Long-lived Assets (Schedule of Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill beginning balance	$ 13,877.6	$ 13,289.3
Acquisitions and related adjustments	9,078.6	208.3
Reclassification of Chellomedia Disposal Group to discontinued operations	(223.4)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	1,016.0	380.0
Goodwill ending balance	23,748.8	13,877.6
European Operations Division Virgin Media (U.K.) [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill beginning balance	0
Acquisitions and related adjustments	9,000.8
Reclassification of Chellomedia Disposal Group to discontinued operations	0
Foreign currency translation adjustments	597.4
Goodwill ending balance	9,598.2
European Operations Division Germany (Unitymedia KabelBW) [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill beginning balance	3,770.3	3,703.3
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0	(0.8)
Reclassification of Chellomedia Disposal Group to discontinued operations	0
Foreign currency translation adjustments	169.1	67.8
Goodwill ending balance	3,939.4	3,770.3
European Operations Division Belgium (Telenet) [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill beginning balance	2,158.3	2,119.5
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0	0
Reclassification of Chellomedia Disposal Group to discontinued operations	0
Foreign currency translation adjustments	96.8	38.8
Goodwill ending balance	2,255.1	2,158.3
European Operations Division Netherlands [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill beginning balance	1,206.2	1,181.7
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0	2.9
Reclassification of Chellomedia Disposal Group to discontinued operations	0
Foreign currency translation adjustments	54.2	21.6
Goodwill ending balance	1,260.4	1,206.2
European Operations Division Switzerland [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill beginning balance	3,107.9	3,026.8
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0.6	1.1
Reclassification of Chellomedia Disposal Group to discontinued operations	0
Foreign currency translation adjustments	88.9	80.0
Goodwill ending balance	3,197.4	3,107.9
European Operations Division Other Western Europe [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill beginning balance	1,031.5	1,013.0
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0	0
Reclassification of Chellomedia Disposal Group to discontinued operations	0
Foreign currency translation adjustments	48.2	18.5
Goodwill ending balance	1,079.7	1,031.5
European Operations Division Total Western Europe [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill beginning balance	11,274.2	11,044.3
Acquisitions and related adjustments	9,001.4	3.2
Reclassification of Chellomedia Disposal Group to discontinued operations	0
Foreign currency translation adjustments	1,054.6	226.7
Goodwill ending balance	21,330.2	11,274.2
European Operations Division Central and Eastern Europe [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill beginning balance	1,509.5	1,404.2
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0	0.8
Reclassification of Chellomedia Disposal Group to discontinued operations	0
Foreign currency translation adjustments	10.6	104.5
Goodwill ending balance	1,520.1	1,509.5
Total European Operations Division [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill beginning balance	12,783.7	12,448.5
Acquisitions and related adjustments	9,001.4	4.0
Reclassification of Chellomedia Disposal Group to discontinued operations	0
Foreign currency translation adjustments	1,065.2	331.2
Goodwill ending balance	22,850.3	12,783.7
VTR Group (Chile) [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill beginning balance	558.0	514.3
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0	0
Reclassification of Chellomedia Disposal Group to discontinued operations	0
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(49.5)	43.7
Goodwill ending balance	508.5	558.0
Corporate and Other [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill beginning balance	535.9	326.5
Acquisitions and related adjustments	77.2	204.3
Reclassification of Chellomedia Disposal Group to discontinued operations	(223.4)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	0.3	5.1
Goodwill ending balance	$ 390.0	$ 535.9

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date, which is the cumulative amount paid and (if applicable) the fair value of any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree, adjusted for any amortization recognized prior to the adoption of any changes in generally accepted accounting principles (as applicable) and for any impairment charges, in excess of the fair value of net assets acquired in one or more business combination transactions.

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+ Details

- Definition

The aggregate amount of goodwill acquired in the period and allocated to the reportable segment. The value is stated at fair value based on the purchase price allocation.

+ References+ Details

- Definition

The increase (decrease) in the recorded value of goodwill for foreign currency translation adjustments and purchase accounting adjustments needed to revise the carrying amount of goodwill to fair value.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141R

-Paragraph 72

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