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, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 0 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2012
Sep. 30, 2012
Sep. 30, 2011
Sep. 30, 2012
Sep. 30, 2011
Dec. 31, 2011
Jun. 30, 2012
TripAdvisor, Inc. [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
TripAdvisor, Inc. [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Expedia [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Expedia [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Liberty Interactive [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Liberty Interactive [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Liberty Interactive [Member]
Other [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Liberty Interactive [Member]
Other [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Liberty Interactive [Member]
HSN, Inc. [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Liberty Interactive [Member]
HSN, Inc. [Member]
Oct. 10, 2012
Liberty Ventures [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Liberty Ventures [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Liberty Ventures [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Liberty Ventures [Member]
Other [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Liberty Ventures [Member]
Other [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Liberty Ventures [Member]
TripAdvisor, Inc. [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Liberty Ventures [Member]
TripAdvisor, Inc. [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Liberty Ventures [Member]
Expedia [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Liberty Ventures [Member]
Expedia [Member]
Ownership Interest In Investee                   26.00%                              
Shares Underlying Forward                 12                                
Derivative, Forward Price                 $ 34.316                                
Proceeds from Issuance or Sale of Equity $ 412                               $ 328                
shares pledged as collateral under derivative                 12                                
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income, Net       282                                          
Percentage ownership                             36.00%             18.00%   26.00%  
Investments in affiliates, accounted for using the equity method   1,309   1,309   1,135         305 230 64 13 241 217   1,004 905 124 100 199 [1] 184 681 [2] 621
Equity Method Investment, Quoted Market Value                             982             861   2,002  
Pledged Assets, Not Separately Reported, Other           0     236                                
Collateral Already Posted, Aggregate Fair Value                 694                                
Equity Method Shares Sold             8.5                                    
Proceeds from Sale of Equity Method Investments             338                                    
Gains (losses) on dispositions, net   $ 0 $ 0 $ 288 $ 0     $ 288                                  
voting ownership interest in investee                   58.00%                              
[1] In May 2012, Liberty sold approximately 8.5 million shares of TripAdvisor, Inc. for cash proceeds of $338 million. The sale resulted in a $288 million gain recorded in gain (losses) on dispositions, net, based on the average cost, in the statement of operations.
[2] Liberty entered into a forward sales contract on 12 million shares of Expedia common stock in March 2012 at a per share forward price of $34.316. The forward contract was settled in October 2012 for total cash proceeds of $412 million and the 12 million shares of Expedia common stock, held as collateral, were released to the counterparty. During the nine months ended September 30, 2012 the Company has recognized losses of $282 million on the forward contract in the realized and unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments, net line item in the statement of operations. The carrying value of the shares, held as collateral by the counterparty, was $236 million and the fair value was $694 million as of September 30, 2012. At the time the forward contract is settled, in the fourth quarter of 2012, the difference between the fair value of the Expedia shares and the carrying value of the shares will be recognized in the gain (loss) on dispositions, net line item in the statement of operations.