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