Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows (Details) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended |
In Millions, unless otherwise specified | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 |
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: | | | |
Consolidated net income (loss) | ($183) | ($169) | ($304) |
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows from operating activities: | | | |
Depreciation and amortization | 2,102 | 1,854 | 1,713 |
Noncash interest expense | 37 | 43 | 45 |
Loss on extinguishment of debt | 0 | 123 | 55 |
(Gain) loss on derivative instruments, net | 7 | -11 | 0 |
Deferred income taxes | 233 | 112 | 250 |
Equity in (income) losses of subisidiaries | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Other, net | 65 | 82 | 45 |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and dispositions: | | | |
Accounts receivable | -51 | 10 | 34 |
Prepaid expenses and other assets | -9 | 0 | -8 |
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other | 158 | 114 | 46 |
Receivables from and payables to related party | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Net cash flows from operating activities | 2,359 | 2,158 | 1,876 |
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: | | | |
Purchases of property, plant and equipment | -2,221 | -1,825 | -1,745 |
Change in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures | 33 | 76 | 13 |
Sales (purchases) of cable systems, net | 11 | -676 | 19 |
Contribution to subsidiary | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Distributions from subsidiary | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Restricted cash in escrow | -7,111 | 0 | 0 |
Other, net | -16 | -18 | -24 |
Net cash flows from investing activities | -9,304 | -2,443 | -1,737 |
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: | | | |
Borrowings of long-term debt | 8,806 | 6,782 | 5,830 |
Repayments of long-term debt | -1,980 | -6,520 | -5,901 |
Borrowings (payments) loans payable - related parties | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Payments for debt issuance costs | -6 | -50 | -53 |
Purchase of treasury stock | -19 | -15 | -11 |
Proceeds from exercise of options and warrants | 123 | 104 | |
Proceeds from exercise of options | | | 15 |
Contributions from parent | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Distributions to parent | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Other, net | 3 | -2 | -14 |
Net cash flows from financing activities | 6,927 | 299 | -134 |
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | -18 | 14 | 5 |
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period | 21 | 7 | 2 |
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period | 3 | 21 | 7 |
Charter [Member] | | | |
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: | | | |
Consolidated net income (loss) | -183 | -183 | -317 |
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows from operating activities: | | | |
Depreciation and amortization | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Noncash interest expense | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Loss on extinguishment of debt | | 0 | 0 |
(Gain) loss on derivative instruments, net | 0 | 0 | |
Deferred income taxes | 223 | 105 | 252 |
Equity in (income) losses of subisidiaries | -40 | 75 | 63 |
Other, net | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and dispositions: | | | |
Accounts receivable | 0 | -3 | -1 |
Prepaid expenses and other assets | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Receivables from and payables to related party | 0 | 5 | -1 |
Net cash flows from operating activities | 0 | -1 | -2 |
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: | | | |
Purchases of property, plant and equipment | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Change in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Sales (purchases) of cable systems, net | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Contribution to subsidiary | -106 | -89 | -14 |
Distributions from subsidiary | 5 | 0 | 12 |
Restricted cash in escrow | 0 | | |
Other, net | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Net cash flows from investing activities | -101 | -89 | -2 |
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: | | | |
Borrowings of long-term debt | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Repayments of long-term debt | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Borrowings (payments) loans payable - related parties | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Payments for debt issuance costs | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Purchase of treasury stock | -19 | -15 | -11 |
Proceeds from exercise of options and warrants | 123 | 104 | |
Proceeds from exercise of options | | | 15 |
Contributions from parent | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Distributions to parent | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Other, net | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Net cash flows from financing activities | 104 | 89 | 5 |
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | 3 | -1 | 1 |
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period | 0 | 1 | 0 |
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period | 3 | 0 | 1 |
Intermediate Holding Companies [Member] | | | |
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: | | | |
Consolidated net income (loss) | -4 | -107 | -92 |
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows from operating activities: | | | |
Depreciation and amortization | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Noncash interest expense | 0 | 0 | -23 |
Loss on extinguishment of debt | | 0 | -46 |
(Gain) loss on derivative instruments, net | 0 | 0 | |
Deferred income taxes | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Equity in (income) losses of subisidiaries | 12 | 114 | 35 |
Other, net | -2 | 0 | 0 |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and dispositions: | | | |
Accounts receivable | -2 | -1 | 1 |
Prepaid expenses and other assets | -1 | 1 | 8 |
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other | 41 | -3 | -87 |
Receivables from and payables to related party | -57 | -1 | -1 |
Net cash flows from operating activities | -13 | 3 | -205 |
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: | | | |
Purchases of property, plant and equipment | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Change in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Sales (purchases) of cable systems, net | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Contribution to subsidiary | -600 | -534 | -71 |
Distributions from subsidiary | 30 | 6 | 1,891 |
Restricted cash in escrow | 0 | | |
Other, net | -5 | 1 | 0 |
Net cash flows from investing activities | -575 | -527 | 1,820 |
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: | | | |
