Additional Financial Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011 years	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010
Cash Flows [Abstract]
Cash payments made for interest				$ (525,000,000)	$ (546,000,000)
Cash interest received				25,000,000	13,000,000
Cash interest payments, net				(500,000,000)	(533,000,000)
Cash payments made for income taxes				(611,000,000)	(687,000,000)
Income tax refunds received				40,000,000	50,000,000
TWC tax sharing payments, net				0	(87,000,000)
Cash tax payments, net				(571,000,000)	(724,000,000)
Interest Expense, Net [Abstract]
Interest income	20,000,000		26,000,000	57,000,000	51,000,000
Interest expense	(334,000,000)		(326,000,000)	(645,000,000)	(647,000,000)
Total interest expense, net	(314,000,000)		(300,000,000)	(588,000,000)	(596,000,000)
Other Loss, Net [Abstract]
Investment gains (losses), net	(7,000,000)		3,000,000	(3,000,000)	0
Premiums paid and transaction costs incurred in connection with debt redemptions	0		(14,000,000)	0	(69,000,000)
Income (loss) on equity method investees	8,000,000		(3,000,000)	(10,000,000)	(3,000,000)
Other	(3,000,000)		(3,000,000)	(3,000,000)	2,000,000
Total other loss, net	(2,000,000)		(17,000,000)	(16,000,000)	(70,000,000)
Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities
Accounts payable	772,000,000			772,000,000		846,000,000
Accrued expenses	1,731,000,000			1,731,000,000		2,087,000,000
Participations payable	2,177,000,000			2,177,000,000		2,480,000,000
Programming costs payable	761,000,000			761,000,000		737,000,000
Accrued compensation	716,000,000			716,000,000		1,051,000,000
Accrued interest	328,000,000			328,000,000		284,000,000
Accrued income taxes	140,000,000			140,000,000		248,000,000
Total accounts payable and accrued liabilities	6,625,000,000			6,625,000,000		7,733,000,000
Other Noncurrent Liabilities
Noncurrent tax and interest reserves	2,430,000,000			2,430,000,000		2,397,000,000
Participations payable	779,000,000			779,000,000		806,000,000
Programming costs payable	1,140,000,000			1,140,000,000		1,227,000,000
Noncurrent pension and post retirement liabilities	559,000,000			559,000,000		565,000,000
Deferred compensation	584,000,000			584,000,000		575,000,000
Other noncurrent liabilities	589,000,000			589,000,000		597,000,000
Total other noncurrent liabilities	6,081,000,000			6,081,000,000		6,167,000,000
Accounting for Collaborative Arrangements [Abstract]
Collaborative Arrangement, Income Statement Classifications and Amounts COR	111,000,000		123,000,000	198,000,000	210,000,000
Collaborative Arrangement, Programming Rights Fee		10,800,000,000
Collaborative Arrangement, Term In Years		14
Collaborative Arrangement, Shortfall Maximum		90,000,000
Collaborative Arrangement, Shortfall Minimum		$ 30,000,000