1.0.0.3 false Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Millions false 1 $ false false Unit_1 Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Unit_2 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Unit_5 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 false 2 $ false false Unit_1 Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Unit_2 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Unit_5 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 7 Cash Flows From Operating Activities 5 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesContinuingOperationsAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 8 Net income 6 us-gaap_ProfitLoss us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 true true 1014000000 1014 false false 2 true true 1249000000 1249 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 9 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: 6 us-gaap_AdjustmentsToReconcileNetIncomeLossToCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 10 Depreciation and amortization 7 us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 2008000000 2008 false false 2 false true 1675000000 1675 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 11 Amortization of deferred revenues and deferred credits 7 us-gaap_RecognitionOfDeferredRevenue us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -38000000 -38 false false 2 false true -75000000 -75 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 12 Share-based compensation expense 7 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 39000000 39 false false 2 false true 37000000 37 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 13 Dividends received 7 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributions us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 69000000 69 false false 2 false true 35000000 35 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 14 Net foreign currency transaction gain 7 us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossUnrealized us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -57000000 -57 false false 2 false true 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 15 Deferred income taxes 7 us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxesAndTaxCredits us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 311000000 311 false false 2 false true 101000000 101 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 16 Other 7 us-gaap_AdjustmentsNoncashItemsToReconcileNetIncomeLossToCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesOther us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 2000000 2 false false 2 false true -6000000 -6 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 17 Change in other operating assets and liabilities: 7 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOperatingCapitalAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 18 Accounts receivable, net 8 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsAndNotesReceivable us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 30000000 30 false false 2 false true 137000000 137 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 19 Inventories 8 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInventories us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -34000000 -34 false false 2 false true -37000000 -37 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 20 Prepaid expenses and other 8 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -61000000 -61 false false 2 false true -70000000 -70 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 21 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 8 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -174000000 -174 false false 2 false true -412000000 -412 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 22 Unearned subscriber revenue and deferred credits 8 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInDeferredLiabilities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 147000000 147 false false 2 false true 136000000 136 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 23 Other, net 8 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingLiabilities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -58000000 -58 false false 2 false true 51000000 51 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 24 Net cash provided by operating activities 5 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities us-gaap true na duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 3198000000 3198 false false 2 false true 2821000000 2821 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 25 Cash Flows From Investing Activities 4 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 26 Cash paid for property and equipment 5 us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -1508000000 -1508 false false 2 false true -1480000000 -1480 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 27 Cash paid for satellites 5 dtv_CashPaidForSatellites dtv false debit duration monetary The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of long-lived, satellites that are used in the broadcast of DIRECTV service... false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -40000000 -40 false false 2 false true -92000000 -92 false false The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of long-lived, satellites that are used in the broadcast of DIRECTV service and not intended for resale; includes cash outflows to pay for construction of self-constructed satellites. No authoritative reference available. false 28 Investment in companies, net of cash acquired 5 us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -30000000 -30 false false 2 false true -203000000 -203 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 29 Other, net 5 us-gaap_PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 11000000 11 false false 2 false true 37000000 37 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 30 Net cash used in investing activities 5 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -1567000000 -1567 false false 2 false true -1738000000 -1738 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 31 Cash Flows From Financing Activities 4 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 32 Cash proceeds from debt issuance 5 us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 1990000000 1990 false false 2 false true 2490000000 2490 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 33 Debt issuance costs 5 us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -12000000 -12 false false 2 false true -19000000 -19 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 34 Repayment of long-term debt 5 us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -661000000 -661 false false 2 false true -35000000 -35 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 35 Repayment of other long-term obligations 5 us-gaap_ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -85000000 -85 false false 2 false true -92000000 -92 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 36 Capital contribution 5 us-gaap_ProceedsFromContributedCapital us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 0 0 false false 2 false true 160000000 160 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 37 Common shares repurchased and retired 5 us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -1613000000 -1613 false false 2 false true -1790000000 -1790 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 38 Stock options exercised 5 us-gaap_ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 33000000 33 false false 2 false true 100000000 100 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 39 Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation 5 us-gaap_ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensationFinancingActivities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 5000000 5 false false 2 false true 8000000 8 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 40 Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities 5 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -343000000 -343 false false 2 false true 822000000 822 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 41 Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 4 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease us-gaap true na duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 1288000000 1288 false false 2 false true 1905000000 1905 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 42 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period 3 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false true false false 1 false true 2005000000 2005 false false 2 false true 1083000000 1083 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 43 Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period 3 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false true false 1 false true 3293000000 3293 false false 2 false true 2988000000 2988 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 44 Supplemental Cash Flow Information 3 dtv_SupplementalCashFlowInformation dtv false na duration string Supplemental Cash Flow Information false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false Supplemental Cash Flow Information false 45 Cash paid for interest 4 us-gaap_InterestPaidNet us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 274000000 274 false false 2 false true 201000000 201 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 46 Cash paid for income taxes 4 us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaid us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 true true 311000000 311 false false 2 true true 568000000 568 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false false 2 40 false Millions UnKnown UnKnown false true