Condensed Consolidating Financials (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Operations [Abstract]
Revenues		$ 3,924,000,000	$ 3,510,000,000
Expenses:
Operating		2,461,000,000	2,276,000,000
Selling, general and administrative		679,000,000	658,000,000
Impairment charges		11,000,000	0
Depreciation and amortization		131,000,000	139,000,000
Total expenses		3,282,000,000	3,073,000,000
Operating income (loss)		642,000,000	437,000,000
Interest (expense) income, net		(108,000,000)	(108,000,000)
Gain on early extinguishment of debt		25,000,000	0
Other items, net		12,000,000	9,000,000
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings (loss) of investee companies		571,000,000	338,000,000
(Provision) benefit for income taxes		(203,000,000)	(122,000,000)
Equity in earnings (loss) of investee companies, net of tax		(5,000,000)	(14,000,000)
Net earnings		363,000,000	202,000,000
Comprehensive income (loss)		382,000,000	222,000,000
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents		794,000,000	972,000,000
Receivables, net		3,332,000,000		3,254,000,000
Programming and other inventory (Note 4)		574,000,000		735,000,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		1,083,000,000		894,000,000
Total current assets		5,783,000,000		5,543,000,000
Property and equipment		5,372,000,000		5,334,000,000
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization		2,914,000,000		2,824,000,000
Net property and equipment		2,458,000,000		2,510,000,000
Programming and other inventory (Note 4)		1,425,000,000		1,496,000,000
Goodwill		8,630,000,000		8,620,000,000
Intangible assets (Note 3)		6,555,000,000		6,526,000,000
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries		0		0
Other assets		1,542,000,000		1,502,000,000
Intercompany		0		0
Total Assets		26,393,000,000		26,197,000,000
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Accounts payable		339,000,000		410,000,000
Participants' share and royalties payable		892,000,000		938,000,000
Program rights		784,000,000		577,000,000
Current portion of long-term debt (Note 6)		22,000,000		24,000,000
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		2,113,000,000		1,984,000,000
Total current liabilities		4,150,000,000		3,933,000,000
Long-term debt		5,902,000,000		5,958,000,000
Other liabilities		6,337,000,000		6,398,000,000
Intercompany		0		0
Stockholders' Equity
Preferred Stock		0		0
Common Stock		1,000,000		1,000,000
Additional paid-in capital		43,376,000,000		43,395,000,000
Retained earnings (deficit)		(27,980,000,000)		(28,343,000,000)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		(420,000,000)		(439,000,000)
Stockholders' equity including treasury stock		14,977,000,000		14,614,000,000
Less treasury stock, at cost		4,973,000,000		4,706,000,000
Total Stockholders' Equity		10,004,000,000		9,908,000,000
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity		26,393,000,000		26,197,000,000
Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash flow provided by (used for) operating activities		646,000,000	894,000,000
Investing Activities:
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired		(69,000,000)	(53,000,000)
Capital expenditures		(39,000,000)	(41,000,000)
Investments in and advances to investee companies		(34,000,000)	(26,000,000)
Proceeds from dispositions		0	13,000,000
Other investing activities		2,000,000	4,000,000
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities		(140,000,000)	(103,000,000)
Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of notes		690,000,000	0
Repayment of notes		(700,000,000)	(2,000,000)
Payment of capital lease obligations		(5,000,000)	(4,000,000)
Payment of contingent consideration		(33,000,000)	0
Dividends	(65,000,000)	(69,000,000)	(37,000,000)
Purchase of Company common stock		(260,000,000)	(250,000,000)
Payment of payroll taxes in lieu of issuing shares for stock-based compensation		(87,000,000)	(46,000,000)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		36,000,000	10,000,000
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation		56,000,000	35,000,000
Other financing activities		0	(5,000,000)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables		0	0
Net cash flow provided by (used for) financing activities		(372,000,000)	(299,000,000)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		134,000,000	492,000,000
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	794,000,000	660,000,000	480,000,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		794,000,000	972,000,000
CBS Corp. [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Operations [Abstract]
Revenues		32,000,000	32,000,000
Expenses:
Operating		18,000,000	18,000,000
Selling, general and administrative		22,000,000	28,000,000
Impairment charges		0
Depreciation and amortization		1,000,000	1,000,000
Total expenses		41,000,000	47,000,000
Operating income (loss)		(9,000,000)	(15,000,000)
