Long-lived Assets (Schedule of Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	$ 23,748.8
Foreign currency translation adjustments	33.9
Goodwill ending balance	23,782.7
European Operations Division Virgin Media (U.K.) [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	9,598.2
Foreign currency translation adjustments	66.4
Goodwill ending balance	9,664.6
European Operations Division Germany (Unitymedia KabelBW) [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	3,939.4
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(4.7)
Goodwill ending balance	3,934.7
European Operations Division Belgium (Telenet) [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	2,255.1
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(2.7)
Goodwill ending balance	2,252.4
European Operations Division Netherlands [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	1,260.4
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(1.5)
Goodwill ending balance	1,258.9
European Operations Division Switzerland [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	3,197.4
Foreign currency translation adjustments	15.9
Goodwill ending balance	3,213.3
European Operations Division Other Western Europe [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	1,079.7
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(1.3)
Goodwill ending balance	1,078.4
European Operations Division Total Western Europe [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	21,330.2
Foreign currency translation adjustments	72.1
Goodwill ending balance	21,402.3
European Operations Division Central and Eastern Europe [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	1,520.1
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(16.0)
Goodwill ending balance	1,504.1
Total European Operations Division [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	22,850.3
Foreign currency translation adjustments	56.1
Goodwill ending balance	22,906.4
VTR Group (Chile) [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	508.5
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(22.2)
Goodwill ending balance	486.3
Corporate and Other [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	390.0
Foreign currency translation adjustments	0
Goodwill ending balance	$ 390.0