Long-lived Assets (Schedule of Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill) (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	$ 27,020.4
Acquisitions and related adjustments	353.8
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	656.2
Goodwill ending balance	28,030.4
European Operations Division U.K / Ireland [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	8,790.7
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0.2
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	(184.5)
Goodwill ending balance	8,606.4
European Operations Division Netherlands [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	7,851.3
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0.0
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	372.2
Goodwill ending balance	8,223.5
European Operations Division Germany [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	3,104.4
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0.0
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	147.1
Goodwill ending balance	3,251.5
European Operations Division Belgium [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	1,777.1
Acquisitions and related adjustments	353.5
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	85.8
Goodwill ending balance	2,216.4
European Operations Division Switzerland / Austria [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	3,500.4
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0.0
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	152.2
Goodwill ending balance	3,652.6
European Operations Division Total Western Europe [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	25,023.9
Acquisitions and related adjustments	353.7
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	572.8
Goodwill ending balance	25,950.4
European Operations Division Central and Eastern Europe [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	1,186.9
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0.1
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	61.0
Goodwill ending balance	1,248.0
Total European Operations Division [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	26,210.8
Acquisitions and related adjustments	353.8
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	633.8
Goodwill ending balance	27,198.4
Corporate and Other [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	34.0
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0.0
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	0.0
Goodwill ending balance	34.0
Liberty Global Group [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	26,244.8
Acquisitions and related adjustments	353.8
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	633.8
Goodwill ending balance	27,232.4
LiLAC Group Chile [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	377.0
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0.0
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	22.4
Goodwill ending balance	399.4
LiLAC Group Puerto Rico [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	277.7
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0.0
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	0.0
Goodwill ending balance	277.7
LiLAC Division [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	654.7
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0.0
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	22.4
Goodwill ending balance	677.1
LiLAC Group Corporate and Other [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	120.9
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0.0
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	0.0
Goodwill ending balance	120.9
LiLAC Group [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill beginning balance	775.6
Acquisitions and related adjustments	0.0
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	22.4
Goodwill ending balance	$ 798.0