v3.20.4

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions |  | 12 Months Ended |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Jan. 01, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Jan. 01, 2019 | Jan. 01, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Retained earnings |  | $ 37,457 | $ 57,936 |  |  |  |
Contract asset |  | 3,501 | 2,472 |  |  |  |
Deferred income tax liability |  | 60,472 | 59,502 |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling interest |  | 17,567 | 17,713 |  |  |  |
Operating lease liability |  | 25,739 | 25,255 |  |  |  |
Operating lease right-of-use assets |  | 24,714 | 24,039 |  |  |  |
Other current assets |  | (20,231) | (18,364) |  |  |  |
Cash |  | 2,842 |  |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents |  | 9,740 | 12,130 | $ 5,204 |  |  | $ 50,498
Equipment inventories |  | $ 3,592 | 2,864 |  |  |  |
Estimated period of ultimate revenues, from initial release or from delivery of first episode (years) |  | 10 years |  |  |  |  |
FCC licenses - typical term (in years) |  | 10 years |  |  |  |  |
Estimated economic useful life |  | 22 years 3 months 18 days |  |  |  |  |
Amortization expense |  | $ 8,239 | $ 7,932 | $ 8,347 |  |  |
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Common Stock (in dollars per share) |  | $ (0.75) | $ 1.89 | $ 2.85 |  |  |
Wireless licenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated economic useful life |  | 24 years 7 months 6 days |  |  |  |  |
Orbital slots |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated economic useful life |  | 15 years |  |  |  |  |
Money Market Funds and Other Cash Equivalents |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash equivalents |  | $ 6,898 |  |  |  |  |
Foreign Jurisdictions |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents |  | $ 2,205 |  |  |  |  |
Minimum | Software |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amortization period for capitalized software costs |  | 3 years |  |  |  |  |
Maximum | Software |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amortization period for capitalized software costs |  | 7 years |  |  |  |  |
Mexico | Wireless licenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated economic useful life |  | 25 years |  |  |  |  |
Communications | Orbital slots | Intangible Assets, Amortization Period |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated economic useful life | 15 years |  |  |  |  |  |
Amortization expense |  | $ 1,504 |  |  |  |  |
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Common Stock (in dollars per share) |  | $ 0.16 |  |  |  |  |
Latin America | Trade names | Intangible Assets, Amortization Period |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated economic useful life |  | 15 years |  |  |  |  |
ASU 2016-13 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Retained earnings | $ (293) |  |  |  |  |  |
Allowance for credit loss | 395 |  |  |  |  |  |
Contract asset | (10) |  |  |  |  |  |
Deferred income tax liability | (105) |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling interest | $ (7) |  |  |  |  |  |
ASU 2016-02 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Retained earnings |  |  |  |  | $ 316 |  |
Operating lease liability |  |  |  |  | 22,121 |  |
Operating lease right-of-use assets |  |  |  |  | 22,121 |  |
Net Assets |  |  |  |  | 20,960 |  |
ASU 2019-02 | Programming Inventory Costs |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other current assets |  |  |  |  | 2,274 |  |
Other assets |  |  |  |  | $ 2,274 |  |
ASU 2014-09 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Retained earnings |  |  |  |  |  | $ 2,342 |
Contract asset |  |  |  |  |  | 1,737 |
Deferred income tax liability |  |  |  |  |  | 787 |
Noncontrolling interest |  |  |  |  |  | 35 |
Other assets |  |  |  |  |  | (239) |
Deferred contract acquisition costs |  |  |  |  |  | 1,454 |
Other liabilities |  |  |  |  |  | (212) |
ASU 2016-01 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Retained earnings |  |  |  |  |  | $ 658 |

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