Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Operations [Abstract]
Revenues		$ 4,040,000,000	$ 3,796,000,000
Expenses:
Operating		2,474,000,000	2,347,000,000
Selling, general and administrative		650,000,000	642,000,000
Impairment charges		0	11,000,000
Depreciation and amortization		116,000,000	119,000,000
Total expenses		3,240,000,000	3,119,000,000
Operating Income (Loss)		800,000,000	677,000,000
Interest (expense) income, net		(93,000,000)	(108,000,000)
Gain on early extinguishment of debt		0	25,000,000
Other items, net		(2,000,000)	5,000,000
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in earnings (loss) of investee companies		705,000,000	599,000,000
(Provision) benefit for income taxes		(234,000,000)	(201,000,000)
Equity in earnings (loss) of investee companies, net of tax		(8,000,000)	(4,000,000)
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations		463,000,000	394,000,000
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax		(20,000,000)	(31,000,000)
Net earnings		443,000,000	363,000,000
Comprehensive income (loss)		446,000,000	382,000,000
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents		409,000,000	794,000,000
Receivables, net		3,130,000,000		3,137,000,000
Programming and other inventory (Note 5)		569,000,000		859,000,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		1,151,000,000		1,016,000,000
Total current assets		5,259,000,000		5,720,000,000
Property and equipment		4,970,000,000		4,988,000,000
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization		2,755,000,000		2,717,000,000
Net property and equipment		2,215,000,000		2,271,000,000
Programming and other inventory (Note 5)		1,571,000,000		1,582,000,000
Goodwill		8,568,000,000		8,567,000,000
Intangible assets (Note 3)		6,494,000,000		6,515,000,000
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries		0		0
Other assets		2,004,000,000		1,811,000,000
Intercompany		0		0
Total Assets		26,111,000,000		26,466,000,000
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Accounts payable		232,000,000		386,000,000
Participants' share and royalties payable		856,000,000		953,000,000
Program rights		670,000,000		455,000,000
Commercial paper		550,000,000		0
Current portion of long-term debt (Note 7)		16,000,000		18,000,000
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		2,116,000,000		2,129,000,000
Total current liabilities		4,440,000,000		3,941,000,000
Long-term debt		5,901,000,000		5,904,000,000
Other liabilities		6,376,000,000		6,408,000,000
Intercompany		0		0
Stockholders' Equity
Preferred Stock		0		0
Common stock		1,000,000		1,000,000
Additional paid-in capital		43,215,000,000		43,424,000,000
Retained earnings (deficit)		(26,326,000,000)		(26,769,000,000)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		(566,000,000)		(569,000,000)
Stockholders' equity including treasury stock		16,324,000,000		16,087,000,000
Less treasury stock, at cost		6,930,000,000		5,874,000,000
Total stockholders' equity		9,394,000,000		10,213,000,000
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity		26,111,000,000		26,466,000,000
Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash flow provided by (used for) operating activities		587,000,000	646,000,000
Investing Activities:
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired		(9,000,000)	(69,000,000)
Capital expenditures		(34,000,000)	(35,000,000)
Investments in and advances to investee companies		(30,000,000)	(34,000,000)
Proceeds from sale of investments		12,000,000	4,000,000
Proceeds from dispositions		11,000,000	0
Other investing activities		0	(2,000,000)
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities from continuing operation		(50,000,000)	(136,000,000)
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities from discontinued operations		(4,000,000)	(4,000,000)
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities		(54,000,000)	(140,000,000)
Financing Activities:
Proceeds from short-term debt borrowings, net		550,000,000	0
Proceeds from issuance of notes		0	690,000,000
Repayment of notes		0	(700,000,000)
Payment of capital lease obligations		(4,000,000)	(5,000,000)
Payment of contingent consideration		(30,000,000)	(33,000,000)
Dividends	(74,000,000)	(81,000,000)	(69,000,000)
Purchase of company common stock		(1,289,000,000)	(260,000,000)
Payment of payroll taxes in lieu of issuing shares for stock-based compensation		(117,000,000)	(87,000,000)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		58,000,000	36,000,000
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation		85,000,000	56,000,000
Other financing activities		(4,000,000)	0
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables		0	0
Net cash flow provided by (used for) financing activities		(832,000,000)	(372,000,000)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		(299,000,000)	134,000,000
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	409,000,000	708,000,000	660,000,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		409,000,000	794,000,000
CBS Corp. [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Operations [Abstract]
Revenues		35,000,000	32,000,000
Expenses:
Operating		17,000,000	18,000,000
Selling, general and administrative		17,000,000	22,000,000
Impairment charges			0
Depreciation and amortization		2,000,000	1,000,000
Total expenses		36,000,000	41,000,000
Operating Income (Loss)		(1,000,000)	(9,000,000)
Interest (expense) income, net		(115,000,000)	(129,000,000)
Gain on early extinguishment of debt			25,000,000
Other items, net		(1,000,000)	1,000,000
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in earnings (loss) of investee companies		(117,000,000)	(112,000,000)
(Provision) benefit for income taxes		40,000,000	38,000,000
Equity in earnings (loss) of investee companies, net of tax		520,000,000	437,000,000
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations		443,000,000	363,000,000
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax		0	0
Net earnings		443,000,000	363,000,000
Comprehensive income (loss)		446,000,000	382,000,000
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents		46,000,000	429,000,000
Receivables, net		25,000,000		31,000,000
Programming and other inventory (Note 5)		4,000,000		5,000,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		110,000,000		142,000,000
Total current assets		185,000,000		432,000,000
Property and equipment		36,000,000		39,000,000
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization		7,000,000		8,000,000
Net property and equipment		29,000,000		31,000,000
Programming and other inventory (Note 5)		2,000,000		3,000,000
Goodwill		98,000,000		98,000,000
Intangible assets (Note 3)		0		0
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries		39,172,000,000		38,658,000,000
Other assets		159,000,000		171,000,000
Intercompany		0		0
Total Assets		39,645,000,000		39,393,000,000
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Accounts payable		1,000,000		2,000,000
Participants' share and royalties payable		0		0
Program rights		5,000,000		6,000,000
Commercial paper		550,000,000
Current portion of long-term debt (Note 7)		5,000,000		5,000,000
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		401,000,000		345,000,000
Total current liabilities		962,000,000		358,000,000
Long-term debt		5,792,000,000		5,793,000,000
Other liabilities		3,214,000,000		3,252,000,000
Intercompany		20,283,000,000		19,777,000,000
Stockholders' Equity
Preferred Stock		0		0
Common stock		1,000,000		1,000,000
Additional paid-in capital		43,215,000,000		43,424,000,000
Retained earnings (deficit)		(26,326,000,000)		(26,769,000,000)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		(566,000,000)		(569,000,000)
Stockholders' equity including treasury stock		16,324,000,000		16,087,000,000
Less treasury stock, at cost		6,930,000,000		5,874,000,000
Total stockholders' equity		9,394,000,000		10,213,000,000
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity		39,645,000,000		39,393,000,000
Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash flow provided by (used for) operating activities		(131,000,000)	(102,000,000)
Investing Activities:
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired		0	0
Capital expenditures		0	0
Investments in and advances to investee companies		0	0
Proceeds from sale of investments		10,000,000	4,000,000
Proceeds from dispositions		0
Other investing activities			0
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities from continuing operation		10,000,000	4,000,000
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities from discontinued operations		0	0
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities		10,000,000	4,000,000
Financing Activities:
Proceeds from short-term debt borrowings, net		550,000,000
Proceeds from issuance of notes			690,000,000
Repayment of notes			(700,000,000)
Payment of capital lease obligations		0	0
Payment of contingent consideration		0	0
Dividends		(81,000,000)	(69,000,000)
Purchase of company common stock		(1,289,000,000)	(260,000,000)
Payment of payroll taxes in lieu of issuing shares for stock-based compensation		(117,000,000)	(87,000,000)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		58,000,000	36,000,000
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation		85,000,000	56,000,000
Other financing activities		(4,000,000)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables		711,000,000	727,000,000
Net cash flow provided by (used for) financing activities		(87,000,000)	393,000,000
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		(208,000,000)	295,000,000
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		254,000,000	134,000,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		46,000,000	429,000,000
CBS Operations Inc. [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Operations [Abstract]
Revenues		3,000,000	4,000,000
Expenses:
Operating		2,000,000	2,000,000
Selling, general and administrative		77,000,000	62,000,000
Impairment charges			0
Depreciation and amortization		4,000,000	4,000,000
Total expenses		83,000,000	68,000,000
Operating Income (Loss)		(80,000,000)	(64,000,000)
Interest (expense) income, net		(89,000,000)	(86,000,000)
Gain on early extinguishment of debt			0
