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Other Comprehensive Earnings (loss) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified |
12 Months Ended | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Dec. 31, 2014
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Dec. 31, 2013
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Dec. 31, 2012
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Dec. 31, 2011
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| Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Holding Gain (Loss) on Securities Arising During Period, before Tax | $ (13)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodBeforeTax | $ 16us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodBeforeTax | $ (5)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodBeforeTax | |
| Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Holding Gain (Loss) on Securities Arising During Period, Tax | 5us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodTax | (6)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodTax | 2us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodTax | |
| Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the period | (8)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax | 10us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax | (3)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax | |
| Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Reclassification Adjustment for Sale of Securities Included in Net Income, before Tax | (40)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIForSaleOfSecuritiesBeforeTax | (21)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIForSaleOfSecuritiesBeforeTax | ||
| Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Reclassification Adjustment for Sale of Securities Included in Net Income, Tax | 15us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIForSaleOfSecuritiesTax | 8us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIForSaleOfSecuritiesTax | ||
| Share Of Other Comprehensive Earnings Loss Of Equity Affiliates | (9)lmca_ShareOfOtherComprehensiveEarningsLossOfEquityAffiliates | 4lmca_ShareOfOtherComprehensiveEarningsLossOfEquityAffiliates | ||
| Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Reclassification Adjustment for Sale of Securities Included in Net Income, Net of Tax | 25us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIForSaleOfSecuritiesNetOfTax | 13us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIForSaleOfSecuritiesNetOfTax | ||
| other comprehensive income (loss), other before tax | (14)lmca_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossOtherBeforeTax | 6lmca_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossOtherBeforeTax | ||
| other comprehensive income (loss), other tax | 5lmca_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossOtherTax | (2)lmca_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossOtherTax | ||
| other comprehensive income (loss), other net of tax | (9)lmca_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossOtherNetOfTax | 4lmca_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossOtherNetOfTax | ||
| Other comprehensive Income (loss) from discontinued operations Before Tax | (2)lmca_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsBeforeTax | |||
| Other comprehensive Income (loss) from discontinued operations Tax | 1lmca_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsTax | |||
| Other comprehensive Income (loss) from discontinued operations Net of Tax | (1)lmca_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax | |||
| Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Tax | (27)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTax | (18)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTax | (28)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTax | |
| Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax | 10us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax | 7us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax | 11us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax | |
| Accumulated other comprehensive earnings, net of taxes | (21)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax | 4us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax | 12us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax | 29us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax |
| Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax | (17)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax | (11)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax | (17)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax | |
| Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) | ||||
| Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax |
(17)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember |
(11)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember |
(17)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember |
|
| Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss) [Member] | ||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive earnings, net of taxes |
(10)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember |
5us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember |
20us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember |
36us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember |
| Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax |
(8)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember |
(15)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember |
(16)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember |
|
| Accumulated other comprehensive income, other [Member] | ||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive earnings, net of taxes |
(11)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = lmca_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeOtherMember |
(1)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = lmca_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeOtherMember |
(5)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = lmca_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeOtherMember |
(5)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = lmca_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeOtherMember |
| Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax |
(9)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = lmca_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeOtherMember |
4us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = lmca_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeOtherMember |
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| Segment, Discontinued Operations [Member] | ||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive earnings, net of taxes |
(3)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_SegmentDiscontinuedOperationsMember |
(2)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_SegmentDiscontinuedOperationsMember |
||
| Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax |
(1)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_SegmentDiscontinuedOperationsMember |
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| Starz, LLC | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) | ||||
| Equity impact from pro rata distribution to shareholders of a subsidiary |
3lmca_EquityImpactFromProRataDistributionToShareholdersOfSubsidiary / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = lmca_StarzLlcMember / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember |
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| Starz, LLC | Segment, Discontinued Operations [Member] | ||||
| Equity impact from pro rata distribution to shareholders of a subsidiary |
3lmca_EquityImpactFromProRataDistributionToShareholdersOfSubsidiary / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = lmca_StarzLlcMember / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_SegmentDiscontinuedOperationsMember |
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| Liberty Broadband | ||||
| Equity impact from pro rata distribution to shareholders of a subsidiary |
(8)lmca_EquityImpactFromProRataDistributionToShareholdersOfSubsidiary / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = lmca_LibertyBroadbandMember |
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| Liberty Broadband | Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss) [Member] | ||||
| Equity impact from pro rata distribution to shareholders of a subsidiary |
(7)lmca_EquityImpactFromProRataDistributionToShareholdersOfSubsidiary / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = lmca_LibertyBroadbandMember / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember |
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| Liberty Broadband | Accumulated other comprehensive income, other [Member] | ||||
| Equity impact from pro rata distribution to shareholders of a subsidiary |
$ (1)lmca_EquityImpactFromProRataDistributionToShareholdersOfSubsidiary / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = lmca_LibertyBroadbandMember / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = lmca_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeOtherMember |
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- Definition
Equity impact from pro rata distribution to shareholders of a subsidiary No definition available.
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- Definition
Other comprehensive Income (loss) from discontinued operations Before Tax No definition available.
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Other comprehensive Income (loss) from discontinued operations Net of Tax No definition available.
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Other comprehensive Income (loss) from discontinued operations Tax No definition available.
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other comprehensive income (loss), other before tax No definition available.
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other comprehensive income (loss), other net of tax No definition available.
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Other comprehensive income (loss), Other Tax No definition available.
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Share of other comprehensive earnings (loss) of equity affiliates No definition available.
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- Definition
Accumulated change in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources, net of tax effect, at period end. Excludes Net Income (Loss), and accumulated changes in equity from transactions resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners. Includes foreign currency translation items, certain pension adjustments, unrealized gains and losses on certain investments in debt and equity securities, other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses related to factors other than credit losses on available-for-sale and held-to-maturity debt securities that an entity does not intend to sell and it is not more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell before recovery of the amortized cost basis, as well as changes in the fair value of derivatives related to the effective portion of a designated cash flow hedge. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
Amount before tax, after reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss). Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
Amount after tax and reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss). Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
Amount before tax of reclassification adjustment from accumulated other comprehensive income for unrealized gain (loss) realized upon the sale of available-for-sale securities. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
Amount after tax of reclassification adjustment from accumulated other comprehensive income for unrealized gain (loss) realized upon the sale of available-for-sale securities. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
Amount of tax expense (benefit) of reclassification adjustment from accumulated other comprehensive income for unrealized gain (loss) realized upon the sale of available-for-sale securities. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
Amount of tax expense (benefit) allocated to other comprehensive income (loss). Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
Amount before tax and reclassification adjustments of unrealized holding gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
Amount after tax, before reclassification adjustments, of unrealized holding gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
Amount of tax expense (benefit) before reclassification adjustments of unrealized holding gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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