Reportable Segments (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Reportable Segments Details [Abstract]
Impairment charges	$ 0		$ 0	$ (11,000,000)	$ 0
Interest expense	(104,000,000)		(110,000,000)	(214,000,000)	(220,000,000)
Interest income	1,000,000		1,000,000	3,000,000	3,000,000
Gain on early extinguishment of debt (Note 6)	0	25,000,000	0	25,000,000	0
Other items, net	(3,000,000)		5,000,000	9,000,000	14,000,000
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings (loss) of investee companies	663,000,000		630,000,000	1,234,000,000	968,000,000
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	(225,000,000)		(230,000,000)	(428,000,000)	(352,000,000)
Equity in loss of investee companies, net of tax	(11,000,000)		(5,000,000)	(16,000,000)	(19,000,000)
Net earnings	427,000,000		395,000,000	790,000,000	597,000,000
Reportable Segments [Line Items]
Total Revenues	3,476,000,000		3,586,000,000	7,400,000,000	7,096,000,000
Total Intercompany Revenues	51,000,000		27,000,000	111,000,000	93,000,000
Total OIBDA before Impairment Charges	901,000,000		873,000,000	1,685,000,000	1,449,000,000
Total Operating income (loss)	769,000,000		734,000,000	1,411,000,000	1,171,000,000
Total Depreciation and Amortization	132,000,000		139,000,000	263,000,000	278,000,000
Total Stock-based Compensation	39,000,000		41,000,000	81,000,000	75,000,000
Total Capital Expenditures	54,000,000		54,000,000	93,000,000	95,000,000
Total Assets	26,781,000,000			26,781,000,000		26,197,000,000
Entertainment Segment [Member]
Reportable Segments [Line Items]
Total Revenues	1,707,000,000		1,836,000,000	4,025,000,000	3,830,000,000
Total Intercompany Revenues	44,000,000		19,000,000	97,000,000	74,000,000
Total OIBDA before Impairment Charges	426,000,000		440,000,000	837,000,000	708,000,000
Total Operating income (loss)	385,000,000		400,000,000	755,000,000	630,000,000
Total Depreciation and Amortization	41,000,000		40,000,000	82,000,000	78,000,000
Total Stock-based Compensation	14,000,000		12,000,000	27,000,000	24,000,000
Total Capital Expenditures	19,000,000		17,000,000	36,000,000	31,000,000
Total Assets	8,087,000,000			8,087,000,000		8,471,000,000
Cable Networks Segment [Member]
Reportable Segments [Line Items]
Total Revenues	446,000,000		413,000,000	898,000,000	806,000,000
Total OIBDA before Impairment Charges	190,000,000		176,000,000	399,000,000	329,000,000
Total Operating income (loss)	184,000,000		171,000,000	388,000,000	318,000,000
Total Depreciation and Amortization	6,000,000		5,000,000	11,000,000	11,000,000
Total Stock-based Compensation	2,000,000		1,000,000	3,000,000	2,000,000
Total Capital Expenditures	3,000,000		3,000,000	4,000,000	5,000,000
Total Assets	1,680,000,000			1,680,000,000		1,679,000,000
Publishing Segment [Member]
Reportable Segments [Line Items]
Total Revenues	189,000,000		183,000,000	365,000,000	338,000,000
Total OIBDA before Impairment Charges	9,000,000		19,000,000	19,000,000	26,000,000
Total Operating income (loss)	7,000,000		17,000,000	15,000,000	22,000,000
Total Depreciation and Amortization	2,000,000		2,000,000	4,000,000	4,000,000
Total Stock-based Compensation	0		1,000,000	1,000,000	2,000,000
Total Capital Expenditures	0		2,000,000	0	2,000,000
Total Assets	947,000,000			947,000,000		1,091,000,000
Local Broadcasting Segment [Member]
Reportable Segments [Line Items]
Total Revenues	704,000,000		691,000,000	1,326,000,000	1,312,000,000
Total Intercompany Revenues	5,000,000		4,000,000	9,000,000	9,000,000
Total OIBDA before Impairment Charges	248,000,000		230,000,000	419,000,000	399,000,000
Total Operating income (loss)	225,000,000		204,000,000	363,000,000	347,000,000
Total Depreciation and Amortization	23,000,000		26,000,000	45,000,000	52,000,000
Total Stock-based Compensation	6,000,000		6,000,000	12,000,000	11,000,000
Total Capital Expenditures	14,000,000		16,000,000	24,000,000	28,000,000
Total Assets	9,606,000,000			9,606,000,000		9,626,000,000
Outdoor Segment [Member]
Reportable Segments [Line Items]
Total Revenues	481,000,000		490,000,000	897,000,000	903,000,000
Total Intercompany Revenues	2,000,000		4,000,000	5,000,000	10,000,000
Total OIBDA before Impairment Charges	93,000,000		86,000,000	146,000,000	135,000,000
Total Operating income (loss)	39,000,000		26,000,000	37,000,000	14,000,000
Total Depreciation and Amortization	54,000,000		60,000,000	109,000,000	121,000,000
Total Stock-based Compensation	2,000,000		2,000,000	4,000,000	3,000,000
Total Capital Expenditures	15,000,000		14,000,000	26,000,000	26,000,000
Total Assets	4,018,000,000			4,018,000,000		4,092,000,000
Corporate [Member]
Reportable Segments [Line Items]
Total OIBDA before Impairment Charges	(52,000,000)		(57,000,000)	(110,000,000)	(109,000,000)
Total Operating income (loss)	(58,000,000)		(63,000,000)	(122,000,000)	(121,000,000)
Total Depreciation and Amortization	6,000,000		6,000,000	12,000,000	12,000,000
Total Stock-based Compensation	15,000,000		19,000,000	34,000,000	33,000,000
Total Capital Expenditures	3,000,000		2,000,000	3,000,000	3,000,000
Total Assets	2,501,000,000			2,501,000,000		1,262,000,000
Residual Costs [Member]
Reportable Segments [Line Items]
Total OIBDA before Impairment Charges	(12,000,000)		(18,000,000)	(24,000,000)	(37,000,000)
Total Operating income (loss)	(12,000,000)		(18,000,000)	(24,000,000)	(37,000,000)
Discontinued Operations [Member]
Reportable Segments [Line Items]
Total Assets	78,000,000			78,000,000		77,000,000
Eliminations [Member]
Reportable Segments [Line Items]
Total Revenues	(51,000,000)		(27,000,000)	(111,000,000)	(93,000,000)
Total OIBDA before Impairment Charges	(1,000,000)		(3,000,000)	(1,000,000)	(2,000,000)
Total Operating income (loss)	(1,000,000)		(3,000,000)	(1,000,000)	(2,000,000)
Total Assets	$ (136,000,000)			$ (136,000,000)		$ (101,000,000)