Other items, net		3,000,000	(3,000,000)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in earnings (loss) of investee companies		(166,000,000)	(153,000,000)
(Provision) benefit for income taxes		57,000,000	52,000,000
Equity in earnings (loss) of investee companies, net of tax		288,000,000	344,000,000
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations		179,000,000	243,000,000
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax		0	0
Net earnings		179,000,000	243,000,000
Comprehensive income (loss)		186,000,000	237,000,000
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents		1,000,000	1,000,000
Receivables, net		2,000,000		2,000,000
Programming and other inventory (Note 5)		3,000,000		3,000,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		14,000,000		14,000,000
Total current assets		20,000,000		20,000,000
Property and equipment		118,000,000		117,000,000
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization		72,000,000		69,000,000
Net property and equipment		46,000,000		48,000,000
Programming and other inventory (Note 5)		1,000,000		2,000,000
Goodwill		62,000,000		62,000,000
Intangible assets (Note 3)		0		0
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries		9,414,000,000		9,128,000,000
Other assets		109,000,000		14,000,000
Intercompany		3,513,000,000		3,655,000,000
Total Assets		13,165,000,000		12,929,000,000
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Accounts payable		7,000,000		6,000,000
Participants' share and royalties payable		0		0
Program rights		4,000,000		4,000,000
Commercial paper		0
Current portion of long-term debt (Note 7)		0		0
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		323,000,000		286,000,000
Total current liabilities		334,000,000		296,000,000
Long-term debt		0		0
Other liabilities		267,000,000		255,000,000
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)		12,772,000,000		12,593,000,000
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		0		(7,000,000)
Stockholders' equity including treasury stock		12,895,000,000		12,709,000,000
Less treasury stock, at cost		331,000,000		331,000,000
Total stockholders' equity		12,564,000,000		12,378,000,000
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity		13,165,000,000		12,929,000,000
Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash flow provided by (used for) operating activities		(103,000,000)	(115,000,000)
Investing Activities:
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired		0	0
Capital expenditures		(1,000,000)	0
Investments in and advances to investee companies		0	0
Proceeds from sale of investments		1,000,000	0
Proceeds from dispositions		0
Other investing activities			0
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities from continuing operation		0	0
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities from discontinued operations		0	0
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities		0	0
Financing Activities:
Proceeds from short-term debt borrowings, net		0
Proceeds from issuance of notes			0
Repayment of notes			0
Payment of capital lease obligations		0	0
Payment of contingent consideration		0	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		103,000,000	115,000,000
Net cash flow provided by (used for) financing activities		103,000,000	115,000,000
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		4,002,000,000	3,760,000,000
Expenses:
Operating		2,455,000,000	2,327,000,000
Selling, general and administrative		556,000,000	558,000,000
Impairment charges			11,000,000
Depreciation and amortization		110,000,000	114,000,000
Total expenses		3,121,000,000	3,010,000,000
Operating Income (Loss)		881,000,000	750,000,000
Interest (expense) income, net		111,000,000	107,000,000
Gain on early extinguishment of debt			0
Other items, net		(4,000,000)	7,000,000
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in earnings (loss) of investee companies		988,000,000	864,000,000
(Provision) benefit for income taxes		(331,000,000)	(291,000,000)
Equity in earnings (loss) of investee companies, net of tax		(8,000,000)	(4,000,000)
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations		649,000,000	569,000,000
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax		(20,000,000)	(31,000,000)
Net earnings		629,000,000	538,000,000
Comprehensive income (loss)		614,000,000	553,000,000
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents		362,000,000	364,000,000
Receivables, net		3,103,000,000		3,104,000,000
Programming and other inventory (Note 5)		562,000,000		851,000,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		1,046,000,000		886,000,000
Total current assets		5,073,000,000		5,294,000,000
Property and equipment		4,816,000,000		4,832,000,000
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization		2,676,000,000		2,640,000,000
Net property and equipment		2,140,000,000		2,192,000,000
Programming and other inventory (Note 5)		1,568,000,000		1,577,000,000
Goodwill		8,408,000,000		8,407,000,000
Intangible assets (Note 3)		6,494,000,000		6,515,000,000
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries		0		0
Other assets		1,736,000,000		1,626,000,000
Intercompany		16,770,000,000		16,122,000,000
