v3.3.1.900

Derivative Instruments (Narrative) (Details) ¥ / shares in Units, $ / shares in Units, € in Millions, ¥ in Millions, £ in Millions, $ in Millions | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |  |  |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Jul. 31, 2014 USD ($) shares | Jul. 31, 2013 EUR (€) shares | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) $ / shares installment shares | Dec. 31, 2014 ¥ / shares | Jul. 31, 2014 GBP (£) shares | Jan. 31, 2014 shares | Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) shares | Jul. 31, 2013 USD ($) shares | Jun. 28, 2007 USD ($) | Jun. 28, 2007 JPY (¥)
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair value derivative assets, counterparty credit risk exposure | $ |  |  | $ 1,040.9 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Borrowed funds | $ |  |  | 46,159.0 |  |  |  | $ 44,704.3 |  |  |
Principal amount outstanding | $ |  |  | 44,612.2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ziggo [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of common stock shares owned (in shares) |  |  |  |  |  |  | 57,000,738 |  |  |
Ziggo [Member] | Securities Subject to Re-Use Rights [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of common stock shares owned (in shares) |  |  |  |  |  |  | 22,900,000 |  |  |
Ziggo [Member] | Shares Borrowed as Hedge [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of common stock shares owned (in shares) |  |  |  |  |  |  | 18,700,000 |  |  |
Ziggo [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Principal amount outstanding | $ |  |  | $ 5,755.9 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ziggo Collar [Member] | Liberty Global Limited [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Borrowed funds |  | € 617.1 |  |  |  |  |  | $ 816.4 |  |
Restricted cash |  | € 486.4 |  |  |  |  |  | $ 643.5 |  |
Discount rate |  | 0.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Implied yield |  | 0.45% |  |  |  |  |  | 0.45% |  |
Ziggo Collar [Member] | Liberty Global Limited [Member] | Put Options Purchased [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net option contract premium paid |  | € 38.6 |  |  |  |  |  | $ 51.0 |  |
Ziggo Collar [Member] | Ziggo [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Shares lent to counterparty (in shares) |  | 15,700,000 |  |  |  |  |  | 15,700,000 |  |
Ziggo Collar [Member] | Ziggo [Member] | Put Options Purchased [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of options |  | 24,957,000 |  |  |  | 19,965,600 |  | 24,957,000 |  |
ITV Collar [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Discount rate | 0.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Implied yield | 1.73% |  |  |  | 1.73% |  |  |  |  |
Number of common stock shares owned (in shares) | 259,820,065 |  |  |  | 259,820,065 |  |  |  |  |
Principal amount of debt | $ 764.5 |  |  |  | £ 446.9 |  |  |  |  |
Shares needed to borrow from custody account to hedge exposure |  |  | 205,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Sumitomo Collar [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative floor price (in yen/dollars per share) | (per share) |  |  | $ 17.68 | ¥ 2,118.50 |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative cap price (in yen/dollars per share) | (per share) |  |  | 23.26 | 2,787.50 |  |  |  |  |  |
Market price of common stock (in yen/dollars per share) | (per share) |  |  | $ 10.36 | ¥ 1,242.00 |  |  |  |  |  |
Sumitomo Collar number of equal semi-annual installment maturity dates beginning with initial maturity date of May 22, 2016 | installment |  |  | 5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Sumitomo Collar fair value | $ |  |  | $ 351.1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of Sumitomo shares pledged as collateral on the Sumitomo Collar Loan |  |  | 100.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Stated interest rate of debt |  |  | 1.883% |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Principal amount outstanding |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 757.6 | ¥ 93,660
Virgin Media Capped Call [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of notional amount settled |  |  | 93.80% |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from settlement of derivative instrument | $ |  |  | $ 534.8 |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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