Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 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 $)
Share data in Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Mar. 31, 2012
Mar. 31, 2013
Sirius XM Canada [Member]
Mar. 31, 2012
Sirius XM Canada [Member]
Mar. 31, 2013
Live Nation [Member]
Mar. 31, 2012
Live Nation [Member]
May 01, 2013
Live Nation [Member]
Mar. 31, 2013
SIRIUS XM [Member]
Mar. 31, 2012
SIRIUS XM [Member]
May 01, 2013
Charter Communications [Member]
Mar. 31, 2013
SIRIUS XM [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
Live Nation [Member]
Mar. 31, 2013
SIRIUS XM [Member]
May 01, 2013
SIRIUS XM [Member]
Mar. 31, 2013
SIRIUS XM [Member]
Deferred revenue [Member]
Subscriber fee royalty percentage     15.00%                        
Purchase of shares in equity method investee                   26.9 50.0 1.7      
Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit) $ (377,000,000) $ 31,000,000                          
Equity Method Investment, Quoted Market Value     295,000,000   644,000,000                    
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments 17,000,000 12,000,000 1,000,000 [1] 0 (19,000,000) (16,000,000)   8,000,000 [1] 33,000,000            
Broadcast rights                         70,000,000    
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure                             21,000,000
Due to Related Parties, Current                         10,000,000    
Due to Related Parties                         22,000,000    
Revenue from Related Parties                         9,000,000    
Warrants acquired                   1.1          
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Purchase Price                   2,600,000,000          
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage     38.00%   27.00% [2]         27.00%          
Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee, Price-Per-Share                   $ 95.50          
Equity method investment, cash paid for acquisition                   $ 1,200,000,000          
shares underlying borrowed share position, unwound             8.1     20.3       720.0  
[1] During the three months ended March 31, 2013, as discussed in note 1, Liberty acquired an additional 50 million common shares and acquired a controlling interest in SIRIUS XM and as a result consolidates SIRIUS XM as of such date. SIRIUS XM has an investment in SIRIUS XM Canada that was recorded at fair value in purchase accounting. See discussion below of SIRIUS XM Canada.
[2] During the first quarter of 2013, Liberty acquired an additional 1.7 million shares of Live Nation for approximately $19 million which increased our ownership percentage, at the time of acquisition, to approximately 27%.