v3.10.0.1
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations (Footnotes) (Details)
€ in Millions, $ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
EUR (€)
association
group
Dec. 31, 2018
USD ($)
association
group
Dec. 31, 2018
GBP (£)
association
group
Feb. 28, 2018
USD ($)
Feb. 28, 2018
GBP (£)
Dec. 31, 2017
EUR (€)
Dec. 31, 2017
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2017
GBP (£)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Weighted average interest rate 4.56% 4.56% 4.56%          
Outstanding principal amount   $ 29,315.3         $ 32,178.0  
Unused borrowing capacity   2,503.8 £ 0          
Carrying value   29,183.9         32,006.2  
Estimated fair value   248.6         926.6  
Capital lease obligations   $ 621.3         638.3  
Term of lease repayments 15 years              
Number of borrowing groups | group 3 3 3          
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2)                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Estimated fair value   $ 248.6         304.9  
Long-term Debt                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Estimated fair value   $ 28,500.0         32,700.0  
Aggregate Variable and Fixed Rate Indebtedness                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Weighted average interest rate 4.31% 4.31% 4.31%          
VM Financing Facilities                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Outstanding principal amount   $ 53.4 £ 41,900,000       55.6 £ 43,600,000
VM Revolving Credit Facility                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Unused borrowing capacity   860.3 675,000,000.0          
VM Revolving Facility A                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Facility amount       $ 63.7 £ 50,000,000.0      
VM Revolving Facility B                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Facility amount   796.6 £ 625,000,000.0          
Telenet Facility AG                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Unused borrowing capacity € 400.0 458.1            
Telenet Overdraft Facility                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Unused borrowing capacity 25.0 28.6            
Telenet Revolving Facility                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Unused borrowing capacity € 20.0 $ 22.9            
Vendor financing                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Weighted average interest rate 4.18% 4.18% 4.18%          
Outstanding principal amount   $ 3,620.3         3,593.1  
Unused borrowing capacity   0.0            
General term of vendor financing arrangements for amounts due 1 year              
Virgin Media Collateralized Debt | Secured Debt                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Carrying value   225.9         160.9  
Telenet Capital Lease PICs Network                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Capital lease obligations € 390.6 $ 447.3       € 361.8 $ 414.3  
Number of associations of municipalities in belgium | association 4 4 4          
Senior and Senior Secured Notes                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Mandatory redemption price expressed as percentage of principal amount on senior notes in event that certain assets sold or specific control changed 101.00% 101.00% 101.00%          
Redemption term 12 years              
Redemption price, percentage of principal amount limitation 10.00% 10.00% 10.00%          
Redemption price 103.00%              
SPE Notes                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Ownership percentage of SPEs by third parties 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%