v2.4.1.9
Pension Plans and Postretirement Benefits (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Severance costs $ 152us-gaap_SeveranceCosts1 $ 160us-gaap_SeveranceCosts1 $ 155us-gaap_SeveranceCosts1
Multiemployer Plans Funded Status At least 80 percent    
NBCUniversal Media, LLC [Member]      
Severance costs 113us-gaap_SeveranceCosts1
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
116us-gaap_SeveranceCosts1
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
90us-gaap_SeveranceCosts1
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
Multiemployer Plans Funded Status At least 80 percent    
Postretirement Benefits [Member]      
Plan funded status (837)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFundedStatusOfPlan
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
(633)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFundedStatusOfPlan
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
(703)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFundedStatusOfPlan
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Postretirement Benefits [Member] | NBCUniversal Media, LLC [Member]      
Plan funded status (209)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFundedStatusOfPlan
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
(158)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFundedStatusOfPlan
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
(177)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFundedStatusOfPlan
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
Pension Benefits [Member]      
Multiemployer plan contributions 58us-gaap_MultiemployerPlanPeriodContributions
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
59us-gaap_MultiemployerPlanPeriodContributions
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
40us-gaap_MultiemployerPlanPeriodContributions
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Plan funded status (339)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFundedStatusOfPlan
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
(278)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFundedStatusOfPlan
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
(402)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFundedStatusOfPlan
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Contribution to fully fund and settle plan   55us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanSettlementsPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
 
Reclassification adjustment from accumulated other comprehensive income before tax   74us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
 
Pension Benefits [Member] | NBCUniversal Media, LLC [Member]      
Multiemployer plan contributions 58us-gaap_MultiemployerPlanPeriodContributions
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
59us-gaap_MultiemployerPlanPeriodContributions
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
40us-gaap_MultiemployerPlanPeriodContributions
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
Plan funded status (339)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFundedStatusOfPlan
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
(278)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFundedStatusOfPlan
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
(329)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFundedStatusOfPlan
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
Deferred Compensation Plans [Member]      
Cash surrender value of life insurance policies 628us-gaap_CashSurrenderValueOfLifeInsurance
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= cmcsa_DeferredCompensationPlansMember
565us-gaap_CashSurrenderValueOfLifeInsurance
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= cmcsa_DeferredCompensationPlansMember
 
Retirement Investment Plans [Member]      
Expenses related to retirement investment plans 379us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= cmcsa_RetirementInvestmentPlansMember
324us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= cmcsa_RetirementInvestmentPlansMember
246us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= cmcsa_RetirementInvestmentPlansMember
Retirement Investment Plans [Member] | NBCUniversal Media, LLC [Member]      
Expenses related to retirement investment plans 165us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= cmcsa_RetirementInvestmentPlansMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
152us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= cmcsa_RetirementInvestmentPlansMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
85us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= cmcsa_RetirementInvestmentPlansMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
NBCUniversal Qualified Pension Plan [Member]      
Plan funded status 16us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFundedStatusOfPlan
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= cmcsa_NbcuniversalQualifiedPensionPlanMember
   
NBCUniversal Qualified Pension Plan [Member] | NBCUniversal Media, LLC [Member]      
Plan funded status 16us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFundedStatusOfPlan
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= cmcsa_NbcuniversalQualifiedPensionPlanMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
   
Benefit obligations in excess of plan assets 51us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPlansWithBenefitObligationsInExcessOfPlanAssetsAggregateFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= cmcsa_NbcuniversalQualifiedPensionPlanMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
43us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPlansWithBenefitObligationsInExcessOfPlanAssetsAggregateFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= cmcsa_NbcuniversalQualifiedPensionPlanMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
 
Postretirement and Other Benefits [Member]      
Multiemployer plan contributions 125us-gaap_MultiemployerPlanPeriodContributions
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= cmcsa_PostretirementAndOtherBenefitsMember
98us-gaap_MultiemployerPlanPeriodContributions
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= cmcsa_PostretirementAndOtherBenefitsMember
114us-gaap_MultiemployerPlanPeriodContributions
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= cmcsa_PostretirementAndOtherBenefitsMember
Postretirement and Other Benefits [Member] | NBCUniversal Media, LLC [Member]      
Multiemployer plan contributions $ 125us-gaap_MultiemployerPlanPeriodContributions
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= cmcsa_PostretirementAndOtherBenefitsMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
$ 98us-gaap_MultiemployerPlanPeriodContributions
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= cmcsa_PostretirementAndOtherBenefitsMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
$ 114us-gaap_MultiemployerPlanPeriodContributions
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= cmcsa_PostretirementAndOtherBenefitsMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember