Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Tracking Stocks (Details)

v3.8.0.1
Tracking Stocks (Details)
$ / shares in Units, shares in Millions
Dec. 31, 2017
USD ($)
item
Dec. 29, 2017
USD ($)
shares
Apr. 04, 2017
USD ($)
May 18, 2016
USD ($)
$ / shares
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2015
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
USD ($)
Targeted or Tracking Stock, Stock [Line Items]              
Number of tracking stocks | item 2            
Cash and cash equivalents $ 903,000,000       $ 825,000,000 $ 2,449,000,000 $ 2,306,000,000
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates, at Fair Value $ 3,635,000,000       3,161,000,000    
1.75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2046              
Targeted or Tracking Stock, Stock [Line Items]              
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage 1.75%            
HSNi              
Targeted or Tracking Stock, Stock [Line Items]              
Percentage of equity method investee not currently owned   62.00%          
HSNi              
Targeted or Tracking Stock, Stock [Line Items]              
Percentage of equity method investee not currently owned   62.00%          
Equity value of acquired business   $ 1,900,000,000          
Liberty Ventures common stock              
Targeted or Tracking Stock, Stock [Line Items]              
Reference price     $ 43.65        
Liberty Ventures common stock | 1.75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2046              
Targeted or Tracking Stock, Stock [Line Items]              
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage 1.75%            
Liberty Broadband              
Targeted or Tracking Stock, Stock [Line Items]              
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates, at Fair Value       $ 2,400,000,000      
QVC Group Common Stock              
Targeted or Tracking Stock, Stock [Line Items]              
Cash and cash equivalents $ 330,000,000       338,000,000 426,000,000 422,000,000
Liberty Ventures common stock              
Targeted or Tracking Stock, Stock [Line Items]              
Cash and cash equivalents 573,000,000       487,000,000 $ 2,023,000,000 $ 1,884,000,000
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates, at Fair Value $ 3,635,000,000       $ 3,161,000,000    
Price per share of Liberty Broadband Series C common stock | $ / shares       $ 56.23      
Liberty Ventures common stock | 1.75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2046              
Targeted or Tracking Stock, Stock [Line Items]              
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage 1.75%            
Liberty Ventures common stock | Ventures Margin Loan              
Targeted or Tracking Stock, Stock [Line Items]              
Maximum Borrowing Capacity     $ 1,000,000,000        
GCI | Spinoff | Common Class A              
Targeted or Tracking Stock, Stock [Line Items]              
Share exchange ratio     0.63        
Total consideration per share of GCI common stock     $ 27.50        
GCI | Spinoff | Preferred Class A              
Targeted or Tracking Stock, Stock [Line Items]              
Share exchange ratio     0.20        
Total consideration per share of GCI common stock     $ 5.00        
GCI | Spinoff | GCI common stock              
Targeted or Tracking Stock, Stock [Line Items]              
Total consideration per share of GCI common stock     $ 32.50        
Liberty Broadband | Charter              
Targeted or Tracking Stock, Stock [Line Items]              
Payments to Acquire Equity Method Investments       $ 5,000,000,000      
Broadband Holdco, LLC | Broadband Holdco Margin Loan              
Targeted or Tracking Stock, Stock [Line Items]              
Maximum Borrowing Capacity   $ 1,000,000,000          
Number of common shares owned and pledged as collateral | shares   42.7          
Value of pledged collateral   $ 3,600,000,000          
Debt Instrument, Description of Variable Rate Basis   LIBOR          
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate   1.85%          
Unused commitment fee percentage   0.75%          
Margin loan outstanding borrowings $ 0            
Debt Instrument, Term   2 years          
Minimum | GCI | Spinoff | Preferred Class A              
Targeted or Tracking Stock, Stock [Line Items]              
Preferred Stock, Dividend Rate, Percentage     5.00%        
Maximum | GCI | Spinoff | Preferred Class A              
Targeted or Tracking Stock, Stock [Line Items]              
Preferred Stock, Dividend Rate, Percentage     7.00%