Interest (expense) income, net		(129,000,000)	(129,000,000)
Gain on early extinguishment of debt		25,000,000
Other items, net		1,000,000	1,000,000
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings (loss) of investee companies		(112,000,000)	(143,000,000)
(Provision) benefit for income taxes		40,000,000	48,000,000
Equity in earnings (loss) of investee companies, net of tax		435,000,000	297,000,000
Net earnings		363,000,000	202,000,000
Comprehensive income (loss)		382,000,000	222,000,000
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents		429,000,000	579,000,000
Receivables, net		24,000,000		30,000,000
Programming and other inventory (Note 4)		6,000,000		6,000,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		60,000,000		81,000,000
Total current assets		519,000,000		251,000,000
Property and equipment		46,000,000		46,000,000
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization		14,000,000		14,000,000
Net property and equipment		32,000,000		32,000,000
Programming and other inventory (Note 4)		6,000,000		8,000,000
Goodwill		98,000,000		98,000,000
Intangible assets (Note 3)		0		0
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries		36,908,000,000		36,473,000,000
Other assets		185,000,000		223,000,000
Intercompany		0		0
Total Assets		37,748,000,000		37,085,000,000
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Accounts payable		2,000,000		5,000,000
Participants' share and royalties payable		0		0
Program rights		7,000,000		7,000,000
Current portion of long-term debt (Note 6)		5,000,000		7,000,000
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		466,000,000		311,000,000
Total current liabilities		480,000,000		330,000,000
Long-term debt		5,793,000,000		5,845,000,000
Other liabilities		3,126,000,000		3,169,000,000
Intercompany		18,345,000,000		17,833,000,000
Stockholders' Equity
Preferred Stock		0		0
Common Stock		1,000,000		1,000,000
Additional paid-in capital		43,376,000,000		43,395,000,000
Retained earnings (deficit)		(27,980,000,000)		(28,343,000,000)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		(420,000,000)		(439,000,000)
Stockholders' equity including treasury stock		14,977,000,000		14,614,000,000
Less treasury stock, at cost		4,973,000,000		4,706,000,000
Total Stockholders' Equity		10,004,000,000		9,908,000,000
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity		37,748,000,000		37,085,000,000
Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash flow provided by (used for) operating activities		(102,000,000)	(116,000,000)
Investing Activities:
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired		0	0
Capital expenditures		0	0
Investments in and advances to investee companies		0	0
Proceeds from dispositions			0
Other investing activities		0	0
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities		0	0
Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of notes		690,000,000
Repayment of notes		(700,000,000)	0
Payment of capital lease obligations		0	0
Payment of contingent consideration		0
Dividends		(69,000,000)	(37,000,000)
Purchase of Company common stock		(260,000,000)	(250,000,000)
Payment of payroll taxes in lieu of issuing shares for stock-based compensation		(87,000,000)	(46,000,000)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		36,000,000	10,000,000
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation		56,000,000	35,000,000
Other financing activities			(5,000,000)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables		731,000,000	883,000,000
Net cash flow provided by (used for) financing activities		397,000,000	590,000,000
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		295,000,000	474,000,000
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		134,000,000	105,000,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		429,000,000	579,000,000
CBS Operations Inc. [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Operations [Abstract]
Revenues		67,000,000	28,000,000
Expenses:
Operating		44,000,000	22,000,000
Selling, general and administrative		64,000,000	57,000,000
Impairment charges		0
Depreciation and amortization		4,000,000	4,000,000
Total expenses		112,000,000	83,000,000
Operating income (loss)		(45,000,000)	(55,000,000)
Interest (expense) income, net		(86,000,000)	(84,000,000)
Gain on early extinguishment of debt		0
Other items, net		(3,000,000)	(2,000,000)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings (loss) of investee companies		(134,000,000)	(141,000,000)
(Provision) benefit for income taxes		47,000,000	48,000,000
Equity in earnings (loss) of investee companies, net of tax		332,000,000	248,000,000
Net earnings		245,000,000	155,000,000
Comprehensive income (loss)		239,000,000	150,000,000
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents		1,000,000	1,000,000
Receivables, net		80,000,000		54,000,000
Programming and other inventory (Note 4)		5,000,000		4,000,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		82,000,000		83,000,000
