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