Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified |
12 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dec. 31, 2013
|
Dec. 31, 2012
|
Dec. 31, 2011
|
Dec. 31, 2012
TruePosition [Member]
|
Mar. 31, 2011
TruePosition [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2013
Minimum [Member]
Equipment [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2013
Minimum [Member]
Building and Building Improvements [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2013
Minimum [Member]
Satellite system [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2012
Maximum [Member]
Equipment [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2012
Maximum [Member]
Building and Building Improvements [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2012
Maximum [Member]
Satellite system [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2013
Programming and content expense [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2012
Programming and content expense [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Programming and content expense [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2013
Customer service and billing [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2012
Customer service and billing [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Customer service and billing [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2013
Other cost of subscriber services [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2012
Other cost of subscriber services [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Other cost of subscriber services [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2013
Other Operating Expense [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2012
Other Operating Expense [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Other Operating Expense [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2013
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2012
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Segment, Â鶹×îгöÆ· Starz [Member]
|
|
Land | $ 59 | $ 13 | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý |
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | 15 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 153 | 46 | 25 | Ìý |
Depreciation | 200 | 23 | 24 | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý |
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic | 118 | 120 | 85 | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | 51 |
Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment | 2 | 4 | 3 | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | 2 |
Advertising Expense | 181 | 4 | 4 | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý |
Share-based Compensation | 193 | 46 | 25 | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý |
Deferred Revenue, Revenue Recognized | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | 491 | 538 | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý |
Amortization of Deferred Charges | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | 242 | 167 | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Minimum | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | 3 years | 10 years | 2 years | 20 years | 40 years | 15 years | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý |
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current | 4 | 1 | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý |
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized | 65 | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý |
Total Value Of Non Strategic Securities | 1,253 | 1,079 | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý |
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition | 1 year 4 months 24 days | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý |
Provision for Doubtful Accounts | 4 | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý |
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses, Charge-offs | (1) | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý |
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted | 120 | 124 | 88 | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | 53 |
Capitalized expenditures, including interest | 87 | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý |
Buildings and improvements | 157 | 149 | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý |
Support equipment | 257 | 167 | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý |
Satellite system | 1,573 | 0 | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý |
Construction in progress | 103 | 0 | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross | $ 2,149 | $ 329 | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý |