v2.4.1.9
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Operating Activities      
Net income $ 8,592,000,000us-gaap_ProfitLoss $ 7,135,000,000us-gaap_ProfitLoss $ 7,865,000,000us-gaap_ProfitLoss
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:      
Depreciation and amortization 8,019,000,000us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization 7,871,000,000us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization 7,798,000,000us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization
Share-based compensation 513,000,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation 419,000,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation 371,000,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
Noncash interest expense (income), net 180,000,000cmcsa_NoncashInterestExpenseIncomeNet 167,000,000cmcsa_NoncashInterestExpenseIncomeNet 193,000,000cmcsa_NoncashInterestExpenseIncomeNet
Equity in net (income) losses of investees, net (97,000,000)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments 86,000,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments (959,000,000)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
Cash received from investees 104,000,000us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributions 120,000,000us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributions 195,000,000us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributions
Net (gain) loss on investment activity and other 4,000,000cmcsa_GainLossOnInvestmentsAndNoncashOtherIncomeExpenseNet (169,000,000)cmcsa_GainLossOnInvestmentsAndNoncashOtherIncomeExpenseNet (1,062,000,000)cmcsa_GainLossOnInvestmentsAndNoncashOtherIncomeExpenseNet
Deferred income taxes 1,165,000,000us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 16,000,000us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 139,000,000us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and divestitures:      
Current and noncurrent receivables, net (33,000,000)cmcsa_ChangeInCurrentAndNoncurrentReceivablesNet (721,000,000)cmcsa_ChangeInCurrentAndNoncurrentReceivablesNet (823,000,000)cmcsa_ChangeInCurrentAndNoncurrentReceivablesNet
Film and television costs, net (562,000,000)cmcsa_FilmAndTelevisionCostsNet 44,000,000cmcsa_FilmAndTelevisionCostsNet 22,000,000cmcsa_FilmAndTelevisionCostsNet
Accounts payable and accrued expenses related to trade creditors 153,000,000us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities (667,000,000)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities 366,000,000us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities
Other operating assets and liabilities (1,093,000,000)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingCapitalNet (141,000,000)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingCapitalNet 749,000,000us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingCapitalNet
Net cash provided by operating activities 16,945,000,000us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities 14,160,000,000us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities 14,854,000,000us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities
Investing Activities      
Capital expenditures (7,420,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment (6,596,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment (5,714,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment
Cash paid for intangible assets (1,122,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireIntangibleAssets (1,009,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireIntangibleAssets (923,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireIntangibleAssets
Acquisitions and construction of real estate properties (43,000,000)cmcsa_PaymentsForAcquisitionsAndConstructionOfRealEstateProperties (1,904,000,000)cmcsa_PaymentsForAcquisitionsAndConstructionOfRealEstateProperties 0cmcsa_PaymentsForAcquisitionsAndConstructionOfRealEstateProperties
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired (477,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired (99,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired (90,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired
Proceeds from sales of businesses and investments 666,000,000cmcsa_ProceedsFromSalesOfBusinessesAndInvestments 1,083,000,000cmcsa_ProceedsFromSalesOfBusinessesAndInvestments 3,102,000,000cmcsa_ProceedsFromSalesOfBusinessesAndInvestments
Return of capital from investees 25,000,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromEquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributionsReturnOfCapital 149,000,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromEquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributionsReturnOfCapital 2,362,000,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromEquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributionsReturnOfCapital
Purchases of investments (191,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireInvestments (1,223,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireInvestments (297,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireInvestments
Other (171,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities 85,000,000us-gaap_PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities 74,000,000us-gaap_PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities (8,733,000,000)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities (9,514,000,000)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities (1,486,000,000)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities
Financing Activities      
Proceeds from (repayments of) short-term borrowings, net (504,000,000)us-gaap_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfShortTermDebt 1,345,000,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfShortTermDebt (544,000,000)us-gaap_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfShortTermDebt
Proceeds from borrowings 4,182,000,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromOtherDebt 2,933,000,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromOtherDebt 4,544,000,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromOtherDebt
Repurchases and repayments of debt (3,175,000,000)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfOtherDebt (2,444,000,000)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfOtherDebt (2,881,000,000)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfOtherDebt
Repurchases and retirements of common stock (4,251,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock (2,000,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock (3,000,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock
Dividends paid (2,254,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends (1,964,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends (1,608,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends
Issuances of common stock 35,000,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock 40,000,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock 233,000,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock
Purchase of NBCUniversal noncontrolling common equity interest 0us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireAdditionalInterestInSubsidiaries (10,761,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireAdditionalInterestInSubsidiaries 0us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireAdditionalInterestInSubsidiaries
Distributions to noncontrolling interests and dividends for redeemable subsidiary preferred stock (220,000,000)cmcsa_DistributionsToNoncontrollingInterestsAndDividendsForRedeemableSubsidiaryPreferredStock (215,000,000)cmcsa_DistributionsToNoncontrollingInterestsAndDividendsForRedeemableSubsidiaryPreferredStock (691,000,000)cmcsa_DistributionsToNoncontrollingInterestsAndDividendsForRedeemableSubsidiaryPreferredStock
Settlement of Station Venture liability 0cmcsa_SettlementOfStationVentureLiability (602,000,000)cmcsa_SettlementOfStationVentureLiability 0cmcsa_SettlementOfStationVentureLiability
Other 167,000,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities (211,000,000)us-gaap_ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities (90,000,000)us-gaap_ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (6,020,000,000)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities (13,879,000,000)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities (4,037,000,000)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 2,192,000,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease (9,233,000,000)us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease 9,331,000,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year 1,718,000,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue 10,951,000,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue 1,620,000,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year 3,910,000,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue 1,718,000,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue 10,951,000,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
NBCUniversal Media, LLC [Member]      
Operating Activities      
Net income 3,297,000,000us-gaap_ProfitLoss
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
2,122,000,000us-gaap_ProfitLoss
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
3,231,000,000us-gaap_ProfitLoss
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:      
Depreciation and amortization 1,495,000,000us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
1,411,000,000us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
1,326,000,000us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
Share-based compensation 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
7,000,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
7,000,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
Equity in net (income) losses of investees, net (46,000,000)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
93,000,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
(183,000,000)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
