Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Operations [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 3,849,000,000	$ 3,500,000,000
Cost and expenses:
Operating	2,356,000,000	2,142,000,000
Selling, general and administrative	617,000,000	588,000,000
Depreciation and amortization	64,000,000	68,000,000
Other operating items, net	(9,000,000)	(19,000,000)
Total costs and expenses	3,028,000,000	2,779,000,000
Operating income (loss)	821,000,000	721,000,000
Interest (expense) income, net	(93,000,000)	(88,000,000)
Other items, net	(3,000,000)	(23,000,000)
Earnings before income taxes and equity in loss of investee companies	725,000,000	610,000,000
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(231,000,000)	(203,000,000)
Equity in earnings (loss) of investee companies, net of tax	(21,000,000)	(13,000,000)
Net earnings (loss)	473,000,000	394,000,000
Total comprehensive income	484,000,000	400,000,000
Assets [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	411,000,000	331,000,000	$ 323,000,000	$ 428,000,000
Receivables, net	3,678,000,000		3,628,000,000
Programming and other inventory (Note 3)	822,000,000		1,271,000,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	623,000,000		525,000,000
Total current assets	5,534,000,000		5,747,000,000
Property and equipment	3,248,000,000		3,243,000,000
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	1,872,000,000		1,838,000,000
Net property and equipment	1,376,000,000		1,405,000,000
Programming and other inventory (Note 3)	2,023,000,000		1,957,000,000
Goodwill	6,533,000,000		6,481,000,000
Intangible assets	5,509,000,000		5,514,000,000
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	0		0
Other assets	2,526,000,000		2,661,000,000
Intercompany	0		0
Total Assets	23,501,000,000		23,765,000,000
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Accounts payable	196,000,000		192,000,000
Participants' share and royalties payable	987,000,000		1,013,000,000
Program rights	520,000,000		374,000,000
Current portion of long-term debt (Note 5)	23,000,000		222,000,000
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	1,658,000,000		1,759,000,000
Total current liabilities	3,384,000,000		3,560,000,000
Long-term debt (Note 5)	8,226,000,000		8,226,000,000
Other liabilities	6,408,000,000		6,416,000,000
Intercompany	0		0
Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Preferred stock	0		0
Common stock	1,000,000		1,000,000
Additional paid-in capital	43,990,000,000		44,055,000,000
Retained earnings (deficit)	(20,045,000,000)		(20,518,000,000)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(759,000,000)	(729,000,000)	(770,000,000)	(735,000,000)
Stockholders' equity including treasury stock	23,187,000,000		22,768,000,000
Less treasury stock, at cost	17,704,000,000		17,205,000,000
Total Stockholders' Equity	5,483,000,000		5,563,000,000
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	23,501,000,000		23,765,000,000
Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash flow provided by (used for) operating activities	1,028,000,000	417,000,000
Investing Activities
Acquisitions	(50,000,000)	(1,000,000)
Capital expenditures	(38,000,000)	(17,000,000)
Investments in and advances to investee companies	(32,000,000)	(39,000,000)
Proceeds from dispositions	29,000,000	59,000,000
Other investing activities	(7,000,000)	3,000,000
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities from continuing operations	(98,000,000)	5,000,000
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities from discontinued operations	0	(3,000,000)
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities	(98,000,000)	2,000,000
Financing Activities
Repayments of short-term debt borrowings, net	0	(616,000,000)
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes	0	1,178,000,000
Repayment of senior debentures	(200,000,000)	0
Payment of capital lease obligations	(4,000,000)	(4,000,000)
Dividends	(73,000,000)	(80,000,000)
Purchase of Company common stock	(533,000,000)	(1,049,000,000)
Payment of payroll taxes in lieu of issuing shares for stock-based compensation	(46,000,000)	(82,000,000)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	6,000,000	80,000,000
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation	8,000,000	57,000,000
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables	0	0
Net cash flow provided by (used for) financing activities	(842,000,000)	(516,000,000)
Cash and cash equivalents	411,000,000	331,000,000	323,000,000	428,000,000
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	88,000,000	(97,000,000)
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Operations [Abstract]
Revenues	0	0
Cost and expenses:
Operating	0	0
Selling, general and administrative	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	0	0
Other operating items, net	0	0
Total costs and expenses	0	0
Operating income (loss)	0	0
Interest (expense) income, net	0	0
Other items, net	0	0
Earnings before income taxes and equity in loss of investee companies	0	0
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	0	0
Equity in earnings (loss) of investee companies, net of tax	(813,000,000)	(786,000,000)
Net earnings (loss)	(813,000,000)	(786,000,000)
Total comprehensive income	(819,000,000)	(800,000,000)
