v3.10.0.1
Dispositions and the VodafoneZiggo JV Transaction (Pending and Completed Dispositions) (Details) - USD ($)
$ / shares in Units, $ in Millions
7 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Jul. 31, 2018
Dec. 31, 2018
Dec. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Operating results of discontinued operations        
Earnings before income taxes   $ (426.4) $ (499.9) $ (480.3)
Discontinued operations   $ 2,261.5 (370.6) 117.0
Discontinued Operations        
Operating results of discontinued operations        
Revenue     7,362.5 6,277.7
Operating income     974.8 1,214.0
Earnings before income taxes     (96.0) 306.1
Income tax benefit (expense)     (274.6) (189.1)
Discontinued operations     (370.6) 117.0
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests     13.8 (36.2)
Net earnings attributable to Liberty Global shareholders     $ (356.8) $ 80.8
Basic earnings from discontinued operations attributable to Liberty Global shareholders per Liberty Global share (in dollars per share)   $ 1.49 $ 0.56 $ 0.38
Diluted earnings from discontinued operations attributable to Liberty Global shareholders per share (in dollars per share)   $ 1.49 0.56 0.37
Basic and diluted loss from discontinued operations attributable to Liberty Global shareholders per LiLAC Share (in dollars per share)     $ (4.86) $ (2.30)
Weighted average ordinary shares outstanding (LiLAC Shares) - basic and diluted (in shares)     171,846,133 110,868,650
Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale        
Assets:        
Current assets other than cash   $ 356.5 $ 276.0  
Property and equipment, net   5,671.1 5,838.3  
Goodwill   3,986.7 4,913.2  
Other assets, net   516.8 485.9  
Total assets   10,531.1 11,513.4  
Liabilities:        
Current portion of debt and capital lease obligations   820.2 500.3  
Other accrued and current liabilities   1,147.3 1,135.6  
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations   9,074.6 9,074.0  
Other long-term liabilities   997.8 940.4  
Total liabilities   12,039.9 11,650.3  
Discontinued Operations, Split-off Transaction        
Operating results of discontinued operations        
Revenue   3,953.6    
Operating income   1,937.7    
Earnings before income taxes   1,544.6    
Income tax benefit (expense)   (381.2)    
Discontinued operations   1,163.4    
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests   (4.2)    
Net earnings attributable to Liberty Global shareholders   1,159.2    
UPC Austria | Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale        
Assets:        
Current assets other than cash     29.2  
Property and equipment, net     451.9  
Goodwill     732.2  
Other assets, net     3.2  
Total assets     1,216.5  
Liabilities:        
Current portion of debt and capital lease obligations     0.8  
Other accrued and current liabilities     77.7  
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations     1.5  
Other long-term liabilities     76.3  
Total liabilities     156.3  
UPC Austria | Discontinued Operations, Split-off Transaction        
Operating results of discontinued operations        
Revenue $ 252.4   394.9 $ 378.3
Operating income 139.0   150.0 143.0
Earnings before income taxes 138.7   150.0 142.6
Income tax benefit (expense) (23.3)   (4.5) (18.3)
Discontinued operations 115.4   145.5 124.3
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests (4.2)   (6.8) (7.9)
Net earnings attributable to Liberty Global shareholders $ 111.2   138.7 116.4
Vodafone Disposal Group | Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale        
Assets:        
Current assets other than cash   348.0 238.9  
Property and equipment, net   5,591.4 5,290.1  
Goodwill   3,986.7 4,181.0  
Other assets, net   509.4 482.7  
Total assets   10,435.5 10,192.7  
Liabilities:        
Current portion of debt and capital lease obligations   809.0 486.9  
Other accrued and current liabilities   1,114.8 1,022.3  
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations   9,037.1 9,026.1  
Other long-term liabilities   997.5 863.7  
Total liabilities   11,958.4 11,399.0  
Vodafone Disposal Group | Discontinued Operations, Split-off Transaction        
Operating results of discontinued operations        
Revenue   3,584.2 3,263.0 3,068.2
Operating income   1,787.0 976.0 748.4
Earnings before income taxes   1,396.3 395.4 256.2
Income tax benefit (expense)   (365.2) (66.1) (41.7)
Discontinued operations   1,031.1 329.3 214.5
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests   0.0 0.0 0.0
Net earnings attributable to Liberty Global shareholders   1,031.1 329.3 214.5
UPC DTH | Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale        
Assets:        
Current assets other than cash   8.5 7.9  
Property and equipment, net   79.7 96.3  
Goodwill   0.0 0.0  
Other assets, net   7.4 0.0  
Total assets   95.6 104.2  
Liabilities:        
Current portion of debt and capital lease obligations   11.2 12.6  
Other accrued and current liabilities   32.5 35.6  
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations   37.5 46.4  
Other long-term liabilities   0.3 0.4  
Total liabilities   81.5 95.0  
UPC DTH | Discontinued Operations, Split-off Transaction        
Operating results of discontinued operations        
Revenue   117.0 114.6 107.4
Operating income   11.7 11.7 7.3
Earnings before income taxes   9.6 9.7 5.4
Income tax benefit (expense)   7.3 0.0 0.0
Discontinued operations   16.9 9.7 5.4
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests   0.0 0.0 0.0
Net earnings attributable to Liberty Global shareholders   $ 16.9 9.7 5.4
LiLAC Shares | Discontinued Operations, Split-off Transaction        
Operating results of discontinued operations        
Revenue     3,590.0 2,723.8
Operating income     (162.9) 315.3
Earnings before income taxes     (651.1) (98.1)
Income tax benefit (expense)     (204.0) (129.1)
Discontinued operations     (855.1) (227.2)
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests     20.6 (28.3)
Net earnings attributable to Liberty Global shareholders     $ (834.5) $ (255.5)