Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Investments In Affiliates Accounted For Using The Equity Method (Narrative) (Details)

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Investments In Affiliates Accounted For Using The Equity Method (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Jun. 30, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Jun. 30, 2011
Live Nation [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Live Nation [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Live Nation [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
Live Nation [Member]
Jan. 18, 2013
SIRIUS XM [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
SIRIUS XM [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
SIRIUS XM [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
SIRIUS XM [Member]
Purchase of shares in equity method investee             5,500,000 11,000,000     50,000,000 312,500,000    
Payments to Acquire Equity Method Investments               $ 107       $ 769    
underlying shares on forward contract                       302,200,000    
payment under forward contract                       649    
Income Tax Expense (Benefit) (104)   211 600 333 (571)           2,998 14 5
Share of earnings (losses) of affiliates, net   (1,229)   (1,346) (87) 98   45 [1],[2] 22 [1],[2] 34 [1]   (1,367) [1],[3] (94) [1],[3] 41 [1],[3]
Equity Method Investment, Quoted Market Value               $ 469       $ 9,372    
[1] The Company made the decision, in the fourth quarter of 2012, to start recording its investments in SIRIUS XM and Live Nation on a current basis instead of on a three-month lag as it had been doing since the equity method of accounting had been applied for each investment. The change in accounting requires retrospective application and as such all periods presented above are on a comparable basis and are of the same periods as the Company's year-end. The effects of this change to the applicable prior period balances are illustrated in note 3.
[2] During June 2011, Liberty acquired an additional 5.5 million shares of Live Nation which increased our ownership percentage above 20% of the outstanding voting shares. Due to the presumption that an entity with an ownership percentage greater than 20% has significant influence absent other factors to rebut that presumption, the Company is accounting for the investment as an equity method affiliate. Additionally, during the year ended December 31, 2012 the Company acquired approximately 11 million shares of Live Nation for $107 million.
[3] During the year ended December 31, 2012, Liberty acquired an additional 312.5 million shares of SIRIUS XM in the open market for $769 million. Additionally, Liberty settled a forward contract and purchased an additional 302.2 million shares of SIRIUS XM for $649 million. SIRIUS XM recognized a 3.0 billion tax benefit during the year ended December 31, 2012. SIRIUS XM recorded the tax benefit as the result of significant positive evidence that a valuation allowance was no longer necessary for its recorded deferred tax assets. The Company recognized its portion of this benefit ($1,229 million) based on our ownership percentage at the time of the recognition of the deferred tax benefit by SIRIUS XM.