. 22, 2018
USD ($)
Mar. 06, 2018
USD ($)
$ / shares
shares
Dec. 12, 2017
Jan. 23, 2017
USD ($)
$ / shares
Jan. 20, 2017
USD ($)
Aug. 17, 2016
USD ($)
$ / shares
shares
Apr. 15, 2016
$ / shares
shares
Mar. 31, 2018
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2018
USD ($)
$ / shares
shares
Sep. 30, 2017
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2017
USD ($)
Nov. 08, 2016
USD ($)
Oct. 17, 2013
USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Long-term Debt                 $ 13,398,000,000   $ 13,954,000,000    
Debt, Current                 18,000,000   768,000,000    
Borrowings of debt                 2,310,000,000 $ 5,820,000,000      
Repayments of Long-term Debt                 $ 3,014,000,000 4,819,000,000      
1.375% Cash Convertible Senior Notes Due 2023                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Debt face amount                         $ 1,000,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage                 1.375%       1.375%
Debt instrument interest rate                 1.375%       1.375%
1.35 Billion Margin Loan Due 2020                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Debt face amount                 $ 1,350,000,000        
Effective interest rate                 4.42%        
1.35 Billion Margin Loan Due 2020 | Term Loan                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Debt face amount               $ 250,000,000          
1.35 Billion Margin Loan Due 2020 | Revolving Credit Facility                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Debt face amount               500,000,000          
Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity                 $ 800,000,000        
1.35 Billion Margin Loan Due 2020 | Delayed Draw Term Loan                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Debt face amount               $ 600,000,000          
2.25% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2046 | Senior Notes                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Debt face amount           $ 445,000,000              
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage           2.25%              
Debt instrument, face amount per debenture $ 1,000                        
Extraordinary additional distribution 229,000,000                        
Extraordinary additional distribution amount per debenture $ 514.1295                        
Debt instrument interest rate           2.25%              
Liberty 1% Cash Convertible Notes Due 2023                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Debt face amount       $ 450,000,000                  
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage       1.00%                  
Debt instrument, face amount per debenture       $ 1,000                  
Borrowings of debt       $ 450,000,000                  
Debt instrument interest rate       1.00%                  
2.125% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2048                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Debt face amount   $ 400,000,000                      
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage   2.125%                      
Debt instrument interest rate   2.125%                      
Live Nation Margin Loan                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Debt face amount                       $ 500,000,000  
Borrowings of debt         $ 350,000,000                
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate     1.90%                    
Effective interest rate                 4.29%        
Debt instrument, unused borrowing capacity, fee, percent     0.60%                    
Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity                 $ 150,000,000        
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity                       $ 500,000,000  
SIRIUS XM | Sirius XM Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Debt instrument, unused borrowing capacity, fee, percent                 0.25%        
Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity                 $ 1,632,000,000        
SIRIUS XM | 1.35 Billion Margin Loan Due 2020                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate               2.05%          
Debt instrument, unused borrowing capacity, fee, percent               0.75%          
Shares Pledged As Collateral Under Loan | shares                 1,000,000,000        
Share value                 $ 6,320,000,000        
SIRIUS XM | 2.125% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2048                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Shares underlying the debentures | shares   49,900,000                      
conversion price for exchangeable debt | $ / shares   $ 8.02                      
Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage   100.00%                      
Other | Live Nation Margin Loan                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Share value                 $ 62,000,000        
Live Nation | Live Nation Margin Loan                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Shares Pledged As Collateral Under Loan | shares                 53,700,000        
Share value                 $ 2,927,000,000        
AT&T | 2.25% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2046                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Shares underlying the debentures | shares           6,110,000              
Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage           100.00%              
AT&T | 2.25% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2046 | Senior Notes                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Exchange Price of Shares Attributable to Debentures | $ / shares           $ 35.35              
SIRIUS XM | Sirius XM Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Effective interest rate                 4.07%        
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity                 $ 1,750,000,000        
Delta Topco | Liberty 1% Cash Convertible Notes Due 2023                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Consideration payable       $ 400,000,000                  
Warrant transaction                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Warrant expiration period                 81 days        
Common Class A | 1.375% Convertible Notes Bond Hedge Transaction                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Securities Basket price per share | $ / shares                 $ 55.30        
Common Class A | Warrant transaction                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Securities Basket price per share | $ / shares                 $ 55.30        
Class of Warrant or Right, Exercise Price of Warrants or Rights | $ / shares             $ 61.16            
Liberty Sirius XM Group                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Long-term Debt                 $ 7,511,000,000   7,496,000,000    
Debt, Current                 4,000,000        
Borrowings of debt                 1,899,000,000 3,933,000,000      
Repayments of Long-term Debt                 1,902,000,000 3,103,000,000      
Liberty Sirius XM Group | Sirius XM Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Long-term Debt                 118,000,000   300,000,000    
Liberty Sirius XM Group | Common Class A                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Securities basket conversion ratio from shares of Liberty Media Corporation common stock             1.0            
Liberty Sirius XM Group | Common Class A | 1.375% Convertible Notes Bond Hedge Transaction                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Forward contract, number of underlying shares | shares             21,085,900            
Liberty Sirius XM Group | Common Class A | Warrant transaction                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Class of Warrant or Right, Outstanding | shares             21,085,900            
Braves Group                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Long-term Debt                 622,000,000   662,000,000    
Debt, Current                 14,000,000        
Borrowings of debt                 123,000,000 288,000,000      
Repayments of Long-term Debt                 $ 185,000,000 42,000,000      
Braves Group | Common Class A                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Securities basket conversion ratio from shares of Liberty Media Corporation common stock             0.10   0.1087        
Braves Group | Common Class A | 1.375% Convertible Notes Bond Hedge Transaction                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Forward contract, number of underlying shares | shares             2,108,590   2,292,037        
Braves Group | Common Class A | Warrant transaction                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Class of Warrant or Right, Outstanding | shares             2,108,590   2,292,037        
Formula One Group                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Long-term Debt                 $ 5,265,000,000   $ 5,796,000,000    
Borrowings of debt                 288,000,000 1,599,000,000      
Repayments of Long-term Debt                 $ 927,000,000 $ 1,674,000,000      
Consideration payable       $ 400,000,000                  
Formula One Group | Common Class A                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Securities basket conversion ratio from shares of Liberty Media Corporation common stock             0.25            
Formula One Group | Common Class A | 1.375% Convertible Notes Bond Hedge Transaction                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Forward contract, number of underlying shares | shares             5,271,475            
Formula One Group | Common Class A | Warrant transaction                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Class of Warrant or Right, Outstanding | shares             5,271,475            
Formula One Group | Common Class C | Liberty 1% Cash Convertible Notes Due 2023                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Ratio       27.1091                  
conversion price for exchangeable debt | $ / shares       $ 36.89