Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Investments In Affiliates Accounted For Using The Equity Method (Schedule Of Equity Ownership And Carrying Amount) (Details)

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Investments In Affiliates Accounted For Using The Equity Method (Schedule Of Equity Ownership And Carrying Amount) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 11, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2012
Expedia [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Expedia [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Expedia [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
TripAdvisor, Inc. [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
TripAdvisor, Inc. [Member]
Dec. 11, 2012
TripAdvisor, Inc. [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
QVC 5.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2022 [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
QVC 5.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2022 [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Interactive Group [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Interactive Group [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Interactive Group [Member]
HSN, Inc. [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Interactive Group [Member]
HSN, Inc. [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Interactive Group [Member]
Other5 [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Interactive Group [Member]
Other5 [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Ventures Group [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Ventures Group [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Ventures Group [Member]
Expedia [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Ventures Group [Member]
Expedia [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Ventures Group [Member]
TripAdvisor, Inc. [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Ventures Group [Member]
Other [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Ventures Group [Member]
Other [Member]
Senior Notes                     $ 500                          
Long-term Debt, Gross 7,824                 500   4,560           3,264            
underlying shares on forward contract         12,000,000                                      
Proceeds from Sale of Equity Method Investments             338                                  
Equity Method Investment, Realized Gain (Loss) on Disposal       443     288                                  
per share price of forward sales contract       $ 34.316                                        
Proceeds from Sale of Available-for-sale Securities 1,030     412               0 0         1,030 0          
Equity Method Investment, Dividends or Distributions         23 19                                    
Shares of Equity Method Affiliate Sold             8,500,000                                  
Percentage ownership                           37.00%           17.00% [1]        
Investments in affiliates, accounted for using the equity method (note 7) 851   1,135                 304 [2] 230 [2] 242 [2] 217 [2] 62 [2] 13 [2] 547 905 431 [1],[2] 621 [1],[2] 184 [3] 116 100
Equity Method Investment, Quoted Market Value                           1,102           1,389 [1]        
Purchase of shares in equity method investee               4,800,000                                
ownership percentage acquired                 4.00%                              
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Cash Paid   $ 300             $ 300                              
[1] Liberty entered into a forward sales contract on 12 million shares of Expedia common stock in March 2012 at a per share forward price of $34.316. The forward contract was settled in October 2012 for total cash proceeds of $412 million and the 12 million shares of Expedia common stock, previously held as collateral, were released to the counterparty. In the fourth quarter when the forward contract settled, the difference between the fair value of the Expedia shares and the carrying value of the shares ($443 million) was recognized in the gain (loss) on transactions, net line item in the statement of operations.
[2] During the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, Expedia, Inc. paid dividends aggregating $23 million and $19 million, respectively, which were recorded as reductions to the investment balance.
[3] In May 2012, Liberty sold approximately 8.5 million shares of TripAdvisor for cash proceeds of $338 million. The sale resulted in a $288 million gain recorded in gain (losses) on transactions, net, based on the average cost, in the statement of operations. On December 11, 2012, we acquired approximately 4.8 million additional shares of common stock of TripAdvisor (an additional 4% equity ownership interest), for $300 million, and obtained voting control of TripAdvisor, see note 1 for additional details of the fourth quarter transaction with TripAdvisor.