Derivative Instruments (Cross-currency Interest Rate Swaps) (Schedule) (Details) In Millions, unless otherwise specified					6 Months Ended														6 Months Ended																										6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013 Due From Counterparty [Member] January 2021 500.0 USD 308.9 GBP [Member] Cross-currency and interest rate derivative contracts Virgin Media Investment Holdings Limited [Member] USD ($)		Jun. 30, 2013 Due From Counterparty [Member] November 2019 500.0 USD 362.9 EUR [Member] Currency Swap [Member] UPC Broadband Holding [Member] USD ($)		Jun. 30, 2013 Due From Counterparty [Member] July 2018 425Usd 320.9Euro [Member] Cross-currency and interest rate derivative contracts UPC Broadband Holding [Member] USD ($)		Jun. 30, 2013 Due From Counterparty [Member] September 2014 to January 2020 327.5 USD 249.5 EUR [Member] Cross-currency and interest rate derivative contracts UPC Broadband Holding [Member] USD ($)		Jun. 30, 2013 Due From Counterparty [Member] December 2014 300.0 USD [Member] Cross-currency and interest rate derivative contracts UPC Broadband Holding [Member] USD ($)		Jun. 30, 2013 Due From Counterparty [Member] December 2014 to July 2018 300 USD 226.5 EUR [Member] Cross-currency and interest rate derivative contracts UPC Broadband Holding [Member] USD ($)		Jun. 30, 2013 Due From Counterparty [Member] December 2016 244.1Usd 179.3Euro [Member] Cross-currency and interest rate derivative contracts UPC Broadband Holding [Member] USD ($)		Jun. 30, 2013 Due From Counterparty [Member] July 2018 100.0 USD 75.4 EUR [Member] Cross-currency and interest rate derivative contracts UPC Broadband Holding [Member] USD ($)		Jun. 30, 2013 Due From Counterparty [Member] November 2019 250Usd 226.8Chf [Member] Cross-currency and interest rate derivative contracts UPC Broadband Holding [Member] USD ($)		Jun. 30, 2013 Due From Counterparty [Member] January 2020 225.0 USD 206.3 CHF [Member] Cross-currency and interest rate derivative contracts UPC Broadband Holding [Member] USD ($)		Jun. 30, 2013 Due From Counterparty [Member] December 2014 340Usd 181322Clp [Member] Cross-currency and interest rate derivative contracts UPC Broadband Holding [Member] USD ($)		Jun. 30, 2013 Due From Counterparty [Member] December 2016 201.5 USD 489.3 RON [Member] Cross-currency and interest rate derivative contracts UPC Broadband Holding [Member] USD ($)		Jun. 30, 2013 Due From Counterparty [Member] December 2014 134.2 USD 107800.0 CLP [Member] Cross-currency and interest rate derivative contracts UPC Broadband Holding [Member] EUR (€)		Jun. 30, 2013 Due From Counterparty [Member] September 2014 446.5 USD 247137.8 CLP [Member] Cross-currency and interest rate derivative contracts VTR [Member] USD ($)		Jun. 30, 2013 Due To Counterparty [Member] January 2021 500.0 USD 308.9 GBP [Member] Cross-currency and interest rate derivative contracts Virgin Media Investment Holdings Limited [Member] GBP (£)		Jun. 30, 2013 Due To Counterparty [Member] November 2019 500.0 USD 362.9 EUR [Member] Currency Swap [Member] UPC Broadband Holding [Member] EUR (€)		Jun. 30, 2013 Due To Counterparty [Member] July 2018 425Usd 320.9Euro [Member] Cross-currency and interest rate derivative contracts UPC Broadband Holding [Member] EUR (€)		Jun. 30, 2013 Due To Counterparty [Member] September 2014 to January 2020 327.5 USD 249.5 EUR [Member] Cross-currency and interest rate