2.2.0.25falsefalse42003 - Disclosure - Information About Liberty's Operating Segments (Reconciliation of Segment Adjusted OIBDA to Earnings (loss) from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes) (Details)truefalseIn Millionsfalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse10/1/2010 - 12/31/2010 USD ($) $Duration_10_1_2010_To_12_31_2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001355096duration2010-10-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010 USD ($) $Duration_1_1_2010_To_12_31_2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001355096duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$3falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009 USD ($) $Duration_1_1_2009_To_12_31_2009http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001355096duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$4falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008 USD ($) $Duration_1_1_2008_To_12_31_20082http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001355096duration2008-01-01T00:00:002008-12-31T00:00:00Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$5false0lcapa_AdjustedOibdalcapafalsedebitdurationAdjusted OIBDAfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse20700000002070falsetruefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse18530000001853falsetruefalsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse15480000001548falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAdjusted OIBDANo authoritative reference available.falsefalseConsolidated segment Adjusted OIBDA6false0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegated1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-150000000-150falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-128000000-128falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse-49000000-49falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe aggregate amount of noncash, equity-based employee remuneration. This may include the value of stock options, amortization of restricted stock, and adjustment for officers compensation. As noncash, this element is an add back when calculating net cash generated by operating activities using the indirect method.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 28 falsefalseStock-based compensation7false0us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortizationus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegated1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-661000000-661falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-666000000-666falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse-688000000-688falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe current period expense charged against earnings on long-lived, physical assets not used in production, and which are not intended for resale, to allocate or recognize the cost of such assets over their useful lives; or to record the reduction in book value of an intangible asset over the benefit period of such asset; or to reflect consumption during the period of an asset that is not used in production.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 28 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 12 -Paragraph 5 falsefalseDepreciation and amortization8false0us-gaap_ProceedsFromLegalSettlementsus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse4800000048falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse4800000048falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00  falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00  falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryCash received for the settlement of litigation during the current period.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 27 falsefalseLegal settlement9false0us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUseus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegated1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-4000000-4falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-9000000-9falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse-1569000000-1569falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe aggregate amount of write-downs for impairments recognized during the period for long lived assets held for use (including those held for disposal by means other than sale).Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 144 -Paragraph 26 -Subparagraph b Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 144 -Paragraph 7, 25 falsefalseImpairment of long-lived assets (note)10false0us-gaap_InterestExpenseus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegated1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-647000000-647falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-628000000-628falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse-667000000-667falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest that was charged against earnings during the period.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 34 -Paragraph 21 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher OTS -Name Federal Regulation (FR) -Number Title 12 -Chapter V -Section 563c.102 -Paragraph 9 -Subsection II Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Paragraph 9 -Article 9 falsefalseInterest expense11false0us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestmentsus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse5000000050falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-58000000-58falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse-1263000000-1263falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis item represents the entity's proportionate share for the period of the net income (loss) of its investee (such as unconsolidated subsidiaries and joint ventures) to which the equity method of accounting is applied. Such amount typically reflects adjustments similar to those made in preparing consolidated statements, including adjustments to eliminate intercompany gains and losses, and to amortize, if appropriate, any difference between cost and underlying equity in net assets of the investee at the date of investment.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 18 -Paragraph 19 -Subparagraph c Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Paragraph 11 -Article 7 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 28 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 9 -Article 5 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 18 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph b falsefalseShare of earnings (losses) of affiliates12false0us-gaap_GainLossOnDerivativeInstrumentsNetPretaxus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse232000000232falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-155000000-155falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse-260000000-260falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAggregate net gain (loss) on all derivative instruments recognized in earnings during the period, before tax effects.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseRealized and unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments, net (note 9)13false0us-gaap_GainLossOnDispositionOfAssetsus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse569000000569falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse284000000284falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse1500000015falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe gains and losses included in earnings resulting from the sale or disposal of tangible assets.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 144 -Paragraph 47 falsefalseGains on dispositions, net (notes 7 and 8)14false0us-gaap_ImpairmentOfInvestmentsus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegated1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00  falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-9000000-9falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse-441000000-441falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the fair value of the investment. The amount is charged to income if the decline in fair value is deemed to be other than temporary.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 115 -Paragraph 16 falsefalseOther than temporary declines in fair value of investments (note 7)15false0lcapa_OtherIncomeOrLossToAdjustOibdaToEarningsLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesNetlcapafalsecreditdurationThe gains and losses included in earnings resulting from the sale or disposal of tangible assets.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse5100000051falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse137000000137falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse343000000343falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe gains and losses included in earnings resulting from the sale or disposal of tangible assets.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseOther, net16false0us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestmentsus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotallabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse15580000001558falsetruefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse621000000621falsetruefalsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse-3031000000-3031falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetarySum of operating profit and nonoperating income (expense) before income (loss) from equity method investments, income taxes, extraordinary items, cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles, and noncontrolling interest.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 08 -Paragraph h -Subparagraph 1(i) -Article 4 truefalseEarnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes412Information About Liberty's Operating Segments (Reconciliation of Segment Adjusted OIBDA to Earnings (loss) from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes) (Details) (USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue