Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Investments In Available-For-Sale Securities And Other Cost Investments (Available-for-sale Securities, Including Fair Value Option Securities Separately Aggregated, and Other Cost Investments) (Details)

v2.4.0.8
Investments In Available-For-Sale Securities And Other Cost Investments (Available-for-sale Securities, Including Fair Value Option Securities Separately Aggregated, and Other Cost Investments) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 6 Months Ended 3 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2014
Jun. 30, 2013
Dec. 31, 2013
Jun. 30, 2014
Other Investments [Member]
Dec. 31, 2013
Other Investments [Member]
Jun. 30, 2014
AFS and cost method investments
Dec. 31, 2013
AFS and cost method investments
Jun. 30, 2014
Barnes & Noble, Inc.
May 01, 2014
Barnes & Noble, Inc.
Jun. 30, 2014
Live Nation
Debt Securities
Dec. 31, 2013
Live Nation
Debt Securities
Jun. 30, 2014
Fair Value Option Securities
Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value Option Securities
Jun. 30, 2014
Fair Value Option Securities
Time Warner Inc
Equity Securities
Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value Option Securities
Time Warner Inc
Equity Securities
Jun. 30, 2014
Fair Value Option Securities
Time Warner Cable Inc
Equity Securities
Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value Option Securities
Time Warner Cable Inc
Equity Securities
Jun. 30, 2014
Fair Value Option Securities
Viacom, Inc.
Equity Securities
Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value Option Securities
Viacom, Inc.
Equity Securities
Jun. 30, 2014
Fair Value Option Securities
Barnes & Noble, Inc.
Equity Securities
Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value Option Securities
Barnes & Noble, Inc.
Equity Securities
Jun. 30, 2014
Fair Value Option Securities
Other AFS Equity Securities
Equity Securities
Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value Option Securities
Other AFS Equity Securities
Equity Securities
Jun. 30, 2014
Fair Value Option Securities
Other AFS Debt Securities
Debt Securities
Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value Option Securities
Other AFS Debt Securities
Debt Securities
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]                                                  
Investments in available-for-sale securities and other cost investments $ 1,129   $ 1,324 $ 38 $ 47 $ 62 $ 71     $ 24 $ 24 $ 1,067 $ 1,253 $ 299 [1] $ 297 [1] $ 348 [1] $ 320 [1] $ 315 [1] $ 317 [1] $ 27 [2] $ 255 [2] $ 51 $ 37 $ 27 $ 27
Sale of stock, ownership percentage of cost investment after transaction                 2.00%                                
Percentage of shares sold               90.00%                                  
Proceeds from Sale of Available-for-sale Securities $ 247 $ 0           $ 247                                  
[1] See note 8 for details regarding the number and fair value of shares pledged as collateral pursuant to certain margin loan agreements as of June 30, 2014.
[2] In April 2014 Liberty reduced its overall ownership interest in Barnes & Noble, Inc. to less than 2% through the sale of approximately 90% of the preferred stock held by Liberty as of such date for $247 million in proceeds