Financial Information for Tracking Stock Groups - Statement of Cash Flow (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions |
12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2015 |
Dec. 31, 2014 |
Dec. 31, 2013 |
| Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Net earnings (loss) |
$ 911
|
$ 626
|
$ 580
|
| Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations |
|
(48)
|
(26)
|
| Depreciation and amortization |
703
|
662
|
629
|
| Stock-based compensation |
127
|
108
|
118
|
| Cash payments for stock based compensation |
(16)
|
(15)
|
(8)
|
| Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation |
(33)
|
(21)
|
(13)
|
| Noncash interest expense |
5
|
6
|
13
|
| Share of losses (earnings) of affiliates, net |
60
|
(39)
|
(33)
|
| Cash receipts from returns on equity investments |
52
|
45
|
35
|
| Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments, net |
(114)
|
57
|
22
|
| (Gains) losses on transactions, net |
(110)
|
(74)
|
1
|
| Gain (Loss) on dilution of investment in affiliates |
(314)
|
2
|
(1)
|
| (Gains) Losses on extinguishment of debt |
21
|
48
|
57
|
| Impairment of intangible assets |
|
7
|
30
|
| Deferred income tax (benefit) expense |
51
|
(41)
|
(22)
|
| Other noncash charges (credits), net |
(16)
|
(4)
|
(2)
|
| Current and other assets |
(237)
|
(84)
|
(84)
|
| Payables and other current liabilities |
(44)
|
405
|
(269)
|
| Net cash provided (used) by operating activities |
1,046
|
1,640
|
1,027
|
| Proceeds from Sale of Other Assets, Investing Activities |
271
|
163
|
1,137
|
| Investments in and loans to cost and equity investees |
(143)
|
(91)
|
(384)
|
| Capital expended for property and equipment |
(258)
|
(241)
|
(291)
|
| Cash receipts from returns of equity investments |
250
|
|
|
| Cash (paid) for acquisitions, net of cash acquired |
(844)
|
|
(24)
|
| Purchases of short-term and other marketable securities |
(1,370)
|
(864)
|
(959)
|
| Sales of short term and other marketable securities |
1,359
|
591
|
400
|
| Other investing activities, net |
(76)
|
(16)
|
(41)
|
| Net cash used by investing activities |
(811)
|
(458)
|
(162)
|
| Borrowings of debt |
4,558
|
4,506
|
4,361
|
| Repayments of debt |
(3,811)
|
(3,749)
|
(5,415)
|
| Repurchases of Liberty common stock |
(785)
|
(785)
|
(1,089)
|
| Taxes paid in lieu of shares issued for stock-based compensation |
(30)
|
(26)
|
(21)
|
| Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation |
33
|
21
|
13
|
| Acquisition of Noncontrolling Interests |
(33)
|
|
|
| Other financing activities, net |
(21)
|
(33)
|
(57)
|
| Net cash provided (used) by financing activities |
(89)
|
(66)
|
(2,208)
|
| Effect of foreign currency exchange rates on cash |
(3)
|
(46)
|
(24)
|
| Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, discontinued operations |
|
273
|
333
|
| Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities, discontinued operations |
|
(194)
|
(198)
|
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities, discontinued operations |
|
371
|
(172)
|
| Change in available cash held by discontinued operations |
|
(116)
|
15
|
| Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Discontinued Operations, Total |
|
334
|
(22)
|
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
143
|
1,404
|
(1,389)
|
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period |
2,306
|
902
|
2,291
|
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of period |
2,449
|
2,306
|
902
|
| QVC Group Common Stock |
|
|
|
| Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Net earnings (loss) |
674
|
559
|
483
|
| Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations |
|
15
|
17
|
| Depreciation and amortization |
657
|
643
|
629
|
| Stock-based compensation |
60
|
83
|
110
|
| Cash payments for stock based compensation |
|
(13)
|
(8)
|
| Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation |
(24)
|
(20)
|
(13)
|
| Noncash interest expense |
6
|
6
|
12
|
| Share of losses (earnings) of affiliates, net |
(55)
|
(51)
|
(48)
|
| Cash receipts from returns on equity investments |
22
|
22
|
16
|
| Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments, net |
(42)
|
22
|
12
|
| (Gains) losses on transactions, net |
|
|
1
|
| Gain (Loss) on dilution of investment in affiliates |
|
2
|
(4)
|
| (Gains) Losses on extinguishment of debt |
21
|
48
|
57
|
| Impairment of intangible assets |
|
7
|
30
|
| Deferred income tax (benefit) expense |
(122)
|
(160)
|
(132)
|
| Intergroup tax allocation |
141
|
169
|
272
|
| Intergroup tax payments |
(101)
|
(388)
|
(52)
|
| Other noncash charges (credits), net |
(14)
|
(5)
|
(10)
|
| Current and other assets |
(245)
|
(80)
|
(81)
|
| Payables and other current liabilities |
3
|
345
|
(306)
|
| Net cash provided (used) by operating activities |
981
|
1,204
|
985
|
| Proceeds from Sale of Other Assets, Investing Activities |
|
|
1
|
