Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Operations [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 3,396,000,000	$ 3,257,000,000	$ 10,532,000,000	$ 9,976,000,000
Cost and expenses:
Operating	1,897,000,000	1,842,000,000	6,114,000,000	5,891,000,000
Selling, general and administrative	640,000,000	597,000,000	1,887,000,000	1,790,000,000
Depreciation and amortization	61,000,000	65,000,000	188,000,000	199,000,000
Restructuring charges	0	0	0	55,000,000	$ 81,000,000	$ 26,000,000
Other operating items, net	0	0	(9,000,000)	(19,000,000)
Total costs and expenses	2,598,000,000	2,504,000,000	8,180,000,000	7,916,000,000
Operating income (loss)	798,000,000	753,000,000	2,352,000,000	2,060,000,000
Interest (expense) income, net	(97,000,000)	(96,000,000)	(282,000,000)	(271,000,000)
Other items, net	2,000,000	(4,000,000)	(5,000,000)	(23,000,000)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings (loss) of investee companies	703,000,000	653,000,000	2,065,000,000	1,766,000,000
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(176,000,000)	(211,000,000)	(612,000,000)	(579,000,000)
Equity in earnings (loss) of investee companies, net of tax	(13,000,000)	(16,000,000)	(43,000,000)	(35,000,000)
Net earnings from continuing operations	514,000,000	426,000,000	1,410,000,000	1,152,000,000
Loss from discontinued operations (Note 1)	(36,000,000)	0	(36,000,000)	0
Net earnings (loss)	478,000,000	426,000,000	1,374,000,000	1,152,000,000
Total comprehensive income	489,000,000	430,000,000	1,405,000,000	1,173,000,000
Assets [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	179,000,000	133,000,000	179,000,000	133,000,000	323,000,000	428,000,000
Receivables, net	3,348,000,000		3,348,000,000		3,628,000,000
Programming and other inventory (Note 3)	1,459,000,000		1,459,000,000		1,271,000,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	471,000,000		471,000,000		525,000,000
Total current assets	5,457,000,000		5,457,000,000		5,747,000,000
Property and equipment	3,263,000,000		3,263,000,000		3,243,000,000
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	1,918,000,000		1,918,000,000		1,838,000,000
Net property and equipment	1,345,000,000		1,345,000,000		1,405,000,000
Programming and other inventory (Note 3)	2,237,000,000		2,237,000,000		1,957,000,000
Goodwill	6,531,000,000		6,531,000,000		6,481,000,000
Intangible assets	5,499,000,000		5,499,000,000		5,514,000,000
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	0		0		0
Other assets	2,779,000,000		2,779,000,000		2,661,000,000
Intercompany	0		0		0
Total Assets	23,848,000,000		23,848,000,000		23,765,000,000
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Accounts payable	153,000,000		153,000,000		192,000,000
Participants' share and royalties payable	979,000,000		979,000,000		1,013,000,000
Program rights	373,000,000		373,000,000		374,000,000
Commercial paper	33,000,000		33,000,000		0
Current portion of long-term debt (Note 5)	22,000,000		22,000,000		222,000,000
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	1,538,000,000		1,538,000,000		1,759,000,000
Total current liabilities	3,098,000,000		3,098,000,000		3,560,000,000
Long-term debt (Note 5)	8,902,000,000		8,902,000,000		8,226,000,000
Other liabilities	6,500,000,000		6,500,000,000		6,416,000,000
Intercompany	0		0		0
Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Preferred stock	0		0		0
Common stock	1,000,000		1,000,000		1,000,000
Additional paid-in capital	43,935,000,000		43,935,000,000		44,055,000,000
Retained earnings (deficit)	(19,144,000,000)		(19,144,000,000)		(20,518,000,000)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(739,000,000)	(714,000,000)	(739,000,000)	(714,000,000)	(770,000,000)	(735,000,000)
Stockholders' equity including treasury stock	24,053,000,000		24,053,000,000		22,768,000,000
Less treasury stock, at cost	18,705,000,000		18,705,000,000		17,205,000,000
Total Stockholders' Equity	5,348,000,000		5,348,000,000		5,563,000,000
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	23,848,000,000		23,848,000,000		23,765,000,000
Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash flow provided by (used for) operating activities			1,306,000,000	623,000,000
