Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Investments In Available-For-Sale Securities And Other Cost Investments (Details)

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Investments In Available-For-Sale Securities And Other Cost Investments (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Jun. 30, 2011
Investments in available-for-sale securities $ 1,392 $ 1,859  
Subscription agreement, shares     5.5
Live Nation [Member]
     
Investments in available-for-sale securities 25 [1] 24 [1]  
Other Investments [Member]
     
Investments in available-for-sale securities 39 16  
SIRIUS XM Debt Securities [Member]
     
Investments in available-for-sale securities 249 [2] 384 [2]  
AFS and cost method investments [Member]
     
Investments in available-for-sale securities 313 424  
Other AFS Debt Securities [Member]
     
Investments in available-for-sale securities 56 202  
Other AFS Equity Securities [Member]
     
Investments in available-for-sale securities 58 34  
Barnes & Noble, Inc. [Member]
     
Investments in available-for-sale securities 262 253  
Century Link, Inc. [Member]
     
Investments in available-for-sale securities 70 67  
Viacom, Inc. [Member]
     
Investments in available-for-sale securities 192 [3] 345 [3]  
Sprint [Member]
     
Investments in available-for-sale securities 0 [4] 44 [4]  
Time Warner Cable Inc [Member]
     
Investments in available-for-sale securities 230 150  
Time Warner Inc [Member]
     
Investments in available-for-sale securities 211 [5] 340 [5]  
total [Member]
     
Investments in available-for-sale securities $ 1,079 $ 1,435  
[1] In June 2011, Liberty acquired an additional 5.5 million shares of Live Nation for $58 million. The additional ownership required the Company to account for the investment as an equity method affiliate. For additional discussion see note 7. Liberty continues to hold debt securities in Live Nation which are included in available-for-sale securities.
[2] During 2012 SIRIUS XM tendered and retired the 13% and 9.75% bonds of which Liberty owned approximately $125 million in principal.
[3] In the fourth quarter of 2012, Liberty physically settled call options on 2 million shares of Viacom, Inc. common stock for proceeds of $105 million offset by a $6 million payment to settle the derivative obligation.
[4] In November and December 2012, Liberty physically settled call options on 15 million shares of Sprint common stock for proceeds of $84 million offset by a $33 million payment to settle the derivative obligation.
[5] In November 2012, Liberty physically settled a call option on 5 million shares of Time Warner Inc. common stock for proceeds of $225 million offset by a $24 million payment to settle the derivative obligation.