Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Investments In Affiliates Accounted For Using The Equity Method (Narrative) (Details)

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Investments In Affiliates Accounted For Using The Equity Method (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
Share data in Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2013
Jun. 30, 2012
Jun. 30, 2013
Jun. 30, 2012
Jun. 30, 2013
Sirius XM Canada [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Sirius XM Canada [Member]
Jun. 30, 2013
Sirius XM Canada [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Sirius XM Canada [Member]
Jun. 30, 2013
Live Nation [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Live Nation [Member]
Jun. 30, 2013
Live Nation [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Live Nation [Member]
May 01, 2013
Live Nation [Member]
Mar. 31, 2013
Live Nation [Member]
Jun. 30, 2013
SIRIUS XM [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
SIRIUS XM [Member]
Jun. 30, 2013
SIRIUS XM [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
SIRIUS XM [Member]
May 01, 2013
Charter Communications [Member]
Jun. 30, 2013
Charter Communications [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Charter Communications [Member]
Jun. 30, 2013
Charter Communications [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Charter Communications [Member]
Jan. 18, 2013
SIRIUS XM [Member]
Mar. 31, 2013
Live Nation [Member]
Jun. 30, 2013
SIRIUS XM [Member]
May 01, 2013
SIRIUS XM [Member]
Jan. 18, 2013
SIRIUS XM [Member]
Deferred revenue [Member]
Subscriber fee royalty percentage             15.00%                                          
Purchase of shares in equity method investee                                     26.9         50.0 1.7      
Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit)     $ (275,000,000) $ 395,000,000                                                
Equity Method Investment, Quoted Market Value         308,000,000   308,000,000   807,000,000 [1]   807,000,000 [1]                 3,326,000,000 [1]   3,326,000,000 [1]            
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments (21,000,000) 1,281,000,000 (4,000,000) 1,293,000,000 0 [2] 0 1,000,000 [2] 0 11,000,000 0 (8,000,000) (16,000,000)     0 [2] 1,276,000,000 8,000,000 [2] 1,309,000,000   (37,000,000) [3] 0 (37,000,000) [2] 0          
Broadcast rights                                                   70,000,000    
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure                                                       21,000,000
Due to Related Parties, Current                                                   45,000,000    
Due to Related Parties                                                   21,000,000    
Revenue from Related Parties                                                   23,000,000    
Warrants acquired                                     1.1                  
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Purchase Price                                     2,600,000,000                  
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage         38.00% [2]   38.00% [2]   27.00% [4]   27.00% [4]     27.00% [4]         27.00% 27.00% [3]   27.00% [3]            
Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee, Price-Per-Share                                     $ 95.50                  
Equity method investment, cash paid for acquisition                                     $ 1,200,000,000                  
shares underlying borrowed share position, unwound                         8.1           20.3               720.0  
[1] See note 9 for details regarding the number and fair value of shares pledged as collateral pursuant to certain margin loan agreements as of June 30, 2013.
[2] On January 18, 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.
[3] .
[4] 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%.(d)See note 9 for details regarding the number and fair value of shares pledged as collateral pursuant to certain margin loan agreements as of June 30, 2013.