Cash received from investees 74,000,000us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributions
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
90,000,000us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributions
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
189,000,000us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributions
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
Net (gain) loss on investment activity and other 136,000,000cmcsa_GainLossOnInvestmentsAndNoncashOtherIncomeExpenseNet
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
345,000,000cmcsa_GainLossOnInvestmentsAndNoncashOtherIncomeExpenseNet
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
(1,093,000,000)cmcsa_GainLossOnInvestmentsAndNoncashOtherIncomeExpenseNet
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
Deferred income taxes (12,000,000)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
(10,000,000)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
15,000,000us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and divestitures:      
Current and noncurrent receivables, net (25,000,000)cmcsa_ChangeInCurrentAndNoncurrentReceivablesNet
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
(752,000,000)cmcsa_ChangeInCurrentAndNoncurrentReceivablesNet
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
(643,000,000)cmcsa_ChangeInCurrentAndNoncurrentReceivablesNet
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
Film and television costs, net (571,000,000)cmcsa_FilmAndTelevisionCostsNet
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
2,000,000cmcsa_FilmAndTelevisionCostsNet
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
100,000,000cmcsa_FilmAndTelevisionCostsNet
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
Accounts payable and accrued expenses related to trade creditors (88,000,000)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
(789,000,000)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
51,000,000us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
Other operating assets and liabilities 264,000,000us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingCapitalNet
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
505,000,000us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingCapitalNet
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
333,000,000us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingCapitalNet
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
Net cash provided by operating activities 4,524,000,000us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
3,024,000,000us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
3,333,000,000us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
Investing Activities      
Capital expenditures (1,221,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
(1,160,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
(763,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
Cash paid for intangible assets (130,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireIntangibleAssets
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
(113,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireIntangibleAssets
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
(113,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireIntangibleAssets
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
Acquisitions of real estate properties 0us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBuildings
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
(1,705,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBuildings
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
0us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBuildings
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired (118,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
(111,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
(90,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
Proceeds from sales of businesses and investments 13,000,000cmcsa_ProceedsFromSalesOfBusinessesAndInvestments
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
2,000,000cmcsa_ProceedsFromSalesOfBusinessesAndInvestments
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
3,026,000,000cmcsa_ProceedsFromSalesOfBusinessesAndInvestments
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
Return of capital from investees 24,000,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromEquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributionsReturnOfCapital
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
131,000,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromEquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributionsReturnOfCapital
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
75,000,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromEquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributionsReturnOfCapital
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
Purchases of investments (35,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireInvestments
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
(236,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireInvestments
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
(117,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireInvestments
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
Other (146,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
(20,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
(9,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities (1,613,000,000)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
(3,212,000,000)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
2,009,000,000us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
Financing Activities      
Proceeds from (repayments of) short-term borrowings, net 0us-gaap_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfShortTermDebt
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
0us-gaap_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfShortTermDebt
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
(550,000,000)us-gaap_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfShortTermDebt
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
Proceeds from borrowings 0us-gaap_ProceedsFromOtherDebt
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
0us-gaap_ProceedsFromOtherDebt
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
1,995,000,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromOtherDebt
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
Repurchases and repayments of debt (906,000,000)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfOtherDebt
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
(92,000,000)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfOtherDebt
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
(413,000,000)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfOtherDebt
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
Proceeds from (repayments of) borrowings from Comcast, net 97,000,000cmcsa_ProceedsFromNoteReceivableIssuedToAndBorrowingsFromComcast
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
799,000,000cmcsa_ProceedsFromNoteReceivableIssuedToAndBorrowingsFromComcast
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
0cmcsa_ProceedsFromNoteReceivableIssuedToAndBorrowingsFromComcast
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
Redemption transaction distribution 0cmcsa_RedemptionTransactionDistribution
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
(3,200,000,000)cmcsa_RedemptionTransactionDistribution
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
0cmcsa_RedemptionTransactionDistribution
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
Distributions to member (1,641,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsOfCapitalDistribution
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
(1,422,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsOfCapitalDistribution
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
(964,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsOfCapitalDistribution
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
Distributions to noncontrolling interests (177,000,000)us-gaap_MinorityInterestDecreaseFromDistributionsToNoncontrollingInterestHolders
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
(183,000,000)us-gaap_MinorityInterestDecreaseFromDistributionsToNoncontrollingInterestHolders
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
(216,000,000)us-gaap_MinorityInterestDecreaseFromDistributionsToNoncontrollingInterestHolders
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
Settlement of Station Venture liability 0cmcsa_SettlementOfStationVentureLiability
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
(602,000,000)cmcsa_SettlementOfStationVentureLiability
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
0cmcsa_SettlementOfStationVentureLiability
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
Other (3,000,000)us-gaap_ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
(66,000,000)us-gaap_ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
(81,000,000)us-gaap_ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (2,630,000,000)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
(4,766,000,000)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
(229,000,000)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 281,000,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
(4,954,000,000)us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
5,113,000,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year 967,000,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
5,921,000,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
808,000,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year $ 1,248,000,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
$ 967,000,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember
$ 5,921,000,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cmcsa_NBCUniversalMediaLLCMember