Investing Activities
Acquisitions			(51,000,000)	(7,000,000)
Capital expenditures	(46,000,000)	(58,000,000)	(125,000,000)	(104,000,000)
Investments in and advances to investee companies			(44,000,000)	(58,000,000)
Proceeds from dispositions			28,000,000	75,000,000
Other investing activities			11,000,000	(8,000,000)
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities from continuing operations			(181,000,000)	(102,000,000)
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities from discontinued operations			0	(4,000,000)
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities			(181,000,000)	(106,000,000)
Financing Activities
Proceeds from (repayments of) short-term debt borrowings, net			33,000,000	(313,000,000)
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes			685,000,000	1,959,000,000
Repayment of senior debentures			(199,000,000)	0
Payment of capital lease obligations			(13,000,000)	(13,000,000)
Dividends			(209,000,000)	(228,000,000)
Purchase of Company common stock			(1,534,000,000)	(2,345,000,000)
Payment of payroll taxes in lieu of issuing shares for stock-based compensation			(57,000,000)	(96,000,000)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options			13,000,000	137,000,000
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation			13,000,000	87,000,000
Other financing activities			(1,000,000)	0
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables			0	0
Net cash flow provided by (used for) financing activities			(1,269,000,000)	(812,000,000)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			(144,000,000)	(295,000,000)
Cash and cash equivalents	179,000,000	133,000,000	179,000,000	133,000,000	323,000,000	428,000,000
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Operations [Abstract]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Cost and expenses:
Operating	0	0	0	0
Selling, general and administrative	0	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
Restructuring charges				0
Other operating items, net			0	0
Total costs and expenses	0	0	0	0
Operating income (loss)	0	0	0	0
Interest (expense) income, net	0	0	0	0
Other items, net	0	0	0	0
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings (loss) of investee companies	0	0	0	0
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	0	0	0	0
Equity in earnings (loss) of investee companies, net of tax	(887,000,000)	(839,000,000)	(2,498,000,000)	(2,181,000,000)
Net earnings from continuing operations	(887,000,000)		(2,498,000,000)
Loss from discontinued operations (Note 1)	0		0
Net earnings (loss)	(887,000,000)	(839,000,000)	(2,498,000,000)	(2,181,000,000)
Total comprehensive income	(890,000,000)	(830,000,000)	(2,505,000,000)	(2,192,000,000)
Assets [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0	0	0
Receivables, net	0		0		0
Programming and other inventory (Note 3)	0		0		0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(36,000,000)		(36,000,000)		(30,000,000)
Total current assets	(36,000,000)		(36,000,000)		(30,000,000)
Property and equipment	0		0		0
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	0		0		0
Net property and equipment	0		0		0
Programming and other inventory (Note 3)	0		0		0
Goodwill	0		0		0
Intangible assets	0		0		0
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	(58,024,000,000)		(58,024,000,000)		(55,519,000,000)
Other assets	0		0		0
Intercompany	(27,429,000,000)		(27,429,000,000)		(26,236,000,000)
Total Assets	(85,489,000,000)		(85,489,000,000)		(81,785,000,000)
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Accounts payable	0		0		0
Participants' share and royalties payable	0		0		0
Program rights	0		0		0
Commercial paper	0		0
Current portion of long-term debt (Note 5)	0		0		0
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	(36,000,000)		(36,000,000)		(30,000,000)
Total current liabilities	(36,000,000)		(36,000,000)		(30,000,000)
Long-term debt (Note 5)	0		0		0
Other liabilities	0		0		0
Intercompany	(27,429,000,000)		(27,429,000,000)		(26,236,000,000)
Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Preferred stock	(126,000,000)		(126,000,000)		(126,000,000)
