Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details)

v3.10.0.1
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 4 Months Ended 8 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Jan. 01, 2016
Jul. 23, 2014
Apr. 15, 2016
Dec. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2018
Dec. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current         $ 20 $ 12  
Provision for Doubtful Accounts         68 57 $ 56
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Write-offs         60 55 53
Debt and equity securities         1,195 1,047  
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross         3,765 3,596  
Depreciation         251 230 186
Interest Costs Capitalized         12 10  
Stock-based compensation         192 230 150
Liberty Sirius XM Group              
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross         2,450 2,274  
Stock-based compensation         $ 156 $ 150 128
Anti-dilutive shares excluded from EPS         22,000,000 22,000,000  
Braves Group              
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross         $ 1,137 $ 1,150  
Stock-based compensation         11 48 9
Basic earnings (loss)       $ (30) 5 (25)  
Unrealized gain loss on the intergroup interest       27 24 15  
Diluted earnings (loss)       $ (3) $ 29 $ (10)  
Anti-dilutive shares excluded from EPS         2,000,000 2,000,000  
Formula One Group              
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross         $ 178 $ 172  
Stock-based compensation         $ 25 $ 32 13
Anti-dilutive shares excluded from EPS         8,000,000 5,000,000  
Land [Member]              
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross         $ 183 $ 217  
Building and Improvements [Member]              
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross         905 974  
Equipment [Member]              
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross         $ 553 514  
Satellite system [Member]              
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life         15 years    
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross         $ 1,679 1,676  
Construction in Progress [Member]              
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross         445 215  
Programming and content              
Stock-based compensation allocated         28 27 21
Customer service and billing              
Stock-based compensation allocated         4 4 4
Other cost of subscriber services              
Stock-based compensation allocated         5 5 5
Other Operating Income Expense [Member]              
Stock-based compensation allocated         17 16 13
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses              
Stock-based compensation allocated         $ 138 $ 178 $ 107
Common Class A | Liberty Sirius XM Group              
Anti-dilutive shares excluded from EPS       21,000,000      
Common Class A | Braves Group              
Anti-dilutive shares excluded from EPS       2,000,000      
Common Class A | Formula One Group              
Anti-dilutive shares excluded from EPS       5,000,000      
Common Class C | Liberty Media Corporation              
Number of Shares Issued During The Period For Each Share of Series A and Series B Stock Held By Shareholders Prior To The Distribution   2          
Common Class SeriesA, SeriesB, SeriesC | Liberty Sirius XM Group              
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic       335,000,000 332,000,000 336,000,000  
Potentially dilutive shares       2,000,000 4,000,000 4,000,000  
Diluted, Weighted average number of shares outstanding       337,000,000 336,000,000 340,000,000  
Common Class SeriesA, SeriesB, SeriesC | Braves Group              
Investment Owned, Balance, Shares         9,084,940    
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic       46,000,000 51,000,000 49,000,000  
Potentially dilutive shares       9,000,000 10,000,000 10,000,000  
Diluted, Weighted average number of shares outstanding       55,000,000 61,000,000 59,000,000  
Common Class SeriesA, SeriesB, SeriesC | Formula One Group              
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic       84,000,000 231,000,000 207,000,000  
Potentially dilutive shares       1,000,000 1,000,000 4,000,000  
Diluted, Weighted average number of shares outstanding       85,000,000 232,000,000 211,000,000  
Common Class SeriesA, SeriesB, SeriesC | Liberty Media Corporation              
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic     335,000,000        
Potentially dilutive shares     2,000,000        
Diluted, Weighted average number of shares outstanding     337,000,000        
Anti-dilutive shares excluded from EPS             23,000,000
Accounting Standards Update 2016-09 | Retained Earnings              
Cumulative adjustment for change in accounting principle $ 66            
Minimum | Building and Improvements [Member]              
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life         10 years    
Minimum | Equipment [Member]              
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life         3 years    
Maximum | Building and Improvements [Member]              
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life         40 years    
Maximum | Equipment [Member]              
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life         20 years    
SIRIUS XM              
Stock-based compensation         $ 133 $ 124 $ 109
Formula 1 | Braves Group              
Investment Owned, Balance, Shares         9,084,940