Assets [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0
Receivables, net	0		0
Programming and other inventory (Note 3)	0		0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(29,000,000)		(30,000,000)
Total current assets	(29,000,000)		(30,000,000)
Property and equipment	0		0
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	0		0
Net property and equipment	0		0
Programming and other inventory (Note 3)	0		0
Goodwill	0		0
Intangible assets	0		0
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	(56,338,000,000)		(55,519,000,000)
Other assets	0		0
Intercompany	(26,947,000,000)		(26,236,000,000)
Total Assets	(83,314,000,000)		(81,785,000,000)
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Accounts payable	0		0
Participants' share and royalties payable	0		0
Program rights	0		0
Current portion of long-term debt (Note 5)	0		0
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	(29,000,000)		(30,000,000)
Total current liabilities	(29,000,000)		(30,000,000)
Long-term debt (Note 5)	0		0
Other liabilities	0		0
Intercompany	(26,947,000,000)		(26,236,000,000)
Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Preferred stock	(126,000,000)		(126,000,000)
Common stock	(713,000,000)		(713,000,000)
Additional paid-in capital	(60,894,000,000)		(60,894,000,000)
Retained earnings (deficit)	355,000,000		1,168,000,000
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(91,000,000)		(85,000,000)
Stockholders' equity including treasury stock	(61,469,000,000)		(60,650,000,000)
Less treasury stock, at cost	(5,131,000,000)		(5,131,000,000)
Total Stockholders' Equity	(56,338,000,000)		(55,519,000,000)
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	(83,314,000,000)		(81,785,000,000)
Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash flow provided by (used for) operating activities	0	0
Investing Activities
Acquisitions	0	0
Capital expenditures	0	0
Investments in and advances to investee companies	0	0
Proceeds from dispositions	0	0
Other investing activities	0	0
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities from continuing operations	0	0
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities from discontinued operations		0
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities	0	0
Financing Activities
Repayments of short-term debt borrowings, net		0
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes		0
Repayment of senior debentures	0
Payment of capital lease obligations	0	0
Dividends	0	0
Purchase of Company common stock	0	0
Payment of payroll taxes in lieu of issuing shares for stock-based compensation	0	0
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	0	0
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation	0	0
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables	0	0
Net cash flow provided by (used for) financing activities	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	0	0
CBS Corp. [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Operations [Abstract]
Revenues	47,000,000	31,000,000
Cost and expenses:
Operating	17,000,000	16,000,000
Selling, general and administrative	21,000,000	12,000,000
Depreciation and amortization	1,000,000	1,000,000
Other operating items, net	0	0
Total costs and expenses	39,000,000	29,000,000
Operating income (loss)	8,000,000	2,000,000
Interest (expense) income, net	(124,000,000)	(115,000,000)
Other items, net	(1,000,000)	(1,000,000)
Earnings before income taxes and equity in loss of investee companies	(117,000,000)	(114,000,000)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	37,000,000	37,000,000
Equity in earnings (loss) of investee companies, net of tax	553,000,000	471,000,000
Net earnings (loss)	473,000,000	394,000,000
Total comprehensive income	484,000,000	400,000,000
Assets [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	170,000,000	163,000,000	267,000,000	63,000,000
Receivables, net	25,000,000		28,000,000
Programming and other inventory (Note 3)	4,000,000		3,000,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	30,000,000		192,000,000
Total current assets	229,000,000		490,000,000
Property and equipment	45,000,000		46,000,000
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	22,000,000		20,000,000
Net property and equipment	23,000,000		26,000,000
Programming and other inventory (Note 3)	5,000,000		6,000,000
Goodwill	98,000,000		98,000,000
Intangible assets	0		0
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	43,302,000,000		42,744,000,000
Other assets	159,000,000		163,000,000
Intercompany	0		0
Total Assets	43,816,000,000		43,527,000,000
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Accounts payable	1,000,000		1,000,000
Participants' share and royalties payable	0		0
Program rights	3,000,000		4,000,000
Current portion of long-term debt (Note 5)	7,000,000		206,000,000
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	332,000,000		418,000,000
Total current liabilities	343,000,000		629,000,000
Long-term debt (Note 5)	8,113,000,000		8,113,000,000
Other liabilities	2,930,000,000		2,986,000,000
Intercompany	26,947,000,000		26,236,000,000
Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Preferred stock	0		0
Common stock	1,000,000		1,000,000
Additional paid-in capital	43,990,000,000		44,055,000,000
