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)

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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
Mar. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Investments in affiliates, accounted for using the equity method (note 7) $ 870 $ 3,341
SIRIUS XM [Member]
    
Investments in affiliates, accounted for using the equity method (note 7)   2,766 [1]
Live Nation [Member]
    
Payments to Acquire Equity Method Investments 19  
Percentage ownership 27.00% [2]  
Investments in affiliates, accounted for using the equity method (note 7) 393 [2] 406 [2]
Equity Method Investment, Quoted Market Value 644  
Sirius XM Canada [Member]
    
Percentage ownership 38.00%  
Investments in affiliates, accounted for using the equity method (note 7) 281 [2]  
Equity Method Investment, Quoted Market Value 295  
Equity method investment, other [Member]
    
Investments in affiliates, accounted for using the equity method (note 7) $ 196 $ 169
[1] During the three months ended March 31, 2013, as discussed in note 1, Liberty acquired an additional 50 million common shares and acquired a controlling interest in SIRIUS XM and as a result consolidates SIRIUS XM as of such date. SIRIUS XM has an investment in SIRIUS XM Canada that was recorded at fair value in purchase accounting. See discussion below of SIRIUS XM Canada.
[2] During the first quarter of 2013, Liberty acquired an additional 1.7 million shares of Live Nation for approximately $19 million which increased our ownership percentage, at the time of acquisition, to approximately 27%.