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Stock-Based Compensation (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
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0 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Nov. 28, 2011
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Dec. 31, 2011
Y
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Dec. 31, 2010
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Dec. 31, 2009
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Dec. 31, 2011
Common Class A [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2010
Common Class A [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2009
Common Class A [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Segment, Liberty Capital [Member]
Y
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Dec. 31, 2010
Segment, Liberty Capital [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2009
Segment, Liberty Capital [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Segment, Liberty Capital [Member]
Common Class B [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2010
Segment, Liberty Capital [Member]
Common Class B [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Segment, Liberty Capital [Member]
Common Class A [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2010
Segment, Liberty Capital [Member]
Common Class A [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Segment, Liberty Starz [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2010
Segment, Liberty Starz [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2009
Segment, Liberty Starz [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Segment, Liberty Starz [Member]
Common Class A [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2010
Segment, Liberty Starz [Member]
Common Class A [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Starz Entertainment Employees [Member]
Y
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Sep. 23, 2011
Transitional Plan [Member]
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Sep. 23, 2011
2011 Plan [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Minimum [Member]
Y
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Dec. 31, 2011
Maximum [Member]
Y
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| Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Number | 36,000 | 7,665,000 | 4,996,000 | 0 | 3,217,000 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period, Total Fair Value | $ 14,000,000 | $ 10,000,000 | $ 11,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period, Total Intrinsic Value | 46,000,000 | 47,000,000 | 66,000,000 | 124,727,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Authorized | 7,800,000 | 23,800,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Options granted | 162,347 | 1,135,622 | 1,649,511 | 162,000 | 496,000 | 887,818 | 2,083,429 | 496,000 | ||||||||||||||||
| Weighted average grant-date fair value of options | $ 33.95 | $ 19.56 | $ 12.17 | $ 21.36 | $ 21.32 | $ 14.33 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested Liberty equity awards | $ 68,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted average period of recognition related to unvested Liberty equity awards (in years) | 2.2 | 4 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Term | 4.4 | 5.7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Conversion of Stock, Shares Issued | 0.88129 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price | $ 26.71 | $ 73.45 | $ 72.92 | |||||||||||||||||||||