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Investments (Narrative) (Details) € in Millions, $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) shares | Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) shares | Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) shares | Dec. 31, 2019 EUR (€) | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) shares | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) | Oct. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2016
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Value-added taxes (VAT) paid on behalf of the VodafoneZiggo JV |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0.0 |  | $ 0.0 | $ 162.6 |  |
Distributions received from affiliates |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0.0 |  | 0.0 | 1,569.4 |  |
Revenue | $ 2,982.2 | $ 2,840.9 | $ 2,850.4 | $ 2,868.0 | $ 2,949.1 | $ 2,929.7 | $ 3,015.6 | $ 3,063.5 |  | $ 11,541.5 |  | 11,957.9 | $ 11,276.4 |  |
VodafoneZiggo JV |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percent of interest income earned on loan included in investment | 100.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 100.00% |  |  |  |  |
Percent of remaining results of operations included in investment | 50.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 50.00% |  |  |  |  |
Co-venturer ownership percentage | 50.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 50.00% |  |  |  |  | 50.00%
Ownership percentage | 50.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 50.00% |  |  | 50.00% |  | 50.00%
Term to distribute all unrestricted cash |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 months | 2 months |  |  |  |
Value-added taxes (VAT) paid on behalf of the VodafoneZiggo JV |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 162.6 |  |  |  |  |  |
Distributions received from affiliates |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 162.7 |  | 232.5 | $ 252.8 |  |
Revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 4,407.8 |  | 4,602.2 | 4,512.5 |  |
VodafoneZiggo JV | Minimum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Leverage ratio | 4.5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4.5 |  |  |  |  |
VodafoneZiggo JV | Maximum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Leverage ratio | 5.0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5.0 |  |  |  |  |
VodafoneZiggo JV | Equity Method Investee |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Payments to acquire |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 14.4 |  | 13.1 | 144.7 |  |
Due from related parties | $ 19.3 |  |  |  | 24.4 |  |  |  |  | 19.3 |  | 24.4 |  |  |
VodafoneZiggo JV | VodafoneZiggo JV Loan |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Excess of carrying amount over proportional share in investees net assets | 1,041.0 |  |  |  | 1,016.9 |  |  |  |  | 1,041.0 |  | 1,016.9 |  |  |
Related party note receivable | $ 786.1 |  |  |  | $ 916.1 |  |  |  |  | $ 786.1 |  | 916.1 |  |  |
Related party note receivable rate |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5.55% | 5.55% |  |  |  |
Repayments of related-party debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 112.1 | € 100.0 | 114.5 | 118.5 |  |
Interest accrued |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 50.4 |  |  |  |  |
JV Services |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 189.1 |  | $ 189.1 | $ 132.4 |  |
ITV |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of common stock shares owned (in shares) | shares | 398,515,510 |  |  |  | 398,515,510 |  |  |  |  | 398,515,510 |  | 398,515,510 |  |  |
Percent of investment owned (less than 5% for Sumitomo and Lionsgate) |  |  | 10.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
ITI Neovision S.A. (ITI Neovision) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percent of investment owned (less than 5% for Sumitomo and Lionsgate) | 17.00% |  |  |  | 17.00% |  |  |  |  | 17.00% |  | 17.00% |  |  |
Lionsgate |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percent of investment owned (less than 5% for Sumitomo and Lionsgate) | 5.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5.00% |  |  |  |  |
Lionsgate | Common Stock |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of common stock shares owned (in shares) | shares | 4,000,000.0 |  |  |  | 2,500,000 |  |  |  |  | 4,000,000.0 |  | 2,500,000 |  |  |
Lionsgate | Nonvoting Common Stock |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of common stock shares owned (in shares) | shares | 2,500,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,500,000 |  |  |  |  |
Casa Systems, Inc. (Casa) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of common stock shares owned (in shares) | shares | 787,074 |  |  |  | 3,005,307 |  |  |  |  | 787,074 |  | 3,005,307 |  |  |
Percent of investment owned (less than 5% for Sumitomo and Lionsgate) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1.00% |

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