Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Interest expense	$ (109)	$ (100)
Interest income	13	7
Other items, net	1	(3)
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in loss of investee companies	609	669
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(138)	(206)
Equity in loss of investee companies, net of tax	(17)	(21)
Net earnings from continuing operations	454	442
Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax (Note 3)	(706)	31
Net earnings (loss)	(252)	473
Assets of discontinued operations	3,835		$ 4,596
Reportable Segments [Line Items]
Revenues	3,343	3,588
Operating income (loss)	704	765
Other operating items, net	0	9
Depreciation and amortization	55	57
Stock-based compensation	40	39
Capital expenditures	27	34
Assets	23,022		24,238
Operating Segments [Member]
Reportable Segments [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	704	756
Operating Segments [Member] | Entertainment Segment [Member]
Reportable Segments [Line Items]
Revenues	2,347	2,587
Operating income (loss)	398	449
Depreciation and amortization	29	30
Stock-based compensation	15	15
Capital expenditures	14	13
Assets	11,519		11,262
Operating Segments [Member] | Cable Networks Segment [Member]
Reportable Segments [Line Items]
Revenues	543	525
Operating income (loss)	248	228
Depreciation and amortization	6	6
Stock-based compensation	3	3
Capital expenditures	3	2
Assets	2,620		2,618
Operating Segments [Member] | Publishing Segment [Member]
Reportable Segments [Line Items]
Revenues	161	145
Operating income (loss)	14	13
Depreciation and amortization	1	1
Stock-based compensation	1	1
Capital expenditures	1	3
Assets	822		880
Operating Segments [Member] | Local Media Segment [Member]
Reportable Segments [Line Items]
Revenues	409	448
Operating income (loss)	123	150
Depreciation and amortization	11	11
Stock-based compensation	3	3
Capital expenditures	5	7
Assets	4,038		4,065
Corporate [Member]
Reportable Segments [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	(79)	(84)
Depreciation and amortization	8	9
Stock-based compensation	18	17
Capital expenditures	4	9
Assets	188		$ 817
Corporate and Eliminations [Member]
Reportable Segments [Line Items]
Revenues	(117)	(117)
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Reportable Segments [Line Items]
Revenues	(122)	(124)
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Entertainment Segment [Member]
Reportable Segments [Line Items]
Revenues	(119)	(122)
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Local Media Segment [Member]
Reportable Segments [Line Items]
Revenues	(3)	(2)
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Reportable Segments [Line Items]
Other operating items, net	$ 0	$ 9