Long-lived Assets (Schedule of Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	$ 23,748.8
Acquisitions and related adjustments	5.1
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(1,358.0)
Goodwill ending balance	22,395.9
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	(201.1)
Goodwill ending balance	9,397.1
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	(331.4)
Goodwill ending balance	3,608.0
European Operations Division Belgium (Telenet) [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	2,255.1
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(189.7)
Goodwill ending balance	2,065.4
European Operations Division Netherlands [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	1,260.4
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(106.1)
Goodwill ending balance	1,154.3
European Operations Division Switzerland [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	3,197.4
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(221.4)
Goodwill ending balance	2,976.0
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	(90.8)
Goodwill ending balance	988.9
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	(1,140.5)
Goodwill ending balance	20,189.7
European Operations Division Central and Eastern Europe [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	1,520.1
Acquisitions and related adjustments	5.1
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(147.2)
Goodwill ending balance	1,378.0
Total European Operations Division [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	22,850.3
Acquisitions and related adjustments	5.1
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(1,287.7)
Goodwill ending balance	21,567.7
VTR Group (Chile) [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	508.5
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(61.9)
Goodwill ending balance	446.6
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