Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 6,275	$ 7,143	$ 12,944	$ 14,243
Costs and expenses:
Operating	3,485	4,210	7,550	8,458
Selling, general and administrative	1,222	1,371	2,563	2,684
Depreciation and amortization	124	109	237	215
Restructuring and other corporate matters	158	7	391	185
Total costs and expenses	4,989	5,697	10,741	11,542
Gain on sale of assets	0	0	0	549
Operating income	1,286	1,446	2,203	3,250
Interest expense	(263)	(237)	(504)	(477)
Interest income	11	15	25	34
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(103)	0	(103)	0
Other items, net	6	15	(27)	25
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in loss of investee companies	937	1,239	1,594	2,832
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	(202)	(241)	(339)	135
Equity in loss of investee companies, net of tax	(12)	(21)	(21)	(39)
Net earnings from continuing operations	723	977	1,234	2,928
Net earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax	3	6	11	19
Net earnings (ViacomCBS and noncontrolling interests)	726	983	1,245	2,947
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(245)	(6)	(248)	(11)
Net earnings attributable to ViacomCBS	481	977	997	2,936
Net earnings from continuing operations	$ 478	$ 971	$ 986	$ 2,917
Basic net earnings per common share attributable to ViacomCBS:
Net earnings from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.78	$ 1.58	$ 1.60	$ 4.74
Net earnings from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0	0.01	0.02	0.03
Net earnings (in dollars per share)	0.78	1.59	1.62	4.77
Diluted net earnings per common share attributable to ViacomCBS:
Net earnings from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	0.77	1.57	1.60	4.73
Net earnings from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0	0.01	0.02	0.03
Net earnings (in dollars per share)	$ 0.78	$ 1.58	$ 1.62	$ 4.76
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	615	615	615	615
Diluted (in shares)	617	617	617	617