Borrowings of long-term debt | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Repayments of long-term debt | 0 | 0 | -1,621 |
Borrowings (payments) loans payable - related parties | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Payments for debt issuance costs | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Purchase of treasury stock | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Proceeds from exercise of options and warrants | 0 | 0 | |
Proceeds from exercise of options | | | 0 |
Contributions from parent | 606 | 534 | 84 |
Distributions to parent | -30 | -5 | -72 |
Other, net | 7 | 0 | -6 |
Net cash flows from financing activities | 583 | 529 | -1,615 |
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | -5 | 5 | 0 |
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period | 5 | 0 | 0 |
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period | 0 | 5 | 0 |
CCOH Safari, LLC [Member] | | | |
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: | | | |
Consolidated net income (loss) | -30 | 0 | 0 |
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows from operating activities: | | | |
Depreciation and amortization | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Noncash interest expense | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Loss on extinguishment of debt | | 0 | 0 |
(Gain) loss on derivative instruments, net | 0 | 0 | |
Deferred income taxes | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Equity in (income) losses of subisidiaries | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Other, net | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and dispositions: | | | |
Accounts receivable | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Prepaid expenses and other assets | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other | 18 | 0 | 0 |
Receivables from and payables to related party | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Net cash flows from operating activities | -12 | 0 | 0 |
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: | | | |
Purchases of property, plant and equipment | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Change in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Sales (purchases) of cable systems, net | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Contribution to subsidiary | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Distributions from subsidiary | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Restricted cash in escrow | -3,598 | | |
Other, net | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Net cash flows from investing activities | -3,598 | 0 | 0 |
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: | | | |
Borrowings of long-term debt | 3,500 | 0 | 0 |
Repayments of long-term debt | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Borrowings (payments) loans payable - related parties | 112 | 0 | 0 |
Payments for debt issuance costs | -2 | 0 | 0 |
Purchase of treasury stock | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Proceeds from exercise of options and warrants | 0 | 0 | |
Proceeds from exercise of options | | | 0 |
Contributions from parent | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Distributions to parent | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Other, net | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Net cash flows from financing activities | 3,610 | 0 | 0 |
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | 0 | 0 | 0 |
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period | 0 | 0 | 0 |
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period | 0 | 0 | 0 |
CCO Holdings [Member] | | | |
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: | | | |
Consolidated net income (loss) | 18 | -114 | -35 |
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows from operating activities: | | | |
Depreciation and amortization | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Noncash interest expense | 25 | 27 | 18 |
Loss on extinguishment of debt | 0 | 65 | 0 |
(Gain) loss on derivative instruments, net | 0 | 0 | |
Deferred income taxes | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Equity in (income) losses of subisidiaries | -697 | -632 | -506 |
Other, net | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and dispositions: | | | |
Accounts receivable | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Prepaid expenses and other assets | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other | 0 | 41 | 47 |
Receivables from and payables to related party | -11 | -10 | -11 |
Net cash flows from operating activities | -665 | -623 | -487 |
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: | | | |
Purchases of property, plant and equipment | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Change in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Sales (purchases) of cable systems, net | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Contribution to subsidiary | -100 | -1,022 | -2,330 |
Distributions from subsidiary | 1,132 | 630 | 2,014 |
Restricted cash in escrow | 0 | | |
Other, net | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Net cash flows from investing activities | 1,032 | -392 | -316 |
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: | | | |
Borrowings of long-term debt | 0 | 2,000 | 2,984 |
Repayments of long-term debt | -350 | -955 | 0 |
Borrowings (payments) loans payable - related parties | -112 | -93 | -314 |
Payments for debt issuance costs | 0 | -25 | -39 |
Purchase of treasury stock | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Proceeds from exercise of options and warrants | 0 | 0 | |
Proceeds from exercise of options | | | 0 |
Contributions from parent | 100 | 89 | 1 |
Distributions to parent | -5 | -1 | -1,831 |
Other, net | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Net cash flows from financing activities | -367 | 1,015 | 801 |
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | 0 | 0 | -2 |
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period | 0 | 0 | 2 |
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Charter Operating and Subsidiaries [Member] | | | |
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: | | | |
Consolidated net income (loss) | 741 | 678 | 548 |
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows from operating activities: | | | |
Depreciation and amortization | 2,102 | 1,854 | 1,713 |
Noncash interest expense | 12 | 16 | 50 |
Loss on extinguishment of debt | | 58 | 101 |
(Gain) loss on derivative instruments, net | 7 | -11 | |
Deferred income taxes | 10 | 7 | -2 |
Equity in (income) losses of subisidiaries | 45 | 0 | 0 |
Other, net | 67 | 82 | 45 |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and dispositions: | | | |
Accounts receivable | -49 | 14 | 34 |
Prepaid expenses and other assets | -8 | -1 | -18 |
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other | 91 | 76 | 86 |
