v3.3.1.900

Long-lived Assets (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Mar. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property and equipment, net | $ 23,840,600,000 |  | $ 23,974,900,000 | $ 23,974,900,000 | $ 23,840,600,000 | $ 23,974,900,000 |
Assets acquired under capital leases |  |  |  |  | 127,200,000 | 143,000,000 | $ 63,100,000
Non-cash increases related to vendor financing arrangements |  |  |  |  | (975,300,000) | (573,500,000) | (246,500,000)
Value added tax, vendor financing arrangement |  |  |  |  | 114,900,000 | 46,000,000 | 28,500,000
Restructuring charges |  |  |  |  | 166,900,000 | 178,700,000 |
Goodwill | 29,001,600,000 |  | 23,748,800,000 | 23,748,800,000 | 29,001,600,000 | 23,748,800,000 | 13,877,600,000
Franchise Rights and Other Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amount of franchise rights and other indefinite-lived intangible assets included in other assets, net, on the consolidated balance sheets | 557,000,000 |  | 470,200,000 | 470,200,000 | $ 557,000,000 | 470,200,000 |
Puerto Rico [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percent of hypothetical decline In fair value of reporting units |  |  |  |  | 20.00% |  |
Goodwill | 347,000,000 |  |  |  | $ 347,000,000 |  |
European Operations Division Central and Eastern Europe [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill | 1,302,100,000 |  | 1,520,100,000 | 1,520,100,000 | 1,302,100,000 | 1,520,100,000 | 1,509,500,000
Accumulated goodwill impairment losses | 209,700,000 |  | 239,600,000 | 239,600,000 | 209,700,000 | 239,600,000 |
Contract termination [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring charges |  |  |  |  |  | 100,900,000 |
Chile [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Depreciation expense |  |  |  |  |  | 98,300,000 |
Restructuring charges |  |  |  | 84,900,000 |  |  |
Chile [Member] | Internal-Use Software Assets [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment charges | 68,700,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Chile [Member] | Contract termination [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other restructuring costs |  |  |  | 71,500,000 |  |  |
Telenet [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring charges |  | $ 86,100,000 |  |  |  |  |
Impairment charges |  |  | 73,000,000 |  |  |  |
Assets Held under Capital Leases [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property and equipment, net | $ 1,580,800,000 |  | $ 1,877,300,000 | $ 1,877,300,000 | 1,580,800,000 | 1,877,300,000 |
Continuing operations [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Depreciation expense |  |  |  |  | 4,401,600,000 | 3,499,600,000 | 2,201,400,000
Amortization of intangible assets |  |  |  |  | 1,098,500,000 | 776,800,000 | 460,100,000
Discontinued operations [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Depreciation expense |  |  |  |  | 0 | 11,500,000 | 12,300,000
Amortization of intangible assets |  |  |  |  | $ 0 | $ 17,600,000 | $ 17,300,000

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