Common stock	(713,000,000)		(713,000,000)		(713,000,000)
Additional paid-in capital	(60,894,000,000)		(60,894,000,000)		(60,894,000,000)
Retained earnings (deficit)	(1,330,000,000)		(1,330,000,000)		1,168,000,000
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(92,000,000)		(92,000,000)		(85,000,000)
Stockholders' equity including treasury stock	(63,155,000,000)		(63,155,000,000)		(60,650,000,000)
Less treasury stock, at cost	(5,131,000,000)		(5,131,000,000)		(5,131,000,000)
Total Stockholders' Equity	(58,024,000,000)		(58,024,000,000)		(55,519,000,000)
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	(85,489,000,000)		(85,489,000,000)		(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
Proceeds from (repayments of) short-term debt borrowings, net			0	0
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes			0	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
Other financing activities			0
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables			0	0
Net cash flow provided by (used for) financing activities			0	0
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			0	0
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0	0	0
CBS Corp. [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Operations [Abstract]
Revenues	42,000,000	36,000,000	125,000,000	101,000,000
Cost and expenses:
Operating	16,000,000	17,000,000	48,000,000	47,000,000
Selling, general and administrative	20,000,000	3,000,000	62,000,000	27,000,000
Depreciation and amortization	2,000,000	1,000,000	4,000,000	4,000,000
Restructuring charges				0
Other operating items, net			0	0
Total costs and expenses	38,000,000	21,000,000	114,000,000	78,000,000
Operating income (loss)	4,000,000	15,000,000	11,000,000	23,000,000
Interest (expense) income, net	(129,000,000)	(125,000,000)	(377,000,000)	(358,000,000)
Other items, net	0	(1,000,000)	(2,000,000)	(1,000,000)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings (loss) of investee companies	(125,000,000)	(111,000,000)	(368,000,000)	(336,000,000)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	43,000,000	36,000,000	120,000,000	109,000,000
Equity in earnings (loss) of investee companies, net of tax	560,000,000	501,000,000	1,622,000,000	1,379,000,000
Net earnings from continuing operations	478,000,000		1,374,000,000
Loss from discontinued operations (Note 1)	0		0
Net earnings (loss)	478,000,000	426,000,000	1,374,000,000	1,152,000,000
Total comprehensive income	489,000,000	430,000,000	1,405,000,000	1,173,000,000
Assets [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	54,000,000	48,000,000	54,000,000	48,000,000	267,000,000	63,000,000
Receivables, net	20,000,000		20,000,000		28,000,000
Programming and other inventory (Note 3)	4,000,000		4,000,000		3,000,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	93,000,000		93,000,000		192,000,000
Total current assets	171,000,000		171,000,000		490,000,000
Property and equipment	47,000,000		47,000,000		46,000,000
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	23,000,000		23,000,000		20,000,000
Net property and equipment	24,000,000		24,000,000		26,000,000
Programming and other inventory (Note 3)	6,000,000		6,000,000		6,000,000
Goodwill	98,000,000		98,000,000		98,000,000
Intangible assets	0		0		0
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	44,372,000,000		44,372,000,000		42,744,000,000
Other assets	153,000,000		153,000,000		163,000,000
Intercompany	0		0		0
Total Assets	44,824,000,000		44,824,000,000		43,527,000,000
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Accounts payable	1,000,000		1,000,000		1,000,000
Participants' share and royalties payable	0		0		0
Program rights	4,000,000		4,000,000		4,000,000
Commercial paper	33,000,000		33,000,000
Current portion of long-term debt (Note 5)	6,000,000		6,000,000		206,000,000
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	363,000,000		363,000,000		418,000,000
Total current liabilities	407,000,000		407,000,000		629,000,000
Long-term debt (Note 5)	8,797,000,000		8,797,000,000		8,113,000,000
Other liabilities	2,843,000,000		2,843,000,000		2,986,000,000
Intercompany	27,429,000,000		27,429,000,000		26,236,000,000
Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Preferred stock	0		0		0
Common stock	1,000,000		1,000,000		1,000,000
Additional paid-in capital	43,935,000,000		43,935,000,000		44,055,000,000
Retained earnings (deficit)	(19,144,000,000)		(19,144,000,000)		(20,518,000,000)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(739,000,000)		(739,000,000)		(770,000,000)
Stockholders' equity including treasury stock	24,053,000,000		24,053,000,000		22,768,000,000
Less treasury stock, at cost	18,705,000,000		18,705,000,000		17,205,000,000
Total Stockholders' Equity	5,348,000,000		5,348,000,000		5,563,000,000
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	44,824,000,000		44,824,000,000		43,527,000,000
Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash flow provided by (used for) operating activities			(696,000,000)	(557,000,000)
Investing Activities
Acquisitions			0	0
Capital expenditures			0	0
Investments in and advances to investee companies			0	0
Proceeds from dispositions			(4,000,000)	0
Other investing activities			7,000,000	(8,000,000)
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities from continuing operations			3,000,000	(8,000,000)
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities from discontinued operations				(4,000,000)
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities			3,000,000	(12,000,000)
Financing Activities
Proceeds from (repayments of) short-term debt borrowings, net			33,000,000	(313,000,000)
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes			685,000,000	1,959,000,000
Repayment of senior debentures			(199,000,000)
Payment of capital lease obligations			0	0
Dividends			(209,000,000)	(228,000,000)
Purchase of Company common stock			(1,534,000,000)	(2,345,000,000)
Payment of payroll taxes in lieu of issuing shares for stock-based compensation			(57,000,000)	(96,000,000)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options			13,000,000	137,000,000
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation			13,000,000	87,000,000
Other financing activities			(1,000,000)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables			1,736,000,000	1,353,000,000
Net cash flow provided by (used for) financing activities			480,000,000	554,000,000
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			(213,000,000)	(15,000,000)
Cash and cash equivalents	54,000,000	48,000,000	54,000,000	48,000,000	267,000,000	63,000,000
CBS Operations Inc. [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Operations [Abstract]
Revenues	3,000,000	2,000,000	9,000,000	8,000,000
Cost and expenses:
Operating	1,000,000	1,000,000	4,000,000	4,000,000
Selling, general and administrative	63,000,000	49,000,000	196,000,000	165,000,000
Depreciation and amortization	6,000,000	5,000,000	17,000,000	15,000,000
Restructuring charges				0
Other operating items, net			0	0
Total costs and expenses	70,000,000	55,000,000	217,000,000	184,000,000
Operating income (loss)	(67,000,000)	(53,000,000)	(208,000,000)	(176,000,000)
Interest (expense) income, net	(109,000,000)	(103,000,000)	(319,000,000)	(300,000,000)
Other items, net	0	6,000,000	3,000,000	6,000,000
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings (loss) of investee companies	(176,000,000)	(150,000,000)	(524,000,000)	(470,000,000)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	59,000,000	48,000,000	170,000,000	152,000,000
Equity in earnings (loss) of investee companies, net of tax	327,000,000	338,000,000	876,000,000	802,000,000
Net earnings from continuing operations	210,000,000		522,000,000
Loss from discontinued operations (Note 1)	0		0
Net earnings (loss)	210,000,000	236,000,000	522,000,000	484,000,000
Total comprehensive income	215,000,000	240,000,000	540,000,000	487,000,000
Assets [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	1,000,000	1,000,000	1,000,000	1,000,000	1,000,000	1,000,000
Receivables, net	2,000,000		2,000,000		2,000,000
Programming and other inventory (Note 3)	3,000,000		3,000,000		3,000,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	39,000,000		39,000,000		26,000,000
Total current assets	45,000,000		45,000,000		32,000,000
