Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Investments In Available-For-Sale Securities And Other Cost Investments (Available-for-sale Securities, Including Fair Value Option Securities Separately Aggregated, and Other Cost Investments) (Details)

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Investments In Available-For-Sale Securities And Other Cost Investments (Available-for-sale Securities, Including Fair Value Option Securities Separately Aggregated, and Other Cost Investments) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Mar. 31, 2014
Other Investments [Member]
Dec. 31, 2013
Other Investments [Member]
Mar. 31, 2014
AFS and cost method investments
Dec. 31, 2013
AFS and cost method investments
Mar. 31, 2014
Live Nation
Debt Securities
Dec. 31, 2013
Live Nation
Debt Securities
Jun. 30, 2014
Subsequent Event
Barnes & Noble, Inc.
May 01, 2014
Subsequent Event
Barnes & Noble, Inc.
Mar. 31, 2014
Fair Value Option Securities
Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value Option Securities
Mar. 31, 2014
Fair Value Option Securities
Time Warner Inc
Equity Securities
Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value Option Securities
Time Warner Inc
Equity Securities
Mar. 31, 2014
Fair Value Option Securities
Time Warner Cable Inc
Equity Securities
Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value Option Securities
Time Warner Cable Inc
Equity Securities
Mar. 31, 2014
Fair Value Option Securities
Viacom, Inc.
Equity Securities
Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value Option Securities
Viacom, Inc.
Equity Securities
Mar. 31, 2014
Fair Value Option Securities
Barnes & Noble, Inc.
Equity Securities
Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value Option Securities
Barnes & Noble, Inc.
Equity Securities
Mar. 31, 2014
Fair Value Option Securities
Other AFS Equity Securities
Equity Securities
Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value Option Securities
Other AFS Equity Securities
Equity Securities
Mar. 31, 2014
Fair Value Option Securities
Other AFS Debt Securities
Debt Securities
Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value Option Securities
Other AFS Debt Securities
Debt Securities
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]                                                
Investments in available-for-sale securities and other cost investments $ 1,299 $ 1,324 $ 39 $ 47 $ 63 $ 71 $ 24 $ 24     $ 1,236 $ 1,253 $ 278 [1] $ 297 [1] $ 324 [1] $ 320 [1] $ 309 [1] $ 317 [1] $ 259 [2] $ 255 [2] $ 40 $ 37 $ 26 $ 27
Sale of stock, ownership percentage of cost investment after transaction                   2.00%                            
Percentage of shares sold                 90.00%                              
Proceeds from sale of AFS                 $ 250                              
[1] See note 8 for details regarding the number and fair value of shares pledged as collateral pursuant to certain margin loan agreements as of March 31, 2014.
[2] In April 2014 Liberty reduced its overall ownership interest in Barnes & Noble, Inc. to less than 2% through the sale of approximately 90% of the preferred stock held by Liberty as of such date for approximately $250 million in proceeds