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Commitments and Contingencies (Narrative) (Details) € in Millions, £ in Millions | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2018 GBP (£) | Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2015 EUR (€) | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2015 GBP (£) | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017 EUR (€) | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2019 GBP (£) | Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2019 GBP (£) | Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2018 EUR (€) | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) | Nov. 26, 2007 association
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Programming costs |  |  |  |  | $ 437,400,000 | $ 402,700,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interkabel Acquisition |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Damages sought |  |  | € 1,400.0 | $ 1,600,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interkabel Acquisition |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of associations of municipalities in Belgium | association |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4
Loss contingency damages in excess value |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | € 20.0 | $ 22,400,000 |
Loss contingency accrual |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0 |  |  |
Deutsche Telekom Litigation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Damages sought |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | € 75.0 | $ 84,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Reduction of annual lease fees |  |  |  |  | 83.33% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Belgium Regulatory Developments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percent of reduction in monthly wholesale cable resale access prices |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 17.00% | 17.00% |  |  |
Virgin Media VAT Matters |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency accrual |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0 |  |  |
Virgin Media VAT Matters | Maximum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimate of possible loss |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | £ 47.0 | $ 61,000,000 |  |  |
Virgin Media VAT Legislation Change |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Continuing operations |  |  |  |  |  |  | £ 67.0 | $ 99,100,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Provisions for litigation | £ 63.7 | $ 83,100,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest expense | £ 3.3 | $ 4,400,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Regulatory Issues | Maximum | Forecast | U.K. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimate of possible loss |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | £ 28.0 | $ 36,000,000 |  |  |  |  |

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