Total Assets		42,189,000,000		41,733,000,000
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Accounts payable		224,000,000		378,000,000
Participants' share and royalties payable		856,000,000		953,000,000
Program rights		661,000,000		445,000,000
Commercial paper		0
Current portion of long-term debt (Note 7)		11,000,000		13,000,000
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		1,411,000,000		1,524,000,000
Total current liabilities		3,163,000,000		3,313,000,000
Long-term debt		109,000,000		111,000,000
Other liabilities		2,895,000,000		2,901,000,000
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)		(22,420,000,000)		(23,049,000,000)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		288,000,000		303,000,000
Stockholders' equity including treasury stock		40,822,000,000		40,208,000,000
Less treasury stock, at cost		4,800,000,000		4,800,000,000
Total stockholders' equity		36,022,000,000		35,408,000,000
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity		42,189,000,000		41,733,000,000
Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash flow provided by (used for) operating activities		821,000,000	863,000,000
Investing Activities:
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired		(9,000,000)	(69,000,000)
Capital expenditures		(33,000,000)	(35,000,000)
Investments in and advances to investee companies		(30,000,000)	(34,000,000)
Proceeds from sale of investments		1,000,000	0
Proceeds from dispositions		11,000,000
Other investing activities			(2,000,000)
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities from continuing operation		(60,000,000)	(140,000,000)
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities from discontinued operations		(4,000,000)	(4,000,000)
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities		(64,000,000)	(144,000,000)
Financing Activities:
Proceeds from short-term debt borrowings, net		0
Proceeds from issuance of notes			0
Repayment of notes			0
Payment of capital lease obligations		(4,000,000)	(5,000,000)
Payment of contingent consideration		(30,000,000)	(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		(814,000,000)	(842,000,000)
Net cash flow provided by (used for) financing activities		(848,000,000)	(880,000,000)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		(91,000,000)	(161,000,000)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		453,000,000	525,000,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		362,000,000	364,000,000
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) from continuing operations 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		(808,000,000)	(781,000,000)
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations		(808,000,000)	(781,000,000)
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax		0	0
Net earnings		(808,000,000)	(781,000,000)
Comprehensive income (loss)		(800,000,000)	(790,000,000)
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents		0	0
Receivables, net		0		0
Programming and other inventory (Note 5)		0		0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		(19,000,000)		(26,000,000)
Total current assets		(19,000,000)		(26,000,000)
Property and equipment		0		0
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization		0		0
Net property and equipment		0		0
Programming and other inventory (Note 5)		0		0
Goodwill		0		0
Intangible assets (Note 3)		0		0
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries		(48,586,000,000)		(47,786,000,000)
Other assets		0		0
Intercompany		(20,283,000,000)		(19,777,000,000)
Total Assets		(68,888,000,000)		(67,589,000,000)
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Accounts payable		0		0
Participants' share and royalties payable		0		0
Program rights		0		0
Commercial paper		0
Current portion of long-term debt (Note 7)		0		0
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		(19,000,000)		(26,000,000)
Total current liabilities		(19,000,000)		(26,000,000)
Long-term debt		0		0
Other liabilities		0		0
Intercompany		(20,283,000,000)		(19,777,000,000)
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)		9,648,000,000		10,456,000,000
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		(288,000,000)		(296,000,000)
Stockholders' equity including treasury stock		(53,717,000,000)		(52,917,000,000)
Less treasury stock, at cost		(5,131,000,000)		(5,131,000,000)
Total stockholders' equity		(48,586,000,000)		(47,786,000,000)
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity		(68,888,000,000)		(67,589,000,000)
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 sale of investments		0	0
Proceeds from dispositions		0
Other investing activities			0
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities from continuing operation		0	0
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities from discontinued operations		0	0
Net cash flow provided by (used for) investing activities		0	0
Financing Activities:
Proceeds from short-term debt borrowings, net		0
Proceeds from issuance of notes			0
Repayment of notes			0
Payment of capital lease obligations		0	0
Payment of contingent consideration		0	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