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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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