Debt and Capital Lease Obligations (Maturities of Debt) (Schedule) (Details)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 Unitymedia KabelBW Revolving Credit Facility [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 Unitymedia KabelBW Revolving Credit Facility [Member] EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2014 Virgin Media [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 UPC Holding [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 UnityMedia KabelBW [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 Ziggo [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 Telenet [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 Other Subsidiaries [Member] USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
2014	$ 1,350,300,000				$ 406,500,000	$ 436,000,000	$ 455,500,000	$ 0	$ 9,000,000	$ 43,300,000
2015	360,000,000				0	0	0	0	9,000,000	351,000,000
2016	917,100,000				0	0	0	0	9,000,000	908,100,000
2017	248,500,000				0	0	0	0	9,000,000	239,500,000
2018	604,800,000				584,300,000	0	0	0	20,500,000	0
Thereafter	41,131,500,000				12,262,700,000	9,595,400,000	7,402,500,000	5,755,900,000	4,040,200,000	2,074,800,000
Total debt maturities	44,612,200,000				13,253,500,000	10,031,400,000	7,858,000,000	5,755,900,000	4,096,700,000	3,616,700,000
Unamortized premium (discount)	(800,000)				19,800,000	(15,200,000)	(1,600,000)	31,900,000	(3,400,000)	(32,300,000)
Total debt	44,611,400,000	42,856,000,000			13,273,300,000	10,016,200,000	7,856,400,000	5,787,800,000	4,093,300,000	3,584,400,000
Current portion	1,352,400,000				408,600,000	436,000,000	455,500,000	0	9,000,000	43,300,000
Noncurrent portion	43,259,000,000				12,864,700,000	9,580,200,000	7,400,900,000	5,787,800,000	4,084,300,000	3,541,100,000
Outstanding principal amount			$ 338,800,000	€ 280,000,000