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Basis of Presentation (Details) (USD $)
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1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Aug. 31, 2012
item
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Mar. 31, 2013
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Mar. 31, 2012
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Dec. 31, 2012
|
Dec. 31, 2011
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Dec. 31, 2010
|
Dec. 31, 2012
Senior secured credit facility
|
Mar. 31, 2013
Live Programming - U.S.
|
Dec. 31, 2012
Live Programming - U.S.
|
Mar. 31, 2013
Live Programming - Japan
|
Dec. 31, 2012
Live Programming - Japan
|
Mar. 31, 2013
Live Programming - Germany
|
Dec. 31, 2012
Live Programming - Germany
|
Mar. 31, 2013
Distribution - U.K.
|
Dec. 31, 2012
Distribution - U.K.
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Mar. 31, 2013
Live Programming - U.K.
|
Dec. 31, 2012
Live Programming - U.K.
|
Mar. 31, 2013
Live Programming - Italy
|
Dec. 31, 2012
Live Programming - Italy
|
Mar. 31, 2013
Recorded Programming - Italy
|
Dec. 31, 2012
Recorded Programming - Italy
|
Mar. 31, 2013
Live Programming - CNRS
|
Mar. 31, 2013
Recorded Programming - CNRS
|
Mar. 31, 2013
CNR Home Shopping Co., Ltd.
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Jul. 04, 2012
CNR Home Shopping Co., Ltd.
|
Dec. 31, 2012
CNR Home Shopping Co., Ltd.
Live Programming - CNRS
|
Dec. 31, 2012
CNR Home Shopping Co., Ltd.
Recorded Programming - CNRS
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Mar. 31, 2013
QVC-Japan
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Dec. 31, 2012
QVC-Japan
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Mar. 31, 2013
HSN, Inc.
|
Dec. 31, 2012
HSN, Inc.
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Dec. 31, 2012
Liberty
|
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| General business information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hours of distribution per day | 24 hours | 24 hours | 24 hours | 24 hours | 23 hours | 24 hours | 24 hours | 24 hours | 17 hours | 17 hours | 17 hours | 17 hours | 7 hours | 7 hours | 12 hours | 12 hours | 12 hours | 12 hours | ||||||||||||||
| Days per year of programming | 364 days | 364 days | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity method investment, ownership percentage | 49.00% | 49.00% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parent ownership in equity investment | 37.00% | 37.00% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of new tracking stocks | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash attributed to new tracking stock | $ 1,350,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount of dividend paid by the entity to parent | 1,150,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount borrowed | 800,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Outstanding amount of borrowing | 870,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Undrawn availability | 1,700,000,000 | 1,100,000,000 | 1,100,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of shares of common stock authorized | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of shares of common stock outstanding | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Investment owned, percent of net assets | 60.00% | 60.00% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Noncontrolling interest, ownership percentage by noncontrolling owners | 40.00% | 40.00% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Noncontrolling interests | 144,000,000 | 129,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dividend paid to noncontrolling interest | $ 25,000,000 | $ 29,000,000 | $ 29,000,000 | $ 50,000,000 | $ 63,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||