Information About Liberty's Operating Segments (Tables)
   | 
12 Months Ended | 
Dec. 31, 2015  | 
| Information About Liberty's Operating Segments | 
 
 | 
| Performance Measures By Segment | 
 
		
			
				| 
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						Years ended December 31, 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						2015 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						2014 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						2013 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						     
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						     
				 | 
				
					 
						Adjusted 
				 | 
				
					 
						     
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						     
				 | 
				
					 
						Adjusted 
				 | 
				
					 
						     
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						     
				 | 
				
					 
						Adjusted 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						Revenue 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						OIBDA 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						Revenue 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						OIBDA 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						Revenue 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						 OIBDA 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						amounts in millions 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						QVC Group 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						QVC 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						$ 
				 | 
				
8,743
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
1,894
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
8,801
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
1,910
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
8,623
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
1,841
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						zulily 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
426
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
21
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						NA 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						NA 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						NA 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						NA 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						Corporate and other (1) 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  — 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
(28)
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
1,227
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
29
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
1,596
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
83
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						Total QVC Group 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
9,169
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
1,887
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
10,028
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
1,939
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
10,219
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
1,924
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						Ventures Group 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						Corporate and other (1) 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
820
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
59
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
471
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
26
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  — 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
(11)
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						Total Ventures Group 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
820
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
59
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
471
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
26
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  — 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
(11)
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						Consolidated Liberty 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						$ 
				 | 
				
9,989
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
1,946
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
10,499
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
1,965
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
10,219
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
1,913
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
		  
		
			 
		 
 
  
 | 
| Other Information By Segment | 
 
		
			
				| 
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						December 31, 2015 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						December 31, 2014 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						     
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						     
				 | 
				
					 
						Investments 
				 | 
				
					 
						     
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						     
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						     
				 | 
				
					 
						Investments 
				 | 
				
					 
						     
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						Total 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						in 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						Capital 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						Total 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						in 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						Capital 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						assets 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						affiliates 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						expenditures 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						assets 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						affiliates 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						expenditures 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						amounts in millions 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						QVC Group 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						QVC 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						$ 
				 | 
				
12,058
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
43
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
215
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
12,226
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
47
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
183
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						zulily 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
2,741
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  — 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
3
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						NA 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						NA 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						NA 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						Corporate and other 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
342
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
165
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  — 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
544
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
328
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
43
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						Total QVC Group 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
15,141
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
208
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
218
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
12,770
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
375
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
226
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						Ventures Group 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						Corporate and other 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
6,039
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
1,433
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
40
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
5,828
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
1,258
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
15
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						Total Ventures Group 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
6,039
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
1,433
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
40
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
5,828
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
1,258
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
15
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						Consolidated Liberty 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						$ 
				 | 
				
21,180
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
1,641
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
258
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
18,598
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
1,633
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
241
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
		  
		
			 
		 
 
  
 | 
| Reconciliation Of Segment Adjusted OIBDA To Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes | 
 
		
			
				| 
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						Years ended December 31, 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						     
				 | 
				
					 
						2015 
				 | 
				
					 
						     
				 | 
				
					 
						2014 
				 | 
				
					 
						     
				 | 
				
					 
						2013 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						amounts in millions 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						Consolidated segment Adjusted OIBDA 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						$ 
				 | 
				
1,946
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
1,965
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
1,913
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						Stock-based compensation 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
(127)
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
(108)
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
(118)
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						Depreciation and amortization 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
(703)
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
(662)
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
(629)
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						Impairment of intangible assets 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  — 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
(7)
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
(30)
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						Interest expense 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
(360)
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
(387)
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
(380)
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						Share of earnings (loss) of affiliates, net 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
(60)
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
39
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
33
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments, net 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
114
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
(57)
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
(22)
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						Gains (losses) on transactions, net 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
110
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
74
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
(1)
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						Gains (losses) on dilution of investments in affiliates 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
314
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
(2)
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
1
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						Other, net 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
19
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
(19)
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
(30)
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						$ 
				 | 
				
1,253
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
836
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
737
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
		  
		
			 
		 
 
  
 | 
| Schedule of Revenue by geographic area | 
 
		
			
				| 
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						Years ended December 31, 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						     
				 | 
				
					 
						2015 
				 | 
				
					 
						     
				 | 
				
					 
						2014 
				 | 
				
					 
						     
				 | 
				
					 
						2013 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						amounts in millions 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						United States 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						$ 
				 | 
				
7,412
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
7,617
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
7,332
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						Japan 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
811
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
912
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
1,029
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						Germany 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
850
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
1,003
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
971
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						Other foreign countries 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
916
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
967
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
887
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						$ 
				 | 
				
9,989
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
10,499
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
10,219
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
		  
		
			 
		 
 
  
 | 
| Schedule of Long-lived Assets by Geographic Area | 
 
		
			
				| 
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						December 31, 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						     
				 | 
				
					 
						2015 
				 | 
				
					 
						     
				 | 
				
					 
						2014 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						amounts in millions 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						United States 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						$ 
				 | 
				
637
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
529
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						Japan 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
156
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
176
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						Germany 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
173
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
210
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						Other foreign countries 
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
174
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
178
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
			
				| 
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
					 
						$ 
				 | 
				
1,140
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
				
1,093
				 | 
				
					 
						  
				 | 
			 
		  
		
			 
		 
 
  
 |