Receivables from and payables to related party | 68 | 6 | 13 |
Net cash flows from operating activities | 3,086 | 2,779 | 2,570 |
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: | | | |
Purchases of property, plant and equipment | -2,221 | -1,825 | -1,745 |
Change in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures | 33 | 76 | 13 |
Sales (purchases) of cable systems, net | 11 | -676 | 19 |
Contribution to subsidiary | -71 | 0 | 0 |
Distributions from subsidiary | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Restricted cash in escrow | 0 | | |
Other, net | -11 | -19 | -24 |
Net cash flows from investing activities | -2,259 | -2,444 | -1,737 |
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: | | | |
Borrowings of long-term debt | 1,823 | 4,782 | 2,846 |
Repayments of long-term debt | -1,630 | -5,565 | -4,280 |
Borrowings (payments) loans payable - related parties | 0 | 93 | 314 |
Payments for debt issuance costs | 0 | -25 | -14 |
Purchase of treasury stock | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Proceeds from exercise of options and warrants | 0 | 0 | |
Proceeds from exercise of options | | | 0 |
Contributions from parent | 100 | 1,022 | 2,330 |
Distributions to parent | -1,132 | -630 | -2,014 |
Other, net | -4 | -2 | -9 |
Net cash flows from financing activities | -843 | -325 | -827 |
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | -16 | 10 | 6 |
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period | 16 | 6 | 0 |
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period | 0 | 16 | 6 |
Unrestricted Subisidiary b CCO Safari [Member] | | | |
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: | | | |
Consolidated net income (loss) | -45 | 0 | 0 |
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows from operating activities: | | | |
Depreciation and amortization | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Noncash interest expense | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Loss on extinguishment of debt | | 0 | 0 |
(Gain) loss on derivative instruments, net | 0 | 0 | |
Deferred income taxes | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Equity in (income) losses of subisidiaries | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Other, net | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and dispositions: | | | |
Accounts receivable | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Prepaid expenses and other assets | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other | 8 | 0 | 0 |
Receivables from and payables to related party | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Net cash flows from operating activities | -37 | 0 | 0 |
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: | | | |
Purchases of property, plant and equipment | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Change in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Sales (purchases) of cable systems, net | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Contribution to subsidiary | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Distributions from subsidiary | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Restricted cash in escrow | -3,513 | | |
Other, net | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Net cash flows from investing activities | -3,513 | 0 | 0 |
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: | | | |
Borrowings of long-term debt | 3,483 | 0 | 0 |
Repayments of long-term debt | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Borrowings (payments) loans payable - related parties | | 0 | 0 |
Payments for debt issuance costs | -4 | 0 | 0 |
Purchase of treasury stock | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Proceeds from exercise of options and warrants | 0 | 0 | |
Proceeds from exercise of options | | | 0 |
Contributions from parent | 71 | 0 | 0 |
Distributions to parent | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Other, net | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Net cash flows from financing activities | 3,550 | 0 | 0 |
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | 0 | 0 | 0 |
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period | 0 | 0 | 0 |
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Eliminations [Member] | | | |
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: | | | |
Consolidated net income (loss) | -680 | -443 | -408 |
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows from operating activities: | | | |
Depreciation and amortization | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Noncash interest expense | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Loss on extinguishment of debt | | 0 | 0 |
(Gain) loss on derivative instruments, net | 0 | 0 | |
Deferred income taxes | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Equity in (income) losses of subisidiaries | 680 | 443 | 408 |
Other, net | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and dispositions: | | | |
Accounts receivable | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Prepaid expenses and other assets | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Receivables from and payables to related party | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Net cash flows from operating activities | 0 | 0 | 0 |
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: | | | |
Purchases of property, plant and equipment | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Change in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Sales (purchases) of cable systems, net | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Contribution to subsidiary | 877 | 1,645 | 2,415 |
Distributions from subsidiary | -1,167 | -636 | -3,917 |
Restricted cash in escrow | 0 | | |
Other, net | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Net cash flows from investing activities | -290 | 1,009 | -1,502 |
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: | | | |
Borrowings of long-term debt | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Repayments of long-term debt | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Borrowings (payments) loans payable - related parties | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Payments for debt issuance costs | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Purchase of treasury stock | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Proceeds from exercise of options and warrants | 0 | 0 | |
Proceeds from exercise of options | | | 0 |
Contributions from parent | -877 | -1,645 | -2,415 |
Distributions to parent | 1,167 | 636 | 3,917 |
Other, net | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Net cash flows from financing activities | 290 | -1,009 | 1,502 |
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | 0 | 0 | 0 |
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period | 0 | 0 | 0 |
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period | $0 | $0 | $0 |