Total current assets		168,000,000		142,000,000
Property and equipment		101,000,000		100,000,000
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization		59,000,000		56,000,000
Net property and equipment		42,000,000		44,000,000
Programming and other inventory (Note 4)		96,000,000		125,000,000
Goodwill		62,000,000		62,000,000
Intangible assets (Note 3)		0		0
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries		8,303,000,000		7,972,000,000
Other assets		20,000,000		20,000,000
Intercompany		3,879,000,000		4,022,000,000
Total Assets		12,570,000,000		12,387,000,000
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Accounts payable		6,000,000		17,000,000
Participants' share and royalties payable		32,000,000		28,000,000
Program rights		4,000,000		5,000,000
Current portion of long-term debt (Note 6)		0		0
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		220,000,000		279,000,000
Total current liabilities		262,000,000		329,000,000
Long-term debt		0		0
Other liabilities		417,000,000		406,000,000
Intercompany		0		0
Stockholders' Equity
Preferred Stock		0		0
Common Stock		123,000,000		123,000,000
Additional paid-in capital		0		0
Retained earnings (deficit)		12,105,000,000		11,860,000,000
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		(6,000,000)		0
Stockholders' equity including treasury stock		12,222,000,000		11,983,000,000
Less treasury stock, at cost		331,000,000		331,000,000
Total Stockholders' Equity		11,891,000,000		11,652,000,000
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity		12,570,000,000		12,387,000,000
Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash flow provided by (used for) operating activities		(115,000,000)	(99,000,000)
Investing Activities:
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired		0	0
Capital expenditures		0	(1,000,000)
Investments in and advances to investee companies		0	0
Proceeds from dispositions			0
Other investing activities		4,000,000	4,000,000
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities		4,000,000	3,000,000
Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of notes		0
Repayment of notes		0	0
Payment of capital lease obligations		0	0
Payment of contingent consideration		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		111,000,000	96,000,000
Net cash flow provided by (used for) financing activities		111,000,000	96,000,000
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		1,000,000	1,000,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		1,000,000	1,000,000
Non-Guarantor Affiliates [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Operations [Abstract]
Revenues		3,825,000,000	3,450,000,000
Expenses:
Operating		2,399,000,000	2,236,000,000
Selling, general and administrative		593,000,000	573,000,000
Impairment charges		11,000,000
Depreciation and amortization		126,000,000	134,000,000
Total expenses		3,129,000,000	2,943,000,000
Operating income (loss)		696,000,000	507,000,000
Interest (expense) income, net		107,000,000	105,000,000
Gain on early extinguishment of debt		0
Other items, net		14,000,000	10,000,000
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings (loss) of investee companies		817,000,000	622,000,000
(Provision) benefit for income taxes		(290,000,000)	(218,000,000)
Equity in earnings (loss) of investee companies, net of tax		(5,000,000)	(14,000,000)
Net earnings		522,000,000	390,000,000
Comprehensive income (loss)		539,000,000	408,000,000
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents		364,000,000	392,000,000
Receivables, net		3,228,000,000		3,170,000,000
Programming and other inventory (Note 4)		563,000,000		725,000,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		961,000,000		752,000,000
Total current assets		5,116,000,000		5,172,000,000
Property and equipment		5,225,000,000		5,188,000,000
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization		2,841,000,000		2,754,000,000
Net property and equipment		2,384,000,000		2,434,000,000
Programming and other inventory (Note 4)		1,323,000,000		1,363,000,000
Goodwill		8,470,000,000		8,460,000,000
Intangible assets (Note 3)		6,555,000,000		6,526,000,000
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries		0		0
Other assets		1,337,000,000		1,259,000,000
Intercompany		14,770,000,000		14,103,000,000
Total Assets		39,955,000,000		39,317,000,000
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Accounts payable		331,000,000		388,000,000
Participants' share and royalties payable		860,000,000		910,000,000
Program rights		773,000,000		565,000,000
Current portion of long-term debt (Note 6)		17,000,000		17,000,000
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		1,449,000,000		1,417,000,000
Total current liabilities		3,430,000,000		3,297,000,000
Long-term debt		109,000,000		113,000,000
Other liabilities		2,794,000,000		2,824,000,000
Intercompany		0		0
