Equity Method Investment, Co-Venturer Ownership Percentage

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Payments of Value-Added Taxes, Joint Venture

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Percent of Interest Income Earned on Loan Included in Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments

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Percent of Remaining Results of Operations Included in Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments

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Percent of Share-based Compensation Included in Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments

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Proceeds from Equalization Payment from Affiliate

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Proceeds from Joint Venture Debt Financing Arrangements

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Receivable with Imputed Interest, Net Amount, Receivable in Year One

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For an unclassified balance sheet, amounts due from related parties including affiliates, employees, joint ventures, officers and stockholders, immediate families thereof, and pension funds.

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Amount of distribution received from equity method investee for return on investment, classified as operating activities. Excludes distribution for return of investment, classified as investing activities.

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The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

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The amount of revenue from sale of goods and services reduced by sales returns, allowances, and discounts reported by an equity method investment of the entity.

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The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in the amount due from borrowers for interest payments.

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The cash outflow associated with the purchase of or advances to an equity method investments, which are investments in joint ventures and entities in which the entity has an equity ownership interest normally of 20 to 50 percent and exercises significant influence.

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Amount of distribution received from equity method investee for return of investment, classified as investing activities. Excludes distribution for return on investment, classified as operating activities.

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Yield on the receivable, on which interest has been imputed, as calculated from its issuance value or purchase price. The calculated effective interest rate considers factors such as the issued face value or price paid for the receivable, the time period between payments, and the time until maturity [full receipt] of the receivable.

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The principal amount of the receivable or note before consideration of the discount or premium.

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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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Investments (Narrative) (Details) € in Millions			3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
Investments (Narrative) (Details) € in Millions	Jan. 04, 2017 EUR (€)	Jan. 04, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 EUR (€)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 EUR (€)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Dividends from affiliates and others						$ 209,500,000	$ 188,000,000.0
Value-added taxes (VAT) paid on behalf of the VodafoneZiggo JV						0	162,600,000
Distributions received from affiliates						0	1,569,400,000
VodafoneZiggo JV
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Percent of interest income earned on loan included in investment								100.00%	100.00%
Percent of share-based compensation included in investment								100.00%	100.00%
Percent of remaining results of operations included in investment								50.00%	50.00%
Ownership percentage								50.00%	50.00%	50.00%	50.00%
Co-venturer ownership percentage											50.00%
Dividends from affiliates and others	€ 2,200.0	$ 2,400,000,000		€ 3.9	$ 4,500,000
Value-added taxes (VAT) paid on behalf of the VodafoneZiggo JV					162,600,000
Distributions received from affiliates						189,900,000	163,700,000
Revenue			$ 1,138,100,000		1,167,200,000	3,468,500,000	3,335,100,000
JV Services
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Revenue			$ 44,500,000		$ 37,100,000	$ 132,800,000	100,400,000
VodafoneZiggo JV Loan \| VodafoneZiggo JV
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Due from related party									$ 1,045,300,000	$ 1,081,900,000
Receivable interest rate						5.55%
Receivable annually								€ 100.0	116,100,000
Accrued interests settled in cash						$ 45,100,000
Vodafone
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Proceeds from financing arrangements	2,800.0	2,900,000,000
Proceeds from equalization payment from affiliate	€ 802.9	$ 840,800,000
Equity Method Investee \| VodafoneZiggo JV
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Transfer of assets						$ 12,300,000	$ 139,800,000
Due from related party									$ 24,000,000.0	$ 33,300,000