Retained earnings (deficit)	(20,045,000,000)		(20,518,000,000)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(759,000,000)		(770,000,000)
Stockholders' equity including treasury stock	23,187,000,000		22,768,000,000
Less treasury stock, at cost	17,704,000,000		17,205,000,000
Total Stockholders' Equity	5,483,000,000		5,563,000,000
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	43,816,000,000		43,527,000,000
Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash flow provided by (used for) operating activities	(157,000,000)	(117,000,000)
Investing Activities
Acquisitions	0	0
Capital expenditures	0	0
Investments in and advances to investee companies	0	0
Proceeds from dispositions	(2,000,000)	0
Other investing activities	(7,000,000)	3,000,000
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities from continuing operations	(9,000,000)	3,000,000
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities from discontinued operations		(3,000,000)
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities	(9,000,000)	0
Financing Activities
Repayments of short-term debt borrowings, net		(616,000,000)
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes		1,178,000,000
Repayment of senior debentures	(200,000,000)
Payment of capital lease obligations	0	0
Dividends	(73,000,000)	(80,000,000)
Purchase of Company common stock	(533,000,000)	(1,049,000,000)
Payment of payroll taxes in lieu of issuing shares for stock-based compensation	(46,000,000)	(82,000,000)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	6,000,000	80,000,000
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation	8,000,000	57,000,000
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables	907,000,000	729,000,000
Net cash flow provided by (used for) financing activities	69,000,000	217,000,000
Cash and cash equivalents	170,000,000	163,000,000	267,000,000	63,000,000
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(97,000,000)	100,000,000
CBS Operations Inc. [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Operations [Abstract]
Revenues	3,000,000	3,000,000
Cost and expenses:
Operating	1,000,000	1,000,000
Selling, general and administrative	66,000,000	61,000,000
Depreciation and amortization	5,000,000	5,000,000
Other operating items, net	0	0
Total costs and expenses	72,000,000	67,000,000
Operating income (loss)	(69,000,000)	(64,000,000)
Interest (expense) income, net	(104,000,000)	(98,000,000)
Other items, net	(10,000,000)	11,000,000
Earnings before income taxes and equity in loss of investee companies	(183,000,000)	(151,000,000)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	59,000,000	49,000,000
Equity in earnings (loss) of investee companies, net of tax	260,000,000	315,000,000
Net earnings (loss)	136,000,000	213,000,000
Total comprehensive income	140,000,000	220,000,000
Assets [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	1,000,000	1,000,000	1,000,000	1,000,000
Receivables, net	2,000,000		2,000,000
Programming and other inventory (Note 3)	3,000,000		3,000,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	23,000,000		26,000,000
Total current assets	29,000,000		32,000,000
Property and equipment	181,000,000		180,000,000
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	123,000,000		118,000,000
Net property and equipment	58,000,000		62,000,000
Programming and other inventory (Note 3)	8,000,000		9,000,000
Goodwill	62,000,000		62,000,000
Intangible assets	0		0
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	13,036,000,000		12,775,000,000
Other assets	12,000,000		11,000,000
Intercompany	2,100,000,000		2,248,000,000
Total Assets	15,305,000,000		15,199,000,000
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Accounts payable	3,000,000		4,000,000
Participants' share and royalties payable	0		0
Program rights	4,000,000		4,000,000
Current portion of long-term debt (Note 5)	0		0
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	201,000,000		230,000,000
Total current liabilities	208,000,000		238,000,000
Long-term debt (Note 5)	0		0
Other liabilities	248,000,000		252,000,000
Intercompany	0		0
Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Preferred stock	0		0
Common stock	123,000,000		123,000,000
Additional paid-in capital	0		0
Retained earnings (deficit)	15,049,000,000		14,913,000,000
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	8,000,000		4,000,000
Stockholders' equity including treasury stock	15,180,000,000		15,040,000,000
Less treasury stock, at cost	331,000,000		331,000,000
Total Stockholders' Equity	14,849,000,000		14,709,000,000
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	15,305,000,000		15,199,000,000
Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash flow provided by (used for) operating activities	(103,000,000)	(137,000,000)
Investing Activities
Acquisitions	0	0
Capital expenditures	(9,000,000)	(1,000,000)
Investments in and advances to investee companies	0	0
Proceeds from dispositions	0	0
Other investing activities	0	0
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities from continuing operations	(9,000,000)	(1,000,000)
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities from discontinued operations		0
