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Dispositions and the VodafoneZiggo JV Transaction (Pending and Completed Dispositions Narrative) (Details) € in Millions |  |  |  |  | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Jul. 31, 2019 USD ($) | Jul. 31, 2019 EUR (€) | May 02, 2019 USD ($) | May 02, 2019 EUR (€) | Jul. 31, 2018 USD ($) | Dec. 29, 2017 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds received upon disposition of discontinued operations, net |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 11,203,100,000 | $ 2,058,200,000 | $ 0
Outstanding principal amount |  |  |  |  |  |  | 27,565,400,000 | 29,183,900,000 |
Balance of the vodafone escrow accounts |  |  |  |  |  |  | 295,200,000 | 0 | 0
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations, net of taxes |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12,316,900,000 | 1,098,100,000 | $ 0
Vodafone Disposal Group | Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash divested from deconsolidation | $ 205,800,000 | € 183.7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds received upon disposition of discontinued operations, net | 11,100,000,000 | € 10,000.0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations, net of taxes | 12,200,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cumulative foreign currency translation gains (loss) | 88,200,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income tax on gain | $ 35,400,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Term of transitional services | 4 years | 4 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue from transitional services |  |  |  |  |  |  | 63,100,000 |  |
UPC Switzerland |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Outstanding principal amount | $ 1,645,000,000.0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
UPC DTH | Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds received upon disposition of discontinued operations, net |  |  | $ 144,100,000 | € 128.9 |  |  |  |  |
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations, net of taxes |  |  | 106,000,000.0 |  |  |  |  |  |
Cumulative foreign currency translation gains (loss) |  |  | (10,000,000.0) |  |  |  |  |  |
Income tax on gain |  |  | $ 0 |  |  |  |  |  |
Term of transitional services |  |  | 2 years | 2 years |  |  |  |  |
Revenue from transitional services |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,400,000 |  |
UPC Austria |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Authorized amount |  |  |  |  | $ 500,000,000.0 |  |  |  |
UPC Austria | Long-term Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Extinguishment of debt |  |  |  |  | 1,500,000,000 |  |  |  |
UPC Austria | Long-term Debt | UPC Holding Bank Facility |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Extinguishment of debt |  |  |  |  | 913,400,000 |  |  |  |
UPC Austria | Long-term Debt | UPCB SPE Notes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Extinguishment of debt |  |  |  |  | 69,600,000 |  |  |  |
UPC Austria | Long-term Debt | VM Senior Secured Notes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Extinguishment of debt |  |  |  |  | 515,500,000 |  |  |  |
UPC Austria | Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cumulative foreign currency translation gains (loss) |  |  |  |  | $ 79,500,000 |  |  |  |
Term of transitional services |  |  |  |  | 4 years |  |  |  |
Revenue from transitional services |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 42,800,000 | $ 17,900,000 |
Payments of vendor financing obligations |  |  |  |  | $ 35,500,000 |  |  |  |
LiLAC Shares | Discontinued Operations, Split-off Transaction |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common shares distributed |  |  |  |  |  | 100.00% |  |  |
Gain (loss) on discontinued operation |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0 |  |  |

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