Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Investments In Affiliates Accounted For Using The Equity Method (Narrative) (Details)

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Investments In Affiliates Accounted For Using The Equity Method (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions
 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Sep. 30, 2010
Sep. 30, 2011
Sep. 30, 2010
Jun. 30, 2011
Sep. 30, 2011
Live Nation [Member]
Sep. 30, 2010
Live Nation [Member]
Sep. 30, 2011
Live Nation [Member]
Sep. 30, 2010
Live Nation [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
Live Nation [Member]
Sep. 30, 2011
SIRIUS XM [Member]
Sep. 30, 2010
SIRIUS XM [Member]
Sep. 30, 2011
SIRIUS XM [Member]
Sep. 30, 2010
SIRIUS XM [Member]
Purchase of shares in equity method investee         5.5                  
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments $ 53 $ (59) $ 3 $ (70)   $ 1 [1] $ 0 [1] $ (44) [1] $ 0 [1] $ 12 $ 42 $ (51) $ 34 $ (51)
[1] During June 2011, Liberty acquired an additional 5.5 million shares of Live Nation which increased our ownership percentage above 20% of the outstanding voting shares. Due to the presumption that an entity with an ownership percentage greater than 20% has significant influence and no other factors would rebut that presumption, the Company is accounting for the investment as an equity method affiliate. The Company has elected to record its share of earnings (loss) for Live Nation on a three-month lag due to timeliness considerations. Increases in ownership which result in a change to the equity method of accounting generally require retroactive recognition of an investment's share of earnings (loss) in prior periods. Due to the relative insignificance of our share of losses for Live Nation in previous periods, both quantitatively and qualitatively, the Company has recorded such amounts in the current year. Approximately $12 million of the losses recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 relate to the prior year.