Restructuring Liabilities (Details) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended								6 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 Employee severance and termination [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Employee severance and termination [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 Office closures [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Office closures [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Contract termination [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 Contract termination and other [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 VTR Wireless [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 VTR Wireless [Member] Contract termination [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 Telenet [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 Telenet [Member] EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2013 U.K. Employee severance and termination [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 Germany [Member] Employee severance and termination [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 Chile [Member] Employee severance and termination [Member] USD ($)
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other Restructuring Costs										$ 71.5
Restructuring liability at beginning of year	56.8	28.4	39.7	7.2	4.0	3.6	17.6	13.1
Restructuring charges	178.7	53.0	77.9	51.4	(0.1)	1.6	0	100.9	84.9				46.1	14.1	8.1
Cash paid	(123.2)	(25.0)	(91.5)	(20.9)	(14.1)	(1.3)	(2.8)	(17.6)
Virgin Media liability at acquisition date	23.4		0.1		23.3			0
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	(8.4)	1.4	1.2	1.2	1.8	0.1	0.1	(11.4)
Reclassification of Chellomedia Disposal Group to discontinued operations	(13.8)		(0.8)		0			(13.0)
Chellomedia Disposal Group		(1.0)		0.8		0	(1.8)
Restructuring liability at end of year	113.5	56.8	26.6	39.7	14.9	4.0	13.1	72.0
Current portion	65.5	44.9	26.5	39.6	13.2	2.1	3.2	25.8
Noncurrent portion	48.0	11.9	0.1	0.1	1.7	1.9	9.9	46.2			126.9	92.0
Total	$ 113.5	$ 56.8	$ 26.6	$ 39.7	$ 14.9	$ 4.0	$ 13.1	$ 72.0