v3.3.1.900
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations (Consolidated Debt and Capital Lease Obligations) (Footnotes) (Details)
€ in Millions, £ in Millions, $ in Millions, CLP in Billions
1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2015
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2014
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2013
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
EUR (€)
association
Dec. 31, 2014
USD ($)
association
Dec. 31, 2014
GBP (£)
association
Dec. 31, 2014
CLP
association
Dec. 31, 2013
EUR (€)
Dec. 31, 2013
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2013
CLP
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                        
Weighted average interest rate           5.13% 5.13% 5.13% 5.13%      
Value added tax, vendor financing arrangement     $ 114.9 $ 46.0 $ 28.5              
Carrying value             $ 44,611.4       $ 42,856.0  
Estimated fair value             46,151.1       44,229.0  
Capital lease obligations             $ 1,547.6       1,848.3  
Aggregate Variable and Fixed Rate Indebtedness [Member]                        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                        
Weighted average interest rate           6.00% 6.00% 6.00% 6.00%      
UPC Broadband Holding Bank Facility [Member]                        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                        
Weighted average interest rate           3.56% 3.56% 3.56% 3.56%      
Unused borrowing capacity considering limitations           € 906.7 $ 1,097.2          
Unused borrowing capacity, considering limitations, after compliance reporting requirements           889.1 1,075.9          
Carrying value             3,179.2       5,671.4  
Estimated fair value             3,156.4       5,717.8  
Write off of deferred debt issuance cost       4.2 $ 14.3              
Unitymedia KabelBW Revolving Credit Facility [Member]                        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                        
Unused borrowing capacity considering limitations           15.1 18.3          
Unused borrowing capacity, considering limitations, after compliance reporting requirements           € 123.7 $ 149.7          
Vendor Financing [Member]                        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                        
Weighted average interest rate           3.45% 3.45% 3.45% 3.45%      
General term of vendor financing arrangements for amounts due     1 year                  
Value added tax, vendor financing arrangement     $ 101.7 $ 47.3                
Carrying value             $ 946.4       603.1  
Estimated fair value             946.4       603.1  
VTR Wireless Bank Facility [Member]                        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                        
Principal amount of debt                     98.9 CLP 60.0
Carrying value                     113.1  
Unitymedia KabelBW Capital Lease [Member]                        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                        
Term when statutory termination rights are active       30 years                
Capital lease obligations             810.1       952.0  
Ziggo Collar [Member]                        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                        
Carrying value                     852.6  
Payment for debt redemption premium   $ 4.0                    
Ziggo Margin Loan [Member]                        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                        
Estimated fair value                     634.3  
Write off of deferred debt issuance cost   $ 2.3                    
VTR Dollar Credit Facility [Member]                        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                        
Facility amount             160.0          
VTR CLP Credit Facility [Member]                        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                        
Facility amount             36.2   CLP 22.0      
Telenet Capital Lease PICs Network [Member]                        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                        
Capital lease obligations           € 328.6 $ 397.6     € 309.0 $ 373.9  
Network lease, number of associations of municipalities | association           4 4 4 4      
Term of lease repayments     15 years                  
Virgin Media [Member]                        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                        
Available to be loaned or distributed by subsidiaries             $ 792.8 £ 508.8        
Available to be loaned or distributed by subsidiaries, after compliance reporting requirements             819.1 £ 525.7        
Carrying value             13,273.3          
Ziggo [Member]                        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                        
Available to be loaned or distributed by subsidiaries           € 37.1 44.9          
Available to be loaned or distributed by subsidiaries, after compliance reporting requirements           € 11.4 13.8          
Carrying value             $ 5,787.8          
Subsequent Event [Member] | VTR Wireless Bank Facility [Member]                        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                        
Write off of deferred debt issuance cost $ 2.0