Information About Liberty's Operating Segments (Reconciliation Of Segment Adjusted OIBDA To Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Consolidated segment Adjusted OIBDA	$ 418	$ 378
Stock-based compensation	(17)	(16)
Depreciation and amortization	(143)	(149)
Interest expense	(106)	(114)
Share of earnings (losses) of affiliates	11	20
Realized and unrealized gains on financial instruments, net	(18)	(59)
Other, net	3	18
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	148	78
QVC [Member]
Consolidated segment Adjusted OIBDA	390	363
Corporate And Other [Member]
Consolidated segment Adjusted OIBDA	$ (6)	$ (14)

Information About Liberty's Operating Segments (Reconciliation Of Segment Adjusted OIBDA To Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Mar. 31, 2011

Consolidated segment Adjusted OIBDA

$ 418

$ 378

Stock-based compensation

(17)

(16)

Depreciation and amortization

(143)

(149)

Interest expense

(106)

(114)

Share of earnings (losses) of affiliates

Realized and unrealized gains on financial instruments, net

(18)

(59)

Other, net

Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes

148

QVC [Member]

Consolidated segment Adjusted OIBDA

390

363

Corporate And Other [Member]

Consolidated segment Adjusted OIBDA

$ (6)

$ (14)

- Definition

The 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.

+ References+ Details

- Definition

This 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. This item includes income or expense related to stock-based compensation based on the investor's grant of stock to employees of an equity method investee.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 323

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382870&loc=d3e33749-111570

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 18

-Paragraph 19

-Subparagraph c

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 18

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 28

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph 11

-Article 7

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 5

-Section 03

-Paragraph 9

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.12)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

- Definition

The cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest that was charged against earnings during the period.

+ References+ Details