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Stock-Based Compensation (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
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0 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||
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Nov. 28, 2011
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Dec. 31, 2012
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Dec. 31, 2012
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Dec. 31, 2011
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Dec. 31, 2010
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Dec. 31, 2012
Common Class A [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Common Class A [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2010
Common Class A [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2012
Segment, Liberty Capital [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Segment, Liberty Capital [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2010
Segment, Liberty Capital [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2012
Segment, Liberty Capital [Member]
Common Class A [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Segment, Liberty Capital [Member]
Common Class A [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Segment, Liberty Starz [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2010
Segment, Liberty Starz [Member]
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Sep. 23, 2011
Transitional Plan [Member]
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Sep. 23, 2011
2011 Plan [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2012
Minimum [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2012
Maximum [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2012
Option Exchange [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2012
Option Exchange [Member]
Common Class A [Member]
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Dec. 04, 2012
Unvested Option Exchange [Member]
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Dec. 04, 2012
Unvested Option Exchange Incremental [Member]
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| Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Number | 5,219,000 | 7,665,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period, Total Fair Value | $ 10,000,000 | $ 14,000,000 | $ 10,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period, Total Intrinsic Value | 494,000,000 | 46,000,000 | 47,000,000 | 34,853,000 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Authorized | 1,000,000 | 23,800,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Options granted | 834,000 | 162,347 | 1,135,622 | 834,000 | 496,000 | 887,818 | 3,713,000 | ||||||||||||||||
| Weighted average grant-date fair value of options | $ 42.04 | $ 33.95 | $ 19.56 | $ 21.36 | $ 21.32 | $ 37,250,000.00 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested Liberty equity awards | 150,000,000 | 150,000,000 | 37,000,000 | 77,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Plan Modification, Incremental Compensation Cost | $ 24,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted average period of recognition related to unvested Liberty equity awards (in years) | 1 year 9 months 25 days | 4 years | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Term | 1 year 3 months 19 days | 9 years | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Conversion of Stock, Shares Issued | 0.88129 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price | $ 93.38 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number | 124,000 | 1,485,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value | $ 58.50 | ||||||||||||||||||||||