Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Investments in Affiliates Accounted for Using the Equity Method (Details)

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Investments in Affiliates Accounted for Using the Equity Method (Details)
$ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands
 1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
May 18, 2016
USD ($)
$ / shares
shares
May 31, 2014
USD ($)
shares
May 31, 2013
USD ($)
$ / shares
shares
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
$ / shares
Dec. 31, 2015
USD ($)
$ / shares
Dec. 31, 2014
USD ($)
Dec. 10, 2014
$ / shares
Investments in affiliates accounted for using the Equity Method              
Cash paid to acquire equity method investments       $ 5,000,000   $ 175,857  
Charter              
Investments in affiliates accounted for using the Equity Method              
Number of shares of common shares acquired | shares   897          
Proxy agreement term 5 years            
Purchase price of equity method investments   $ 124,500          
Noncash or Part Noncash Acquisition, Investments Acquired           130,600  
Other Significant Noncash Transaction, Value of Consideration Given           130,600  
Equity Method Investment, Difference Between Carrying Amount and Underlying Equity       1,243,700      
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired 25.01%            
Amortization of Deferred Charges       $ 41,800 $ 51,600 $ 81,200  
Liberty | Charter              
Investments in affiliates accounted for using the Equity Method              
Number of shares of common shares acquired | shares     26,900        
Number of warrants acquired | shares     1,100        
Purchase price of equity method investments     $ 2,600,000        
Number of common shares pledged as collateral | shares     20,300        
Beneficial ownership percentage     27.00%        
Share Price | $ / shares     $ 95.50        
Cash paid to acquire equity method investments     $ 1,200,000        
Equity Method Investment, Difference Between Carrying Amount and Underlying Equity     $ 2,532,300        
Liberty | Live Nation              
Investments in affiliates accounted for using the Equity Method              
Number of common shares pledged as collateral | shares     8,100        
Liberty | Sirius XM              
Investments in affiliates accounted for using the Equity Method              
Number of common shares pledged as collateral | shares     720,000        
A/N              
Investments in affiliates accounted for using the Equity Method              
Maximum percentage of New Charter shares that may be voted by proxy 7.00%            
A/N | Charter              
Investments in affiliates accounted for using the Equity Method              
Trading days before proposed sale of A/N 2 days            
first | A/N | Charter              
Investments in affiliates accounted for using the Equity Method              
Maximum percentage of New Charter shares that may be voted by proxy 7.00%            
last | A/N | Charter              
Investments in affiliates accounted for using the Equity Method              
Maximum percentage of New Charter shares that may be voted by proxy 7.00%            
Series C              
Investments in affiliates accounted for using the Equity Method              
Share Price | $ / shares $ 56.23           $ 40.36
Common stock par value | $ / shares $ 0.01     $ 0.01 $ 0.01    
Series A common stock              
Investments in affiliates accounted for using the Equity Method              
Common stock par value | $ / shares       $ 0.01 $ 0.01    
Series A common stock | Charter              
Investments in affiliates accounted for using the Equity Method              
Number of shares of common shares acquired | shares 22,000            
Share Price | $ / shares $ 195.70            
Cash paid to acquire equity method investments $ 4,300,000            
Common stock par value | $ / shares $ 0.001            
Series A common stock | Charter | Time Warner Cable Merger              
Investments in affiliates accounted for using the Equity Method              
Ratio shares received in exchange 1            
Series A common stock | Bright House Transaction | Charter              
Investments in affiliates accounted for using the Equity Method              
Number of shares of common shares acquired | shares 3,700            
Purchase price of equity method investments $ 700,000            
Share Price | $ / shares $ 191.33            
Series A common stock | Time Warner Cable Exchange | Charter              
Investments in affiliates accounted for using the Equity Method              
Number of shares of common shares acquired | shares 2,400            
Fair Value of shares acquired $ 531,900