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities	(9,000,000)	(1,000,000)
Financing Activities
Repayments of short-term debt borrowings, net		0
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes		0
Repayment of senior debentures	0
Payment of capital lease obligations	0	0
Dividends	0	0
Purchase of Company common stock	0	0
Payment of payroll taxes in lieu of issuing shares for stock-based compensation	0	0
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	0	0
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation	0	0
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables	112,000,000	138,000,000
Net cash flow provided by (used for) financing activities	112,000,000	138,000,000
Cash and cash equivalents	1,000,000	1,000,000	1,000,000	1,000,000
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Non-Guarantor Affiliates [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Operations [Abstract]
Revenues	3,799,000,000	3,466,000,000
Cost and expenses:
Operating	2,338,000,000	2,125,000,000
Selling, general and administrative	530,000,000	515,000,000
Depreciation and amortization	58,000,000	62,000,000
Other operating items, net	(9,000,000)	(19,000,000)
Total costs and expenses	2,917,000,000	2,683,000,000
Operating income (loss)	882,000,000	783,000,000
Interest (expense) income, net	135,000,000	125,000,000
Other items, net	8,000,000	(33,000,000)
Earnings before income taxes and equity in loss of investee companies	1,025,000,000	875,000,000
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(327,000,000)	(289,000,000)
Equity in earnings (loss) of investee companies, net of tax	(21,000,000)	(13,000,000)
Net earnings (loss)	677,000,000	573,000,000
Total comprehensive income	679,000,000	580,000,000
Assets [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	240,000,000	167,000,000	55,000,000	364,000,000
Receivables, net	3,651,000,000		3,598,000,000
Programming and other inventory (Note 3)	815,000,000		1,265,000,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	599,000,000		337,000,000
Total current assets	5,305,000,000		5,255,000,000
Property and equipment	3,022,000,000		3,017,000,000
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	1,727,000,000		1,700,000,000
Net property and equipment	1,295,000,000		1,317,000,000
Programming and other inventory (Note 3)	2,010,000,000		1,942,000,000
Goodwill	6,373,000,000		6,321,000,000
Intangible assets	5,509,000,000		5,514,000,000
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	0		0
Other assets	2,355,000,000		2,487,000,000
Intercompany	24,847,000,000		23,988,000,000
Total Assets	47,694,000,000		46,824,000,000
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Accounts payable	192,000,000		187,000,000
Participants' share and royalties payable	987,000,000		1,013,000,000
Program rights	513,000,000		366,000,000
Current portion of long-term debt (Note 5)	16,000,000		16,000,000
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	1,154,000,000		1,141,000,000
Total current liabilities	2,862,000,000		2,723,000,000
Long-term debt (Note 5)	113,000,000		113,000,000
Other liabilities	3,230,000,000		3,178,000,000
Intercompany	0		0
Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Preferred stock	126,000,000		126,000,000
Common stock	590,000,000		590,000,000
Additional paid-in capital	60,894,000,000		60,894,000,000
Retained earnings (deficit)	(15,404,000,000)		(16,081,000,000)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	83,000,000		81,000,000
Stockholders' equity including treasury stock	46,289,000,000		45,610,000,000
Less treasury stock, at cost	4,800,000,000		4,800,000,000
Total Stockholders' Equity	41,489,000,000		40,810,000,000
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	47,694,000,000		46,824,000,000
Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash flow provided by (used for) operating activities	1,288,000,000	671,000,000
Investing Activities
Acquisitions	(50,000,000)	(1,000,000)
Capital expenditures	(29,000,000)	(16,000,000)
Investments in and advances to investee companies	(32,000,000)	(39,000,000)
Proceeds from dispositions	31,000,000	59,000,000
Other investing activities	0	0
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities from continuing operations	(80,000,000)	3,000,000
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities from discontinued operations		0
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities	(80,000,000)	3,000,000
Financing Activities
Repayments of short-term debt borrowings, net		0
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes		0
Repayment of senior debentures	0
Payment of capital lease obligations	(4,000,000)	(4,000,000)
Dividends	0	0
Purchase of Company common stock	0	0
Payment of payroll taxes in lieu of issuing shares for stock-based compensation	0	0
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	0	0
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation	0	0
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables	(1,019,000,000)	(867,000,000)
Net cash flow provided by (used for) financing activities	(1,023,000,000)	(871,000,000)
Cash and cash equivalents	240,000,000	167,000,000	$ 55,000,000	$ 364,000,000
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	$ 185,000,000	$ (197,000,000)