Stockholders' Equity
Preferred Stock		128,000,000		128,000,000
Common Stock		1,136,000,000		1,136,000,000
Additional paid-in capital		61,690,000,000		61,690,000,000
Retained earnings (deficit)		(24,844,000,000)		(25,366,000,000)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		312,000,000		295,000,000
Stockholders' equity including treasury stock		38,422,000,000		37,883,000,000
Less treasury stock, at cost		4,800,000,000		4,800,000,000
Total Stockholders' Equity		33,622,000,000		33,083,000,000
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity		39,955,000,000		39,317,000,000
Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash flow provided by (used for) operating activities		863,000,000	1,109,000,000
Investing Activities:
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired		(69,000,000)	(53,000,000)
Capital expenditures		(39,000,000)	(40,000,000)
Investments in and advances to investee companies		(34,000,000)	(26,000,000)
Proceeds from dispositions			13,000,000
Other investing activities		(2,000,000)	0
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities		(144,000,000)	(106,000,000)
Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of notes		0
Repayment of notes		0	(2,000,000)
Payment of capital lease obligations		(5,000,000)	(4,000,000)
Payment of contingent consideration		(33,000,000)
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		(842,000,000)	(979,000,000)
Net cash flow provided by (used for) financing activities		(880,000,000)	(985,000,000)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		(161,000,000)	18,000,000
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		525,000,000	374,000,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		364,000,000	392,000,000
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Operations [Abstract]
Revenues		0	0
Expenses:
Operating		0	0
Selling, general and administrative		0	0
Impairment charges		0
Depreciation and amortization		0	0
Total expenses		0	0
Operating income (loss)		0	0
Interest (expense) income, net		0	0
Gain on early extinguishment of debt		0
Other items, net		0	0
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings (loss) of investee companies		0	0
(Provision) benefit for income taxes		0	0
Equity in earnings (loss) of investee companies, net of tax		(767,000,000)	(545,000,000)
Net earnings		(767,000,000)	(545,000,000)
Comprehensive income (loss)		(778,000,000)	(558,000,000)
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents		0	0
Receivables, net		0		0
Programming and other inventory (Note 4)		0		0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		(20,000,000)		(22,000,000)
Total current assets		(20,000,000)		(22,000,000)
Property and equipment		0		0
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization		0		0
Net property and equipment		0		0
Programming and other inventory (Note 4)		0		0
Goodwill		0		0
Intangible assets (Note 3)		0		0
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries		(45,211,000,000)		(44,445,000,000)
Other assets		0		0
Intercompany		(18,649,000,000)		(18,125,000,000)
Total Assets		(63,880,000,000)		(62,592,000,000)
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Accounts payable		0		0
Participants' share and royalties payable		0		0
Program rights		0		0
Current portion of long-term debt (Note 6)		0		0
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		(22,000,000)		(23,000,000)
Total current liabilities		(22,000,000)		(23,000,000)
Long-term debt		0		0
Other liabilities		0		(1,000,000)
Intercompany		(18,345,000,000)		(17,833,000,000)
Stockholders' Equity
Preferred Stock		(128,000,000)		(128,000,000)
Common Stock		(1,259,000,000)		(1,259,000,000)
Additional paid-in capital		(61,690,000,000)		(61,690,000,000)
Retained earnings (deficit)		12,739,000,000		13,506,000,000
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		(306,000,000)		(295,000,000)
Stockholders' equity including treasury stock		(50,644,000,000)		(49,866,000,000)
Less treasury stock, at cost		(5,131,000,000)		(5,131,000,000)
Total Stockholders' Equity		(45,513,000,000)		(44,735,000,000)
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity		(63,880,000,000)		(62,592,000,000)
Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash flow provided by (used for) operating activities		0	0
Investing Activities:
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired		0	0
Capital expenditures		0	0
Investments in and advances to investee companies		0	0
Proceeds from dispositions			0
Other investing activities		0	0
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities		0	0
Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of notes		0
Repayment of notes		0	0
Payment of capital lease obligations		0	0
Payment of contingent consideration		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 at beginning of period		0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		$ 0	$ 0