Earnings Per Common Share (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Earnings Per Common Share
Common stock options excluded from the computation of diluted EPS (in shares)										1	1
Basic EPS
Net income attributable to DIRECTV	$ 778	$ 611	$ 806	$ 561	$ 810	$ 699	$ 660	$ 690	$ 2,756	$ 2,859	$ 2,949
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding									505	548	638
Earnings per share attributable to DIRECTV (in dollars per share)	$ 1.55	$ 1.22	$ 1.60	$ 1.10	$ 1.55	$ 1.29	$ 1.19	$ 1.21	$ 5.46	$ 5.22	$ 4.62
Effect of dilutive securities
Dilutive effect of stock options and restricted stock units (in shares)									5	5	6
Dilutive effect of stock options and restricted stock units, per share amount (in dollars per share)									$ (0.06)	$ (0.05)	$ (0.04)
Diluted EPS
Adjusted net income attributable to DIRECTV									$ 2,756	$ 2,859	$ 2,949
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding									510	553	644
Net Income (in dollars per share)	$ 1.53	$ 1.21	$ 1.59	$ 1.09	$ 1.53	$ 1.28	$ 1.18	$ 1.20	$ 5.40	$ 5.17	$ 4.58