Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 6,669	$ 7,100
Costs and expenses:
Operating	4,065	4,248
Selling, general and administrative	1,341	1,313
Depreciation and amortization	113	106
Restructuring and other corporate matters	233	178
Total costs and expenses	5,752	5,845
Gain on sale of assets	0	549
Operating income	917	1,804
Interest expense	(241)	(240)
Interest income	14	19
Gain on marketable securities	0	38
Other items, net	(33)	(28)
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in loss of investee companies	657	1,593
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	(137)	376
Equity in loss of investee companies, net of tax	(9)	(18)
Net earnings from continuing operations	511	1,951
Net earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax	8	13
Net earnings (ViacomCBS and noncontrolling interests)	519	1,964
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(3)	(5)
Net earnings attributable to ViacomCBS	516	1,959
Net earnings from continuing operations	$ 508	$ 1,946
Basic net earnings per common share attributable to ViacomCBS:
Net earnings from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.83	$ 3.17
Net earnings from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.01	0.02
Net earnings (in dollars per share)	0.84	3.20
Diluted net earnings per common share attributable to ViacomCBS:
Net earnings from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	0.82	3.15
Net earnings from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.01	0.02
Net earnings (in dollars per share)	$ 0.84	$ 3.18
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	614	613
Diluted (in shares)	616	617