Segment Reporting (Revenue by Major Category) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total subscription revenue	$ 2,558.7	[1]	$ 2,109.0	[1]	$ 4,840.1	[1]	$ 4,239.6	[1]
Other revenue	603.2	[2],[3]	415.5	[2],[3]	1,089.5	[2],[3]	821.9	[2],[3]
Total	3,161.9	[2]	2,524.5	[2]	5,929.6	[2]	5,061.5	[2]
Video [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total subscription revenue	1,274.8	[1]	1,143.1	[1]	2,487.5	[1]	2,307.5	[1]
Broadband Internet [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total subscription revenue	765.2	[1],[2]	590.1	[1],[2]	1,424.5	[1],[2]	1,181.3	[1],[2]
Telephony [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total subscription revenue	$ 518.7	[1],[2]	$ 375.8	[1],[2]	$ 928.1	[1],[2]	$ 750.8	[1],[2]

[1] Subscription revenue includes amounts received from subscribers for ongoing services, excluding installation fees, late fees and mobile services revenue. Subscription revenue from subscribers who purchase bundled services at a discounted rate is generally allocated proportionally to each service based on the standalone price for each individual service.

[2] In connection with the Virgin Media Acquisition, we determined that we would no longer externally report digital subscriber line (DSL) subscribers as RGUs. Accordingly, we have reclassified the revenue from our DSL subscribers in Austria from broadband internet and telephony subscription revenue to other revenue for all periods presented.

[3] Other revenue includes non-subscription revenue (including B2B, mobile services, interconnect, carriage fee and installation revenue) and programming revenue.