Property and equipment	184,000,000		184,000,000		180,000,000
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	135,000,000		135,000,000		118,000,000
Net property and equipment	49,000,000		49,000,000		62,000,000
Programming and other inventory (Note 3)	7,000,000		7,000,000		9,000,000
Goodwill	62,000,000		62,000,000		62,000,000
Intangible assets	0		0		0
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	13,652,000,000		13,652,000,000		12,775,000,000
Other assets	11,000,000		11,000,000		11,000,000
Intercompany	1,901,000,000		1,901,000,000		2,248,000,000
Total Assets	15,727,000,000		15,727,000,000		15,199,000,000
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Accounts payable	2,000,000		2,000,000		4,000,000
Participants' share and royalties payable	0		0		0
Program rights	4,000,000		4,000,000		4,000,000
Commercial paper	0		0
Current portion of long-term debt (Note 5)	0		0		0
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	228,000,000		228,000,000		230,000,000
Total current liabilities	234,000,000		234,000,000		238,000,000
Long-term debt (Note 5)	0		0		0
Other liabilities	244,000,000		244,000,000		252,000,000
Intercompany	0		0		0
Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Preferred stock	0		0		0
Common stock	123,000,000		123,000,000		123,000,000
Additional paid-in capital	0		0		0
Retained earnings (deficit)	15,435,000,000		15,435,000,000		14,913,000,000
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	22,000,000		22,000,000		4,000,000
Stockholders' equity including treasury stock	15,580,000,000		15,580,000,000		15,040,000,000
Less treasury stock, at cost	331,000,000		331,000,000		331,000,000
Total Stockholders' Equity	15,249,000,000		15,249,000,000		14,709,000,000
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	15,727,000,000		15,727,000,000		15,199,000,000
Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash flow provided by (used for) operating activities			(146,000,000)	(183,000,000)
Investing Activities
Acquisitions			0	0
Capital expenditures			(16,000,000)	(5,000,000)
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			(16,000,000)	(5,000,000)
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities from discontinued operations				0
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities			(16,000,000)	(5,000,000)
Financing Activities
Proceeds from (repayments of) short-term debt borrowings, net			0	0
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes			0	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
Other financing activities			0
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables			162,000,000	188,000,000
Net cash flow provided by (used for) financing activities			162,000,000	188,000,000
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			0	0
Cash and cash equivalents	1,000,000	1,000,000	1,000,000	1,000,000	1,000,000	1,000,000
Non-Guarantor Affiliates [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Operations [Abstract]
Revenues	3,351,000,000	3,219,000,000	10,398,000,000	9,867,000,000
Cost and expenses:
Operating	1,880,000,000	1,824,000,000	6,062,000,000	5,840,000,000
Selling, general and administrative	557,000,000	545,000,000	1,629,000,000	1,598,000,000
Depreciation and amortization	53,000,000	59,000,000	167,000,000	180,000,000
Restructuring charges				55,000,000
Other operating items, net			(9,000,000)	(19,000,000)
Total costs and expenses	2,490,000,000	2,428,000,000	7,849,000,000	7,654,000,000
Operating income (loss)	861,000,000	791,000,000	2,549,000,000	2,213,000,000
Interest (expense) income, net	141,000,000	132,000,000	414,000,000	387,000,000
Other items, net	2,000,000	(9,000,000)	(6,000,000)	(28,000,000)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings (loss) of investee companies	1,004,000,000	914,000,000	2,957,000,000	2,572,000,000
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(278,000,000)	(295,000,000)	(902,000,000)	(840,000,000)
Equity in earnings (loss) of investee companies, net of tax	(13,000,000)	(16,000,000)	(43,000,000)	(35,000,000)
Net earnings from continuing operations	713,000,000		2,012,000,000
