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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-08-019572.txt : 20081117
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-08-019572.hdr.sgml : 20081117
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081117153756
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-08-019572
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081114
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081117
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081117

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LIBERTY MEDIA CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001355096
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CABLE & OTHER PAY TELEVISION SERVICES [4841]
		IRS NUMBER:				841288730
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		12300 LIBERTY BOULEVARD
		CITY:			ENGLEWOOD
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80112
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7208755400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		12300 LIBERTY BOULEVARD
		CITY:			ENGLEWOOD
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80112

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	Liberty Media Holding CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20060303

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GOULD PAUL A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001018211

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-33982
		FILM NUMBER:		081195335

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10770 COLUMBIA PIKE
		CITY:			SILVER SPRING
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			20901
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-11-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001355096</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>LIBERTY MEDIA CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>LCAPA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001018211</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GOULD PAUL A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>12300 LIBERTY BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ENGLEWOOD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80112</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series A Liberty Capital Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-11-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>150000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.90</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>224174</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The price reflects a weighted average of purchases made at prices ranging from $3.79 to $3.95.  The Reporting Person undertakes to provide upon request by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Issuer, or a security holder of the Issuer, information regarding the number of shares purchased at each separate price.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 74,174 shares of the Issuer's Series A Liberty Capital common stock received in connection with the Issuer's May 9, 2006 restructuring and the related issuance of two newly created tracking stocks, the Liberty Capital common stock and the Liberty Interactive common stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Paul A. Gould</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-11-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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