v3.20.4
Revenue Recognition (Revenue Categories) (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Dec. 31, 2019
Dec. 31, 2018
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues $ 171,760 $ 181,193 $ 170,756
Wireless      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 57,435 57,530 56,482
Advanced Data      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 21,910 21,378 20,350
Legacy Voice & Data      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 10,950 12,318 14,004
Subscription      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 40,556 44,947 42,170
Content      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 9,819 13,880 8,384
Advertising      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 6,416 6,970 4,422
Other      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 5,681 6,476 6,533
Equipment      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 18,993 17,694 18,411
Operating Segments      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 175,008 184,581 171,958
Operating Segments | Communications      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 138,850 142,359 143,721
Operating Segments | Communications | Mobility      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 72,564 71,056 70,521
Operating Segments | Communications | Mobility | Wireless      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 55,251 55,039 54,063
Operating Segments | Communications | Mobility | Advanced Data      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | Communications | Mobility | Legacy Voice & Data      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | Communications | Mobility | Subscription      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | Communications | Mobility | Content      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | Communications | Mobility | Advertising      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 291 292 232
Operating Segments | Communications | Mobility | Other      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | Communications | Mobility | Equipment      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 17,022 15,725 16,226
Operating Segments | Communications | Video      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 28,610 32,124 33,363
Operating Segments | Communications | Video | Wireless      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | Communications | Video | Advanced Data      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | Communications | Video | Legacy Voice & Data      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | Communications | Video | Subscription      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 26,747 30,451 31,768
Operating Segments | Communications | Video | Content      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | Communications | Video | Advertising      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 1,718 1,672 1,595
Operating Segments | Communications | Video | Other      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | Communications | Video | Equipment      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 145 1 0
Operating Segments | Communications | Broadband      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 12,318 13,012 13,108
Operating Segments | Communications | Broadband | Wireless      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | Communications | Broadband | Advanced Data      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 8,534 8,403 7,956
Operating Segments | Communications | Broadband | Legacy Voice & Data      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 2,213 2,573 3,042
Operating Segments | Communications | Broadband | Subscription      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | Communications | Broadband | Content      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | Communications | Broadband | Advertising      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | Communications | Broadband | Other      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 1,564 2,029 2,101
Operating Segments | Communications | Broadband | Equipment      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 7 7 9
Operating Segments | Communications | Business Wireline      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 25,358 26,167 26,729
Operating Segments | Communications | Business Wireline | Wireless      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | Communications | Business Wireline | Advanced Data      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 13,330 12,916 12,234
Operating Segments | Communications | Business Wireline | Legacy Voice & Data      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 8,183 9,180 10,674
Operating Segments | Communications | Business Wireline | Subscription      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | Communications | Business Wireline | Content      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | Communications | Business Wireline | Advertising      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | Communications | Business Wireline | Other      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 3,075 3,286 2,998
Operating Segments | Communications | Business Wireline | Equipment      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 770 785 823
Operating Segments | WarnerMedia      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 30,442 35,259 20,585
Operating Segments | WarnerMedia | Turner      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 12,568 13,122 6,979
Operating Segments | WarnerMedia | Turner | Wireless      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | WarnerMedia | Turner | Advanced Data      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | WarnerMedia | Turner | Legacy Voice & Data      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | WarnerMedia | Turner | Subscription      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 7,613 7,736 4,207
Operating Segments | WarnerMedia | Turner | Content      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 759 481 295
Operating Segments | WarnerMedia | Turner | Advertising      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 3,941 4,566 2,330
Operating Segments | WarnerMedia | Turner | Other      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 255 339 147
Operating Segments | WarnerMedia | Turner | Equipment      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | WarnerMedia | Home Box Office      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 6,808 6,749 3,598
Operating Segments | WarnerMedia | Home Box Office | Wireless      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | WarnerMedia | Home Box Office | Advanced Data      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | WarnerMedia | Home Box Office | Legacy Voice & Data      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | WarnerMedia | Home Box Office | Subscription      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 6,090 5,814 3,201
Operating Segments | WarnerMedia | Home Box Office | Content      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 692 925 391
Operating Segments | WarnerMedia | Home Box Office | Advertising      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | WarnerMedia | Home Box Office | Other      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 26 10 6