Loss from discontinued operations (Note 1)	(36,000,000)		(36,000,000)
Net earnings (loss)	677,000,000	603,000,000	1,976,000,000	1,697,000,000
Total comprehensive income	675,000,000	590,000,000	1,965,000,000	1,705,000,000
Assets [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	124,000,000	84,000,000	124,000,000	84,000,000	55,000,000	364,000,000
Receivables, net	3,326,000,000		3,326,000,000		3,598,000,000
Programming and other inventory (Note 3)	1,452,000,000		1,452,000,000		1,265,000,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	375,000,000		375,000,000		337,000,000
Total current assets	5,277,000,000		5,277,000,000		5,255,000,000
Property and equipment	3,032,000,000		3,032,000,000		3,017,000,000
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	1,760,000,000		1,760,000,000		1,700,000,000
Net property and equipment	1,272,000,000		1,272,000,000		1,317,000,000
Programming and other inventory (Note 3)	2,224,000,000		2,224,000,000		1,942,000,000
Goodwill	6,371,000,000		6,371,000,000		6,321,000,000
Intangible assets	5,499,000,000		5,499,000,000		5,514,000,000
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	0		0		0
Other assets	2,615,000,000		2,615,000,000		2,487,000,000
Intercompany	25,528,000,000		25,528,000,000		23,988,000,000
Total Assets	48,786,000,000		48,786,000,000		46,824,000,000
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Accounts payable	150,000,000		150,000,000		187,000,000
Participants' share and royalties payable	979,000,000		979,000,000		1,013,000,000
Program rights	365,000,000		365,000,000		366,000,000
Commercial paper	0		0
Current portion of long-term debt (Note 5)	16,000,000		16,000,000		16,000,000
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	983,000,000		983,000,000		1,141,000,000
Total current liabilities	2,493,000,000		2,493,000,000		2,723,000,000
Long-term debt (Note 5)	105,000,000		105,000,000		113,000,000
Other liabilities	3,413,000,000		3,413,000,000		3,178,000,000
Intercompany	0		0		0
Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Preferred stock	126,000,000		126,000,000		126,000,000
Common stock	590,000,000		590,000,000		590,000,000
Additional paid-in capital	60,894,000,000		60,894,000,000		60,894,000,000
Retained earnings (deficit)	(14,105,000,000)		(14,105,000,000)		(16,081,000,000)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	70,000,000		70,000,000		81,000,000
Stockholders' equity including treasury stock	47,575,000,000		47,575,000,000		45,610,000,000
Less treasury stock, at cost	4,800,000,000		4,800,000,000		4,800,000,000
Total Stockholders' Equity	42,775,000,000		42,775,000,000		40,810,000,000
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	48,786,000,000		48,786,000,000		46,824,000,000
Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash flow provided by (used for) operating activities			2,148,000,000	1,363,000,000
Investing Activities
Acquisitions			(51,000,000)	(7,000,000)
Capital expenditures			(109,000,000)	(99,000,000)
Investments in and advances to investee companies			(44,000,000)	(58,000,000)
Proceeds from dispositions			32,000,000	75,000,000
Other investing activities			4,000,000	0
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities from continuing operations			(168,000,000)	(89,000,000)
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities from discontinued operations				0
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities			(168,000,000)	(89,000,000)
Financing Activities
Proceeds from (repayments of) short-term debt borrowings, net			0	0
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes			0	0
Repayment of senior debentures			0
Payment of capital lease obligations			(13,000,000)	(13,000,000)
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
Other financing activities			0
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables			(1,898,000,000)	(1,541,000,000)
Net cash flow provided by (used for) financing activities			(1,911,000,000)	(1,554,000,000)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			69,000,000	(280,000,000)
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 124,000,000	$ 84,000,000	$ 124,000,000	$ 84,000,000	$ 55,000,000	$ 364,000,000