Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Long-Term Debt (Narrative) (Details)

v3.10.0.1
Long-Term Debt (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Dec. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Dec. 29, 2017
Jun. 23, 2016
Jun. 15, 2016
Jan. 27, 2015
Aug. 21, 2014
Mar. 18, 2014
Mar. 18, 2013
Jul. 02, 2012
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                      
Line of credit facility maximum borrowing capacity $ 3,650       $ 2,650            
Line of credit facility standby letter of credit 450                    
Line of credit facility uncommitted loan $ 1,800                    
Debt instrument lower range of basis spread on variable rate 0.25%                    
Debt instrument higher range of basis spread on variable rate 0.75%                    
Line of credit facility remaining borrowing capacity $ 2,310                    
Line of credit facility interest rate at period end 3.90%                    
Derivative, notional amount           $ 125          
Interest rate swap arrangements (note 8)   $ 2                  
Loss on extinguishment of debt $ 2 0 $ 0                
Debt weighted average interest rate 4.60%                    
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount $ 13 21                  
3.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2019, net of original issue discount                      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                      
Debt instrument interest rate stated percentage 3.125%               3.125%    
Total debt                 $ 400    
Debt issuance price percentage                 99.828%    
5.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2022                      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                      
Debt instrument interest rate stated percentage 5.125%                   5.125%
Total debt                     $ 500
4.375% Senior Secured Notes due 2023, net of original issue discount                      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                      
Debt instrument interest rate stated percentage 4.375%                 4.375%  
Total debt                   $ 750  
Debt issuance price percentage                   99.968%  
4.85% Senior Secured Notes due 2024, net of original issue discount                      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                      
Debt instrument interest rate stated percentage 4.85%               4.85%    
Total debt                 $ 600    
Debt issuance price percentage                 99.927%    
4.45% Senior Secured Notes due 2025, net of original issue discount                      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                      
Debt instrument interest rate stated percentage 4.45%             4.45%      
Total debt               $ 600      
Debt issuance price percentage               99.86%      
5.45% Senior Secured Notes due 2034, net of original issue discount                      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                      
Debt instrument interest rate stated percentage 5.45%             5.45%      
Total debt               $ 400      
Debt issuance price percentage               99.784%      
5.95% Senior Secured Notes due 2043, net of original issue discount                      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                      
Debt instrument interest rate stated percentage 5.95%                 5.95%  
Total debt                   $ 300  
Debt issuance price percentage                   99.973%  
6.375% Senior Secured Notes [Member]                      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                      
Debt instrument interest rate stated percentage 6.375%                    
Debt Instrument, Call Feature 5 years                    
HSN, Inc.                      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                      
Line of credit facility maximum borrowing capacity             $ 1,750        
Line of Credit Facility, Current Borrowing Capacity             $ 1,250        
Syndicated Credit Agreement Secured Percentage             100.00%        
Debt instrument lower range of basis spread on variable rate 0.25%                    
Debt instrument higher range of basis spread on variable rate 0.75%                    
Derivative, notional amount   $ 250                  
Derivative, Fixed Interest Rate   1.05%                  
Debt Instrument Interest Rate Including Derivative Fixed Rate   2.35%                  
Interest rate swap arrangements (note 8)   $ 5                  
Loss on extinguishment of debt $ (2)                    
HSN, Inc. Foreign Subs [Member]                      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                      
Syndicated Credit Agreement Secured Percentage             65.00%        
250 million interest rate swap [Member]                      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                      
Interest rate swap arrangements (note 8) $ 4                    
Senior secured credit facilities | HSN, Inc.                      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                      
Line of credit facility maximum borrowing capacity       $ 1,000     $ 750        
Long-term Debt [Member] | HSN, Inc.                      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                      
Line of credit facility maximum borrowing capacity             $ 500        
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)                      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                      
Debt instrument lower range of basis spread on variable rate 1.25%                    
Debt instrument higher range of basis spread on variable rate 1.75%                    
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) | HSN, Inc.                      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                      
Debt instrument lower range of basis spread on variable rate 1.25%                    
Debt instrument higher range of basis spread on variable rate 1.75%                    
Tranche One, Shared with Related Party [Member] | Senior secured credit facilities                      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                      
Line of credit facility maximum borrowing capacity $ 400       400            
Tranche One, Shared with Related Party [Member] | Standby Letters of Credit                      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                      
Line of credit facility standby letter of credit 50                    
QVC [Member] | Senior secured credit facilities                      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                      
Line of credit facility maximum borrowing capacity $ 3,250       $ 2,250            
Minimum | HSN, Inc.                      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                      
Line of Credit Facility, Unused Capacity, Commitment Fee Percentage 0.20%                    
Maximum | HSN, Inc.                      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                      
Line of Credit Facility, Unused Capacity, Commitment Fee Percentage 0.30%