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Commitments and Contingencies (Narrative) (Details) € in Millions, £ in Millions | 1 Months Ended | 2 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Oct. 31, 2019 USD ($) | Oct. 31, 2019 EUR (€) | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2015 EUR (€) | Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2019 EUR (€) | Mar. 31, 2019 GBP (£) | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2015 GBP (£) | Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2020 GBP (£) | Dec. 31, 2019 EUR (€) | Dec. 31, 2019 GBP (£) | Jul. 05, 2019 | Aug. 01, 2018
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Programming and copyright costs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,702,400,000 | $ 1,671,400,000 | $ 1,470,200,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Rent expense under non-cancelable operating lease arrangements |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 111,800,000 | 104,500,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Aggregate expense for matching contributions under various defined contribution plans |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 42,600,000 | $ 41,000,000.0 | $ 34,700,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Belgium Regulatory Developments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percent reduction in monthly wholesale cable resale access price |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 25.00% |
Unfavorable Regulatory Action | Scenario, Forecast | U.K. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimate of possible loss |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 23,000,000 | £ 17.0 |  |  |  |
Interkabel Acquisition |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Damages sought |  |  | $ 1,600,000,000 | € 1,400.0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency damages in excess value |  |  |  |  | $ 22,500,000 |  |  |  |  | 22,500,000 |  |  |  |  | € 20.0 |  |  |
Loss contingency accrual |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |  | $ 0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Deutsche Telekom Litigation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Reduction of annual lease fees |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 83.33% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Belgium Regulatory Developments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percent reduction in monthly wholesale cable resale access price |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 17.00%
Virgin Media VAT Matters |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimate of possible loss |  |  |  |  | 54,000,000.0 |  |  |  |  | $ 54,000,000.0 |  |  |  |  |  | £ 41.3 |  |
Virgin Media VAT Matters 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimate of possible loss |  |  |  |  | 83,100,000 |  |  |  |  | 83,100,000 |  |  |  |  |  | £ 63.7 |  |
Income tax paid |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 99,100,000 | £ 67.0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amount paid | £ |  |  |  |  |  |  | £ 3.3 |  | £ 63.7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 4,400,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
UPC Austria | Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asserted claims | $ 79,200,000 | € 70.5 |  |  | $ 23,100,000 | € 20.6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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