Commitments and Contingencies (Narrative) (Details) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended					12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended					1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended					12 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 Interkabel Acquisition [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 Interkabel Acquisition [Member] EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2013 Deutsche Telekom Litigation [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 Deutsche Telekom Litigation [Member] EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2012 Deutsche Telekom Litigation [Member]	Jan. 17, 2013 Vivendi Litigation [Member] USD ($)	Jan. 17, 2013 Vivendi Litigation [Member] EUR (€)	Sep. 09, 2013 Belgium Regulatory Developments [Member]	Oct. 04, 2013 Belgium Regulatory Developments [Member]	Apr. 02, 2013 Belgium Regulatory Developments [Member]	Jan. 31, 2012 FCO Regulatory Issues [Member] competitor	Dec. 31, 2014 FCO Regulatory Issues [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 FCO Regulatory Issues [Member] EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2014 Financial Transactions Tax [Member] country	Dec. 31, 2014 Virgin Media VAT Matters [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 Virgin Media VAT Matters [Member] EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2014 Virgin Media VAT Matters 2 [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 Virgin Media VAT Matters 2 [Member] GBP (£)	Apr. 26, 2002 Cignal [Member] plaintiff	Sep. 30, 2013 Cignal [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 Other Regulatory Issues [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 Other Regulatory Issues [Member] CLP	Dec. 31, 2014 Defined Contribution Pension [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 Defined Contribution Pension [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Defined Contribution Pension [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 Minimum [Member] Financial Transactions Tax [Member]	Dec. 31, 2014 Maximum [Member] Financial Transactions Tax [Member]	Dec. 31, 2014 Broadband Communications and DHT Operations [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 Broadband Communications and DHT Operations [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Broadband Communications and DHT Operations [Member] USD ($)
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Programming costs																															$ 2,145.0	$ 1,612.5	$ 978.4
Rent expense under non-cancelable operating lease arrangements	268.3	238.6	197.4
Aggregate expense for matching contributions under various defined contribution plans																										63.2	48.2	26.4
Loss contingency damages in excess value				24.2	20.0
Damages sought						92	76
Reduction of annual lease fees								66.67%
Subsidiary interest in recovery									10.00%	10.00%
Damages awarded									1,142	944
Term regulated wholesale services must be available after approval of reference offers											6 months
Retail-minus tariffs for basic TV												30.00%	35.00%
Retail-minus tariffs for bundle of basic TV and broadband internet services												23.00%	30.00%
Number of competitors of German cable business														2
Loss in period															222.0	183.5
Decrease in revenues due to contingency																				45.0	28.9
Number of participating countries in financial transaction tax																	11
Financial transactions tax																													0.01%	0.10%
Maximum possible loss																		62.8	40.3	101.0	65.0
Release of litigation provision	0	146.0	0																				146.0
Number of plaintiffs																						9
Loss contingency accrual																		0		0
Maximum range of possible loss																								$ 12.2	7,400.0