Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 6,116	$ 6,698	$ 19,060	$ 20,941
Costs and expenses:
Operating	3,634	3,959	11,184	12,417
Selling, general and administrative	1,373	1,473	3,936	4,157
Depreciation and amortization	98	108	335	323
Restructuring and other corporate matters	52	122	443	307
Total costs and expenses	5,157	5,662	15,898	17,204
Gain on sale of assets	0	0	0	549
Operating income	959	1,036	3,162	4,286
Interest expense	(259)	(246)	(763)	(723)
Interest income	14	19	39	53
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(23)	0	(126)	0
Other items, net	(20)	(27)	(47)	(2)
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in loss of investee companies	671	782	2,265	3,614
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	(38)	(126)	(377)	9
Equity in loss of investee companies, net of tax	(9)	(14)	(30)	(53)
Net earnings from continuing operations	624	642	1,858	3,570
Net earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax	3	4	14	23
Net earnings (ViacomCBS and noncontrolling interests)	627	646	1,872	3,593
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(12)	(16)	(260)	(27)
Net earnings attributable to ViacomCBS	615	630	1,612	3,566
Net earnings from continuing operations	$ 612	$ 626	$ 1,598	$ 3,543
Basic net earnings per common share attributable to ViacomCBS:
Net earnings from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.99	$ 1.02	$ 2.60	$ 5.76
Net earnings from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0	0.01	0.02	0.04
Net earnings (in dollars per share)	1.00	1.02	2.62	5.80
Diluted net earnings per common share attributable to ViacomCBS:
Net earnings from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	0.99	1.01	2.59	5.74
Net earnings from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0	0.01	0.02	0.04
Net earnings (in dollars per share)	$ 1.00	$ 1.02	$ 2.61	$ 5.78
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	616	615	615	615
Diluted (in shares)	618	617	617	617