derivative contracts UPC Broadband Holding [Member] EUR (€)		Jun. 30, 2013 Due To Counterparty [Member] December 2014 300.0 USD [Member] Cross-currency and interest rate derivative contracts UPC Broadband Holding [Member] EUR (€)		Jun. 30, 2013 Due To Counterparty [Member] December 2014 to July 2018 300 USD 226.5 EUR [Member] Cross-currency and interest rate derivative contracts UPC Broadband Holding [Member] EUR (€)		Jun. 30, 2013 Due To Counterparty [Member] December 2016 244.1Usd 179.3Euro [Member] Cross-currency and interest rate derivative contracts UPC Broadband Holding [Member] EUR (€)		Jun. 30, 2013 Due To Counterparty [Member] July 2018 100.0 USD 75.4 EUR [Member] Cross-currency and interest rate derivative contracts UPC Broadband Holding [Member] EUR (€)		Jun. 30, 2013 Due To Counterparty [Member] November 2019 250Usd 226.8Chf [Member] Cross-currency and interest rate derivative contracts UPC Broadband Holding [Member] CHF		Jun. 30, 2013 Due To Counterparty [Member] January 2020 225.0 USD 206.3 CHF [Member] Cross-currency and interest rate derivative contracts UPC Broadband Holding [Member] CHF		Jun. 30, 2013 Due To Counterparty [Member] December 2014 340Usd 181322Clp [Member] Cross-currency and interest rate derivative contracts UPC Broadband Holding [Member] CLP		Jun. 30, 2013 Due To Counterparty [Member] December 2016 201.5 USD 489.3 RON [Member] Cross-currency and interest rate derivative contracts UPC Broadband Holding [Member] RON		Jun. 30, 2013 Due To Counterparty [Member] December 2014 134.2 USD 107800.0 CLP [Member] Cross-currency and interest rate derivative contracts UPC Broadband Holding [Member] CLP		Jun. 30, 2013 Due To Counterparty [Member] September 2014 446.5 USD 247137.8 CLP [Member] Cross-currency and interest rate derivative contracts VTR [Member] CLP
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	$ 500.0	[1]	$ 500.0	[1]	$ 425.0	[1]	$ 327.5	[1]	$ 300.0	[1]	$ 300.0	[1]	$ 296.6	[1]	$ 100.0	[1]	$ 250.0	[1]	$ 225.0	[1]	$ 340.0	[1]	$ 201.5	[1]	€ 134.2	[1]	$ 446.5	[1]	£ 0	[1]	€ 362.9	[1]	€ 320.9	[1]	€ 249.5	[1]	€ 226.5	[1]	€ 226.5	[1]	€ 219.8	[1]	€ 75.4	[1]	226.8	[1]	206.3	[1]	181,322.0	[1]	489.3	[1]	107,800.0	[1]	247,137.8	[1]
Derivative Interest Rate Referenced					6 mo. LIBOR	[1]	6 mo. LIBOR	[1]	6 mo. LIBOR	[1]	6 mo. LIBOR	[1]	6 mo. LIBOR	[1]	6 mo. LIBOR	[1]			6 mo. LIBOR	[1]	6 mo. LIBOR	[1]	6 mo. LIBOR	[1]	6 mo. EURIBOR	[1]	6 mo. LIBOR	[1]	6 mo. GBP LIBOR	[1]															6 mo. CHF LIBOR	[1]
Derivative Interest Rate Above Referenced Rate																													1.94%	[1]			1.75%	[1]	4.92%	[1]	1.75%	[1]	2.58%	[1]	3.50%	[1]	3.00%	[1]	5.01%	[1]	4.81%	[1]	1.75%	[1]	3.50%	[1]	2.00%	[1]	3.00%	[1]
Derivative Interest Rate	5.25%	[1]	7.25%	[1]													7.25%	[1]													7.74%	[1]	6.08%	[1]	7.52%	[1]	5.78%	[1]	6.80%	[1]	6.75%	[1]	6.97%	[1]			5.44%	[1]	8.76%	[1]	14.01%	[1]	10.00%	[1]	11.16%	[1]

[1] For each subsidiary, the notional amount of multiple derivative instruments that mature within the same calendar month are shown in the aggregate and interest rates are presented on a weighted average basis. For derivative instruments that were in effect as of June 30, 2013, we present a single date that represents the applicable final maturity date. For derivative instruments that become effective subsequent to June 30, 2013, we present a range of dates that represents the period covered by the applicable derivative instrument.