Debt and Capital Lease Obligations (Capital Lease Obligations) (Schedule) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
2014	$ 353.8
2015	301.0
2016	246.6
2017	190.9
2018	170.3
Thereafter	1,749.4
Total principal and interest payments	3,012.0
Amounts representing interest	(1,163.7)
Present value of net minimum lease payments	1,848.3
Current portion	233.0
Noncurrent portion	1,615.3
UnityMedia KabelBW [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
2014	101.3
2015	101.1
2016	101.1
2017	101.1
2018	101.1
Thereafter	1,201.8
Total principal and interest payments	1,707.5
Amounts representing interest	(755.5)
Present value of net minimum lease payments	952.0
Current portion	28.9
Noncurrent portion	923.1
Telenet [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
2014	73.1
2015	68.1
2016	66.4
2017	64.6
2018	61.0
Thereafter	279.1
Total principal and interest payments	612.3
Amounts representing interest	(161.1)
Present value of net minimum lease payments	451.2
Current portion	45.3
Noncurrent portion	405.9
Virgin Media [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
2014	160.3
2015	112.9
2016	63.2
2017	17.0
2018	4.6
Thereafter	241.0
Total principal and interest payments	599.0
Amounts representing interest	(225.5)
Present value of net minimum lease payments	373.5
Current portion	144.0
Noncurrent portion	229.5
Other Subsidiaries [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
2014	19.1
2015	18.9
2016	15.9
2017	8.2
2018	3.6
Thereafter	27.5
Total principal and interest payments	93.2
Amounts representing interest	(21.6)
Present value of net minimum lease payments	71.6
Current portion	14.8
Noncurrent portion	$ 56.8

Amount equal to the present value (the principal) at the beginning of the lease term of minimum lease payments during the lease term (excluding that portion of the payments representing executory costs such as insurance, maintenance, and taxes to be paid by the lessor, together with any profit thereon) net of payments or other amounts applied to the principal, through the balance sheet date and due to be paid within one year (or one operating cycle, if longer) of the balance sheet date.

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Amount of minimum lease payments maturing in the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year for capital leases.

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Amount of minimum lease payments maturing in the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year for capital leases.

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Amount of minimum lease payments maturing in the forth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year for capital leases.

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Amount of minimum lease payments maturing in the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year for capital leases.

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Amount of minimum lease payments maturing after the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year for capital leases.

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Amount necessary to reduce net minimum lease payments to present value for capital leases.

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Present value of minimum lease payments for capital leases net of executory costs, including amounts paid by the lessee to the lessor for insurance, maintenance and taxes.

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