Segment Information (Summary Of Operating Revenues And Expenses By Segment) (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions |
12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2020 |
Dec. 31, 2019 |
Dec. 31, 2018 |
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Revenues |
$ 171,760
|
$ 181,193
|
$ 170,756
|
| Operations and Support Expenses |
136,839
|
125,021
|
116,230
|
| EBITDA |
34,921
|
56,172
|
54,526
|
| Depreciation and Amortization |
28,516
|
28,217
|
28,430
|
| Operating Income (Loss) |
6,405
|
27,955
|
26,096
|
| Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates |
95
|
6
|
(48)
|
| Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes |
(2,856)
|
18,468
|
24,873
|
| Reclassification of prior service credit amortization |
2,442
|
1,934
|
1,753
|
| Operating Segments |
|
|
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Revenues |
175,008
|
184,581
|
171,958
|
| Operations and Support Expenses |
116,856
|
122,435
|
113,758
|
| EBITDA |
58,152
|
62,146
|
58,200
|
| Depreciation and Amortization |
20,192
|
20,080
|
19,841
|
| Operating Income (Loss) |
37,960
|
42,066
|
38,359
|
| Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates |
42
|
188
|
59
|
| Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes |
38,002
|
42,254
|
38,418
|
| Corporate |
|
|
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Revenues |
1,932
|
1,937
|
2,246
|
| Operations and Support Expenses |
3,974
|
3,279
|
2,335
|
| EBITDA |
(2,042)
|
(1,342)
|
(89)
|
| Depreciation and Amortization |
300
|
636
|
1,633
|
| Operating Income (Loss) |
(2,342)
|
(1,978)
|
(1,722)
|
| Reconciling Items |
|
|
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates |
(42)
|
(188)
|
(59)
|
| Acquisition-related items |
|
|
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Revenues |
0
|
(72)
|
(49)
|
| Operations and Support Expenses |
468
|
960
|
1,185
|
| EBITDA |
(468)
|
(1,032)
|
(1,234)
|
| Depreciation and Amortization |
8,012
|
7,460
|
6,931
|
| Operating Income (Loss) |
(8,480)
|
(8,492)
|
(8,165)
|
| Certain significant items |
|
|
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Revenues |
0
|
0
|
0
|
| Operations and Support Expenses |
19,156
|
2,082
|
899
|
| EBITDA |
(19,156)
|
(2,082)
|
(899)
|
| Depreciation and Amortization |
14
|
43
|
26
|
| Operating Income (Loss) |
(19,170)
|
(2,125)
|
(925)
|
| Eliminations and consolidations |
|
|
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Revenues |
(5,180)
|
(5,253)
|
(3,399)
|
| Operations and Support Expenses |
(3,615)
|
(3,735)
|
(1,947)
|
| EBITDA |
(1,565)
|
(1,518)
|
(1,452)
|
| Depreciation and Amortization |
(2)
|
(2)
|
(1)
|
| Operating Income (Loss) |
(1,563)
|
(1,516)
|
(1,451)
|
| Communications | Operating Segments |
|
|
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Revenues |
138,850
|
142,359
|
143,721
|
| Operations and Support Expenses |
89,841
|
91,800
|
93,321
|
| EBITDA |
49,009
|
50,559
|
50,400
|
| Depreciation and Amortization |
18,488
|
18,329
|
18,292
|
| Operating Income (Loss) |
30,521
|
32,230
|
32,108
|
| Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates |
0
|
0
|
0
|
| Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes |
30,521
|
32,230
|
32,108
|
| Communications | Mobility | Operating Segments |
|
|
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Revenues |
72,564
|
71,056
|
70,521
|
| Operations and Support Expenses |
42,106
|
40,681
|
40,690
|
| EBITDA |
30,458
|
30,375
|
29,831
|
| Depreciation and Amortization |
8,086
|
8,054
|
8,263
|
| Operating Income (Loss) |
22,372
|
22,321
|
21,568
|
| Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates |
0
|
0
|
0
|
| Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes |
22,372
|
22,321
|
21,568
|
| Communications | Video | Operating Segments |
|
|
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Revenues |
28,610
|
32,124
|
33,363
|
| Operations and Support Expenses |
24,619
|
27,599
|
29,334
|
| EBITDA |
3,991
|
4,525
|
4,029
|
| Depreciation and Amortization |
2,262
|
2,461
|
2,698
|
| Operating Income (Loss) |
1,729
|
2,064
|
1,331
|
| Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates |
0
|
0
|
0
|
| Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes |
1,729
|
2,064
|
1,331
|
| Communications | Broadband | Operating Segments |
|
|
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Revenues |
12,318
|
13,012
|
13,108
|
| Operations and Support Expenses |
7,582
|
7,451
|
7,116
|
| EBITDA |
4,736
|
5,561
|
5,992
|
| Depreciation and Amortization |
2,914
|
2,880
|
2,623
|
| Operating Income (Loss) |
1,822
|
2,681
|
3,369
|
| Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates |
0
|
0
|
0
|
| Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes |
1,822
|
2,681
|
3,369
|
| Communications | Business Wireline | Operating Segments |
|
|
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Revenues |
25,358
|
26,167
|
26,729
|
| Operations and Support Expenses |
15,534
|
16,069
|
16,181
|
| EBITDA |
9,824
|
10,098
|
10,548
|
| Depreciation and Amortization |
5,226
|
4,934
|
4,708
|
| Operating Income (Loss) |
4,598
|
5,164
|
5,840
|
| Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates |
0
|
0
|
0
|
| Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes |
4,598
|
5,164
|
5,840
|
| WarnerMedia | Operating Segments |
|
|
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Revenues |
30,442
|
35,259
|
20,585
|
| Operations and Support Expenses |
21,579
|
24,172
|
13,279
|
| EBITDA |
8,863
|
11,087
|
7,306
|
| Depreciation and Amortization |
671
|
589
|
311
|
| Operating Income (Loss) |
8,192
|
10,498
|
6,995
|
| Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates |
18
|
161
|
25
|
| Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes |
8,210
|
10,659
|
7,020
|
| WarnerMedia | Eliminations and other |
|
|
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Revenues |
(1,088)
|
1,030
|
1,305
|
| Operations and Support Expenses |
(1,320)
|
304
|
168
|
| EBITDA |
232
|
726
|
1,137
|
| Depreciation and Amortization |
127
|
90
|
28
|
| Operating Income (Loss) |
105
|
636
|
1,109
|
| Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates |
74
|
109
|
(30)
|
| Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes |
179
|
745
|
1,079
|
| WarnerMedia | Turner | Operating Segments |
|
|
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Revenues |
12,568
|
13,122
|
6,979
|
| Operations and Support Expenses |
6,954
|
7,740
|
3,794
|
| EBITDA |
5,614
|
5,382
|
3,185
|
| Depreciation and Amortization |
277
|
235
|
131
|
| Operating Income (Loss) |
5,337
|
5,147
|
3,054
|
| Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates |
(2)
|
52
|
54
|
| Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes |
5,335
|
5,199
|
3,108
|
| WarnerMedia | Home Box Office | Operating Segments |
|
|
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Revenues |
6,808
|
6,749
|
3,598
|
| Operations and Support Expenses |
6,028
|
4,312
|
2,187
|
| EBITDA |
780
|
2,437
|
1,411
|
| Depreciation and Amortization |
98
|
102
|
56
|
| Operating Income (Loss) |
682
|
2,335
|
1,355
|
| Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates |
16
|
30
|
29
|
| Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes |
698
|
2,365
|
1,384
|
| WarnerMedia | Warner Bros. | Operating Segments |
|
|
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Revenues |
12,154
|
14,358
|
8,703
|
| Operations and Support Expenses |
9,917
|
11,816
|
7,130
|
| EBITDA |
2,237
|
2,542
|
1,573
|
| Depreciation and Amortization |
169
|
162
|
96
|
| Operating Income (Loss) |
2,068
|
2,380
|
1,477
|
| Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates |
(70)
|
(30)
|
(28)
|
| Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes |
1,998
|
2,350
|
1,449
|
| Latin America | Operating Segments |
|
|
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Revenues |
5,716
|
6,963
|
7,652
|
| Operations and Support Expenses |
5,436
|
6,463
|
7,158
|
| EBITDA |
280
|
500
|
494
|
| Depreciation and Amortization |
1,033
|
1,162
|
1,238
|
| Operating Income (Loss) |
(753)
|
(662)
|
(744)
|
| Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates |
24
|
27
|
34
|
| Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes |
(729)
|
(635)
|
(710)
|
| Latin America | Vrio | Operating Segments |
|
|
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Revenues |
3,154
|
4,094
|
4,784
|
| Operations and Support Expenses |
2,800
|
3,378
|
3,743
|
| EBITDA |
354
|
716
|
1,041
|
| Depreciation and Amortization |
520
|
660
|
728
|
| Operating Income (Loss) |
(166)
|
56
|
313
|
| Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates |
24
|
27
|
34
|
| Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes |
(142)
|
83
|
347
|
| Latin America | Mexico | Operating Segments |
|
|
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Revenues |
2,562
|
2,869
|
2,868
|
| Operations and Support Expenses |
2,636
|
3,085
|
3,415
|
| EBITDA |
(74)
|
(216)
|
(547)
|
| Depreciation and Amortization |
513
|
502
|
510
|
| Operating Income (Loss) |
(587)
|
(718)
|
(1,057)
|
| Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates |
0
|
0
|
0
|
| Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes |
$ (587)
|
$ (718)
|
$ (1,057)
|