Operating Segments | WarnerMedia | Home Box Office | Equipment      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | WarnerMedia | Warner Bros.      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 12,154 14,358 8,703
Operating Segments | WarnerMedia | Warner Bros. | Wireless      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | WarnerMedia | Warner Bros. | Advanced Data      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | WarnerMedia | Warner Bros. | Legacy Voice & Data      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | WarnerMedia | Warner Bros. | Subscription      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 50 88 47
Operating Segments | WarnerMedia | Warner Bros. | Content      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 11,632 13,532 8,216
Operating Segments | WarnerMedia | Warner Bros. | Advertising      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 6 41 53
Operating Segments | WarnerMedia | Warner Bros. | Other      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 466 697 387
Operating Segments | WarnerMedia | Warner Bros. | Equipment      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | Latin America      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 5,716 6,963 7,652
Operating Segments | Latin America | Vrio      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 3,154 4,094 4,784
Operating Segments | Latin America | Vrio | Wireless      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | Latin America | Vrio | Advanced Data      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | Latin America | Vrio | Legacy Voice & Data      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | Latin America | Vrio | Subscription      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 3,154 4,094 4,784
Operating Segments | Latin America | Vrio | Content      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | Latin America | Vrio | Advertising      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | Latin America | Vrio | Other      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | Latin America | Vrio | Equipment      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | Latin America | Mexico      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 2,562 2,869 2,868
Operating Segments | Latin America | Mexico | Wireless      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 1,656 1,863 1,701
Operating Segments | Latin America | Mexico | Advanced Data      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | Latin America | Mexico | Legacy Voice & Data      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | Latin America | Mexico | Subscription      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | Latin America | Mexico | Content      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | Latin America | Mexico | Advertising      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | Latin America | Mexico | Other      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Operating Segments | Latin America | Mexico | Equipment      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 906 1,006 1,167
Eliminations and other | WarnerMedia      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues (1,088) 1,030 1,305
Eliminations and other | WarnerMedia | Wireless      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Eliminations and other | WarnerMedia | Advanced Data      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Eliminations and other | WarnerMedia | Legacy Voice & Data      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Eliminations and other | WarnerMedia | Subscription      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 12 13 6
Eliminations and other | WarnerMedia | Content      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues (3,264) (1,058) (518)
Eliminations and other | WarnerMedia | Advertising      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 2,178 2,071 1,807
Eliminations and other | WarnerMedia | Other      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues (14) 4 10
Eliminations and other | WarnerMedia | Equipment      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Eliminations and other | WarnerMedia | Warner Bros. | Content sales with HBO Max      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 2,250    
Eliminations and other | WarnerMedia | Warner Bros. | Content sales with HBO Linear      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 600 500 225
Eliminations and other | WarnerMedia | Warner Bros. | Content sales with Turner      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 300 350 225
Corporate and Other      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 1,932 1,865 2,197
Corporate and Other | Wireless      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 528 628 718
Corporate and Other | Advanced Data      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 46 59 160
Corporate and Other | Legacy Voice & Data      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 554 565 288
Corporate and Other | Subscription      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Corporate and Other | Content      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Corporate and Other | Advertising      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Corporate and Other | Other      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 661 443 845
Corporate and Other | Equipment      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 143 170 186
Eliminations and consolidations      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues (5,180) (5,253) (3,399)
Eliminations and consolidations | Wireless      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Eliminations and consolidations | Advanced Data      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Eliminations and consolidations | Legacy Voice & Data      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Eliminations and consolidations | Subscription      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues (3,110) (3,249) (1,843)
Eliminations and consolidations | Content      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Eliminations and consolidations | Advertising      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues (1,718) (1,672) (1,595)
Eliminations and consolidations | Other      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues (352) (332) 39
Eliminations and consolidations | Equipment      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 0 0 0
Eliminations and consolidations | Video | Turner channel distribution arrangements with Entertainment Group      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 1,500 1,740 1,000
Eliminations and consolidations | Video | HBO linear channel distribution arrangements with Entertainment Group      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 950 $ 1,320 $ 700
Eliminations and consolidations | Video | HBO customer subscriptions at Mobility      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues 290    
Eliminations and consolidations | Broadband | HBO customer subscriptions at Mobility      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]      
Total operating revenues $ 180