Segment Information (Information on Reportable Segments and Reconciliation to Consolidated Net Income) (Details) subscription in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) subscription	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) subscription	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) subscription	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) subscription	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) subscription
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total members at end of period | subscription											0
Revenues	$ 1,823,333	$ 1,738,355	$ 1,644,694	$ 1,573,129	$ 1,484,728	$ 1,409,432	$ 1,340,407	$ 1,270,089	$ 6,779,511	$ 5,504,656	$ 4,374,562
Cost of revenues									4,591,476	3,752,760	3,117,203
Marketing									824,092	607,186	469,942
Contribution profit (loss)									1,363,943	1,144,710	787,417
Other operating expenses									1,058,117	742,062	559,070
Operating income									305,826	402,648	228,347
Other income (expense)									(163,941)	(53,279)	(57,273)
Provision for income taxes									19,244	82,570	58,671
Net income	$ 43,178	$ 29,432	$ 26,335	$ 23,696	$ 83,371	$ 59,295	$ 71,018	$ 53,115	122,641	266,799	112,403
Amortization of content assets									$ 3,484,762	$ 2,727,770	$ 2,193,306
Domestic Streaming [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total members at end of period | subscription	44,738				39,114				44,738	39,114	33,420
Revenues									$ 4,180,339	$ 3,431,434	$ 2,751,375
Cost of revenues									2,487,193	2,201,761	1,863,376
Marketing									317,646	293,453	265,232
Contribution profit (loss)									1,375,500	936,220	622,767
Amortization of content assets									$ 1,905,069	$ 1,657,673	$ 1,420,076
International Streaming [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total members at end of period | subscription	30,024				18,277				30,024	18,277	10,930
Revenues									$ 1,953,435	$ 1,308,061	$ 712,390
Cost of revenues									1,780,375	1,154,117	782,304
Marketing									506,446	313,733	204,418
Contribution profit (loss)									(333,386)	(159,789)	(274,332)
Amortization of content assets									$ 1,500,313	$ 998,606	$ 701,905
Domestic DVD [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total members at end of period | subscription	4,904				5,767				4,904	5,767	6,930
Revenues									$ 645,737	$ 765,161	$ 910,797
Cost of revenues									323,908	396,882	471,523
Marketing											292
Contribution profit (loss)									321,829	368,279	438,982
Amortization of content assets									$ 79,380	$ 71,491	$ 71,325