v3.7.0.1
Financial Data by Business Segment (Details)
$ in Millions
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017
USD ($)
segment
Mar. 31, 2016
USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Number of reportable segments | segment 5  
Revenue $ 20,463 $ 18,790
Adjusted EBITDA 7,032 6,367
Depreciation and amortization 2,502 2,278
Operating income (loss) 4,530 4,089
Capital Expenditures 2,078 1,885
Cash paid for intangible assets $ 416 378
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Major Customers No single customer accounted for a significant amount of revenue in any period.  
NBCUniversal Media LLC [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Number of reportable segments | segment 4  
Revenue $ 7,868 6,861
Adjusted EBITDA 2,017 1,622
Depreciation and amortization 508 414
Operating income (loss) 1,509 1,208
Capital Expenditures 285 295
Cash paid for intangible assets $ 55 52
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Major Customers No single customer accounted for a significant amount of revenue in any period.  
NBCUniversal [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Revenue $ 7,868 6,861
Adjusted EBITDA 2,017 1,622
Depreciation and amortization 508 414
Operating income (loss) 1,509 1,208
Capital Expenditures 285 295
Cash paid for intangible assets 55 52
Operating Segments [Member] | Cable Communications [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Revenue 12,912 12,204
Adjusted EBITDA 5,198 4,889
Depreciation and amortization 1,980 1,843
Operating income (loss) 3,218 3,046
Capital Expenditures 1,781 1,576
Cash paid for intangible assets $ 352 $ 324
Cable segment revenue types as percentage of total cable revenue 100.00% 100.00%
Operating Segments [Member] | Cable Networks [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Revenue $ 2,641 $ 2,453
Adjusted EBITDA 1,116 956
Depreciation and amortization 214 190
Operating income (loss) 902 766
Capital Expenditures 2 1
Cash paid for intangible assets 3 1
Operating Segments [Member] | Cable Networks [Member] | NBCUniversal Media LLC [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Revenue 2,641 2,453
Adjusted EBITDA 1,116 956
Depreciation and amortization 214 190
Operating income (loss) 902 766
Capital Expenditures 2 1
Cash paid for intangible assets 3 1
Operating Segments [Member] | Broadcast Television [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Revenue 2,208 2,084
Adjusted EBITDA 322 284
Depreciation and amortization 32 32
Operating income (loss) 290 252
Capital Expenditures 29 19
Cash paid for intangible assets 3 3
Operating Segments [Member] | Broadcast Television [Member] | NBCUniversal Media LLC [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Revenue 2,208 2,084
Adjusted EBITDA 322 284
Depreciation and amortization 32 32
Operating income (loss) 290 252
Capital Expenditures 29 19
Cash paid for intangible assets 3 3
Operating Segments [Member] | Filmed Entertainment [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Revenue 1,981 1,383
Adjusted EBITDA 368 167
Depreciation and amortization 21 8
Operating income (loss) 347 159
Capital Expenditures 10 3
Cash paid for intangible assets 5 3
Operating Segments [Member] | Filmed Entertainment [Member] | NBCUniversal Media LLC [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Revenue 1,981 1,383
Adjusted EBITDA 368 167
Depreciation and amortization 21 8
Operating income (loss) 347 159
Capital Expenditures 10 3
Cash paid for intangible assets 5 3
Operating Segments [Member] | Theme Parks [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Revenue 1,118 1,026
Adjusted EBITDA 397 375
Depreciation and amortization 142 98
Operating income (loss) 255 277
Capital Expenditures 229 200
Cash paid for intangible assets 13 9
Operating Segments [Member] | Theme Parks [Member] | NBCUniversal Media LLC [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Revenue 1,118 1,026
Adjusted EBITDA 397 375
Depreciation and amortization 142 98
Operating income (loss) 255 277
Capital Expenditures 229 200
Cash paid for intangible assets 13 9
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Revenue 208 199
Adjusted EBITDA (194) (154)
Depreciation and amortization 14 21
Operating income (loss) (208) (175)
Capital Expenditures 12 14
Cash paid for intangible assets 9 2
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member] | NBCUniversal Media LLC [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Revenue 8 3
Adjusted EBITDA (185) (160)
Depreciation and amortization 99 86
Operating income (loss) (284) (246)
Capital Expenditures 15 72
Cash paid for intangible assets 31 36
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member] | NBCUniversal [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Revenue 8 3
Adjusted EBITDA (185) (160)
Depreciation and amortization 99 86
Operating income (loss) (284) (246)
Capital Expenditures 15 72
Cash paid for intangible assets 31 36
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Revenue (525) (474)
Adjusted EBITDA 11 10
Depreciation and amortization 0 0
Operating income (loss) 11 10
Capital Expenditures 0 0
Cash paid for intangible assets 0 0
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member] | NBCUniversal Media LLC [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Revenue (88) (88)
Adjusted EBITDA (1) 0
Depreciation and amortization 0 0
Operating income (loss) (1) 0
Capital Expenditures 0 0
Cash paid for intangible assets 0 0
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member] | NBCUniversal [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Revenue (88) (88)
Adjusted EBITDA (1) 0
Depreciation and amortization 0 0
Operating income (loss) (1) 0
Capital Expenditures 0 0
Cash paid for intangible assets $ 0 $ 0
Residential Video Products And Services [Member] | Cable Communications [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Cable segment revenue types as percentage of total cable revenue 44.70% 45.40%
Residential High-speed Internet Products And Services [Member] | Cable Communications [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Cable segment revenue types as percentage of total cable revenue 27.90% 26.80%
Residential Voice Products And Services [Member] | Cable Communications [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Cable segment revenue types as percentage of total cable revenue 6.70% 7.30%
Business Products And Services [Member] | Cable Communications [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Cable segment revenue types as percentage of total cable revenue 11.50% 10.70%
Advertising Products And Services [Member] | Cable Communications [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Cable segment revenue types as percentage of total cable revenue 4.00% 4.50%
Other Products And Services [Member] | Cable Communications [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Cable segment revenue types as percentage of total cable revenue 5.20% 5.30%
Franchise And Other Regulatory Fees [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | Cable Communications [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Cable segment revenue types as percentage of total cable revenue 2.80% 2.90%