| Investments in and loans to cost and equity investees |
|
(4)
|
(4)
|
| Capital expended for property and equipment |
(218)
|
(226)
|
(291)
|
| Cash receipts from returns of equity investments |
200
|
|
|
| Cash (paid) for acquisitions, net of cash acquired |
(824)
|
|
(24)
|
| Purchases of short-term and other marketable securities |
(184)
|
(73)
|
|
| Sales of short term and other marketable securities |
193
|
52
|
|
| Other investing activities, net |
(76)
|
(30)
|
(38)
|
| Net cash used by investing activities |
(909)
|
(281)
|
(356)
|
| Borrowings of debt |
3,969
|
4,360
|
3,520
|
| Repayments of debt |
(3,244)
|
(3,563)
|
(3,052)
|
| Intergroup receipts (payments), net |
|
(1,035)
|
|
| Repurchases of Liberty common stock |
(785)
|
(785)
|
(1,089)
|
| Taxes paid in lieu of shares issued for stock-based compensation |
(25)
|
(25)
|
(21)
|
| Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation |
24
|
20
|
13
|
| Other financing activities, net |
(4)
|
(8)
|
(57)
|
| Net cash provided (used) by financing activities |
(65)
|
(1,036)
|
(686)
|
| Effect of foreign currency exchange rates on cash |
(3)
|
(46)
|
(24)
|
| Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, discontinued operations |
|
(20)
|
(13)
|
| Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities, discontinued operations |
|
|
(6)
|
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities, discontinued operations |
|
3
|
(1)
|
| Change in available cash held by discontinued operations |
|
3
|
(2)
|
| Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Discontinued Operations, Total |
|
(14)
|
(22)
|
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
4
|
(173)
|
(103)
|
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period |
422
|
595
|
698
|
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of period |
426
|
422
|
595
|
| Liberty Ventures common stock |
|
|
|
| Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Net earnings (loss) |
237
|
67
|
97
|
| Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations |
|
(63)
|
(43)
|
| Depreciation and amortization |
46
|
19
|
|
| Stock-based compensation |
67
|
25
|
8
|
| Cash payments for stock based compensation |
(16)
|
(2)
|
|
| Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation |
(9)
|
(1)
|
|
| Noncash interest expense |
(1)
|
|
1
|
| Share of losses (earnings) of affiliates, net |
115
|
12
|
15
|
| Cash receipts from returns on equity investments |
30
|
23
|
19
|
| Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments, net |
(72)
|
35
|
10
|
| (Gains) losses on transactions, net |
(110)
|
(74)
|
|
| Gain (Loss) on dilution of investment in affiliates |
(314)
|
|
3
|
| Deferred income tax (benefit) expense |
173
|
119
|
110
|
| Intergroup tax allocation |
(141)
|
(169)
|
(272)
|
| Intergroup tax payments |
101
|
388
|
52
|
| Other noncash charges (credits), net |
(2)
|
1
|
8
|
| Current and other assets |
8
|
(4)
|
(3)
|
| Payables and other current liabilities |
(47)
|
60
|
37
|
| Net cash provided (used) by operating activities |
65
|
436
|
42
|
| Proceeds from Sale of Other Assets, Investing Activities |
271
|
163
|
1,136
|
| Investments in and loans to cost and equity investees |
(143)
|
(87)
|
(380)
|
| Capital expended for property and equipment |
(40)
|
(15)
|
|
| Cash receipts from returns of equity investments |
50
|
|
|
| Cash (paid) for acquisitions, net of cash acquired |
(20)
|
|
|
| Purchases of short-term and other marketable securities |
(1,186)
|
(791)
|
(959)
|
| Sales of short term and other marketable securities |
1,166
|
539
|
400
|
| Other investing activities, net |
|
14
|
(3)
|
| Net cash used by investing activities |
98
|
(177)
|
194
|
| Borrowings of debt |
589
|
146
|
841
|
| Repayments of debt |
(567)
|
(186)
|
(2,363)
|
| Intergroup receipts (payments), net |
|
1,035
|
|
| Taxes paid in lieu of shares issued for stock-based compensation |
(5)
|
(1)
|
|
| Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation |
9
|
1
|
|
| Acquisition of Noncontrolling Interests |
(33)
|
|
|
| Other financing activities, net |
(17)
|
(25)
|
|
| Net cash provided (used) by financing activities |
(24)
|
970
|
(1,522)
|
| Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, discontinued operations |
|
293
|
346
|
| Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities, discontinued operations |
|
(194)
|
(192)
|
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities, discontinued operations |
|
368
|
(171)
|
| Change in available cash held by discontinued operations |
|
(119)
|
17
|
| Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Discontinued Operations, Total |
|
348
|
|
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
139
|
1,577
|
(1,286)
|
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period |
1,884
|
307
|
1,593
|
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of period |
$ 2,023
|
$ 1,884
|
$ 307
|