Long-lived Assets (Schedule of Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	$ 23,748.8
Acquisitions and related adjustments	5.5
Foreign currency translation adjustments	196.2
Goodwill ending balance	23,950.5
European Operations Division Virgin Media (U.K.) [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	9,598.2
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0
Foreign currency translation adjustments	310.5
Goodwill ending balance	9,908.7
European Operations Division Germany (Unitymedia KabelBW) [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	3,939.4
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(28.1)
Goodwill ending balance	3,911.3
European Operations Division Belgium (Telenet) [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	2,255.1
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(16.1)
Goodwill ending balance	2,239.0
European Operations Division Netherlands [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	1,260.4
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(9.0)
Goodwill ending balance	1,251.4
European Operations Division Switzerland [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	3,197.4
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0
Foreign currency translation adjustments	5.4
Goodwill ending balance	3,202.8
European Operations Division Other Western Europe [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	1,079.7
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(7.7)
Goodwill ending balance	1,072.0
European Operations Division Total Western Europe [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	21,330.2
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0
Foreign currency translation adjustments	255.0
Goodwill ending balance	21,585.2
European Operations Division Central and Eastern Europe [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	1,520.1
Acquisitions and related adjustments	5.5
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(25.1)
Goodwill ending balance	1,500.5
Total European Operations Division [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	22,850.3
Acquisitions and related adjustments	5.5
Foreign currency translation adjustments	229.9
Goodwill ending balance	23,085.7
VTR Group (Chile) [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	508.5
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(25.3)
Goodwill ending balance	483.2
Corporate and Other [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	390.0
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(8.4)
Goodwill ending balance	$ 381.6