| Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Billions | 12 Months Ended | ||
| Dec. 31, 2019 | Jan. 31, 2020 | Jun. 30, 2019 | |
| Entity Information [Line Items] | |||
| Document Type | 10-K/A | ||
| Document Annual Report | true | ||
| Document Period End Date | Dec. 31, 2019 | ||
| Document Transition Report | false | ||
| Entity File Number | 001-35961 | ||
| Entity Registrant Name | Liberty Global plc | ||
| Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code | X0 | ||
| Entity Tax Identification Number | 98-1112770 | ||
| Entity Address, Address Line One | Griffin House | ||
| Entity Address, Address Line Two | 161 Hammersmith Rd | ||
| Entity Address, City or Town | London | ||
| Entity Address, Country | GB | ||
| Entity Address, Postal Zip Code | W6 8BS | ||
| Country Region | 44 | ||
| City Area Code | 208 | ||
| Local Phone Number | 483.6449 | ||
| Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer | Yes | ||
| Entity Voluntary Filers | No | ||
| Entity Current Reporting Status | Yes | ||
| Entity Interactive Data Current | Yes | ||
| Entity Filer Category | Large Accelerated Filer | ||
| Entity Small Business | false | ||
| Entity Emerging Growth Company | false | ||
| Entity Shell Company | false | ||
| Entity Public Float | $ 18.5 | ||
| Documents Incorporated by Reference | Portions of the definitive proxy statement for the Registrant’s 2020 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K . | ||
| Entity Central Index Key | 0001570585 | ||
| Current Fiscal Year End Date | --12-31 | ||
| Document Fiscal Year Focus | 2019 | ||
| Document Fiscal Period Focus | FY | ||
| Amendment Flag | true | ||
| Amendment Description | file rule 3-09 financials | ||
| Class A | |||
| Entity Information [Line Items] | |||
| Title of 12(b) Security | Class A ordinary shares | ||
| Trading Symbol | LBTYA | ||
| Security Exchange Name | NASDAQ | ||
| Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding | 181,568,323 | ||
| Class B | |||
| Entity Information [Line Items] | |||
| Title of 12(b) Security | Class B ordinary shares | ||
| Trading Symbol | LBTYB | ||
| Security Exchange Name | NASDAQ | ||
| Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding | 12,151,526 | ||
| Class C | |||
| Entity Information [Line Items] | |||
| Title of 12(b) Security | Class C ordinary shares | ||
| Trading Symbol | LBTYK | ||
| Security Exchange Name | NASDAQ | ||
| Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding | 438,884,260 |
| SCHEDULE I (Parent Company Information) | 12 Months Ended |
| Dec. 31, 2019 | |
| Condensed Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract] | |
| SCHEDULE I (Parent Company Information) | LIBERTY GLOBAL PLC SCHEDULE I (Parent Company Information - See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements) CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS (Parent Company Only) December 31, 2019 2018 in millions ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 6.7 $ 10.8 Other receivables — related-party 68.9 13.0 Other current assets 80.6 7.0 Total current assets 156.2 30.8 Long-term notes receivable — related-party 2,984.9 1,215.5 Investments in consolidated subsidiaries, including intercompany balances 33,570.7 20,829.5 Other assets, net 266.1 13.7 Total assets $ 36,977.9 $ 22,089.5 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 0.5 $ 3.5 Other payables — related-party 22.5 26.4 Current portion of notes payable — related-party 7,575.4 3,033.3 Accrued liabilities and other 12.6 9.1 Total current liabilities 7,611.0 3,072.3 Long-term notes payable — related-party 15,757.2 14,332.5 Other long-term liabilities 3.5 3.3 Total liabilities 23,371.7 17,408.1 Commitments and contingencies Shareholders’ equity: Liberty Global Shares — Class A, $0.01 nominal value. Issued and outstanding 181,560,735 and 204,450,499 shares, respectively 1.8 2.0 Liberty Global Shares — Class B, $0.01 nominal value. Issued and outstanding 12,151,526 and 11,099,593 shares, respectively 0.1 0.1 Liberty Global Shares — Class C, $0.01 nominal value. Issued and outstanding 438,867,447 and 531,174,389 shares, respectively 4.4 5.3 Additional paid-in capital 6,136.9 9,214.5 Accumulated earnings (deficit) 6,350.4 (5,172.2 ) Accumulated other comprehensive earnings, net of taxes 1,112.7 631.8 Treasury shares, at cost (0.1 ) (0.1 ) Total shareholders’ equity 13,606.2 4,681.4 Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 36,977.9 $ 22,089.5 LIBERTY GLOBAL PLC SCHEDULE I (Parent Company Information - See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements) CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Parent Company Only) Year ended December 31, 2019 2018 2017 in millions Operating costs and expenses: Selling, general and administrative (including share-based compensation) $ 61.0 $ 42.8 $ 44.9 Related-party fees and allocations 20.6 8.0 55.2 Depreciation and amortization 1.4 1.5 1.0 Other operating expenses 0.2 — — Operating loss (83.2 ) (52.3 ) (101.1 ) Non-operating income (expense): Interest expense — related-party (864.6 ) (678.0 ) (406.5 ) Interest income — related-party 89.6 70.9 822.7 Foreign currency transaction gains (losses), net 281.2 381.0 (644.8 ) Other income (expense), net 3.4 0.1 (3.3 ) (490.4 ) (226.0 ) (231.9 ) Loss before income taxes and equity in earnings (losses) of consolidated subsidiaries, net (573.6 ) (278.3 ) (333.0 ) Equity in earnings (losses) of consolidated subsidiaries, net 11,921.4 887.9 (2,386.0 ) Income tax benefit (expense) 173.6 115.7 (59.1 ) Net earnings (loss) $ 11,521.4 $ 725.3 $ (2,778.1 ) LIBERTY GLOBAL PLC SCHEDULE I (Parent Company Information - See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements) CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Parent Company Only) Year ended December 31, 2019 2018 2017 in millions Cash flows from operating activities: Net earnings (loss) $ 11,521.4 $ 725.3 $ (2,778.1 ) Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to net cash provided (used) by operating activities: Equity in losses (earnings) of consolidated subsidiaries, net (11,921.4 ) (887.9 ) 2,386.0 Share-based compensation expense 35.8 20.6 19.8 Related-party fees and allocations 20.6 8.0 55.2 Depreciation and amortization 1.4 1.5 1.0 Other operating expenses 0.2 — — Foreign currency transaction losses (gains), net (281.2 ) (381.0 ) 644.8 Deferred income tax benefit (10.0 ) (2.8 ) (1.6 ) Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Receivables and other operating assets (213.7 ) (134.8 ) 502.7 Payables and accruals 554.3 564.4 (160.9 ) Net cash provided (used) by operating activities (292.6 ) (86.7 ) 668.9 Cash flows from investing activities: Distribution and repayments from (investments in and advances to) consolidated subsidiaries, net (142.8 ) (93.4 ) 1,188.7 Funding of the Vodafone Escrow Accounts, net (295.2 ) — — Other investing activities, net (0.1 ) — (7.0 ) Net cash provided (used) by investing activities (438.1 ) (93.4 ) 1,181.7 Cash flows from financing activities: Borrowings of related-party debt 5,870.5 3,133.3 4,632.7 Repayments of related-party debt (2,018.6 ) (1,010.0 ) (3,496.0 ) Repurchase of Liberty Global ordinary shares (3,219.4 ) (2,009.9 ) (2,976.2 ) Borrowings of third-party debt 98.6 — — Other financing activities, net (5.0 ) 4.3 3.6 Net cash provided ( used) by financing activities 726.1 117.7 (1,835.9 ) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash 0.5 — (0.4 ) Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (4.1 ) (62.4 ) 14.3 Cash and cash equivalents: Beginning of period 16.0 78.4 64.1 End of period $ 11.9 $ 16.0 $ 78.4 Details of end of period cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash: Cash and cash equivalents $ 6.7 $ 10.8 $ 73.2 Restricted cash included in other current assets 5.2 5.2 5.2 Total cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash $ 11.9 $ 16.0 $ 78.4 |
| SCHEDULE II VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS | 12 Months Ended |
| Dec. 31, 2019 | |
| SEC Schedule, 12-09, Valuation and Qualifying Accounts [Abstract] | |
| SCHEDULE II VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS | LIBERTY GLOBAL PLC SCHEDULE II VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS Allowance for doubtful accounts — Trade receivables (Continuing operations) Balance at beginning of period Impact of the adoption of ASU 2014-09 Additions to costs and expenses Acquisitions Deductions or write-offs Foreign currency translation adjustments Balance at end of period in millions Year ended December 31: 2017 $ 56.1 — 51.6 1.5 (41.7 ) 6.7 $ 74.2 2018 $ 74.2 11.9 61.6 — (98.4 ) (3.5 ) $ 45.8 2019 $ 45.8 — 44.6 — (48.3 ) 0.7 $ 42.8 |
| SCHEDULE I (Parent Company Information) CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS (Details) - Liberty Global Plc - USD ($) $ in Millions | Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 |
| Current assets: | |||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ 6.7 | $ 10.8 | $ 73.2 |
| Other receivables — related-party | 68.9 | 13 | |
| Other current assets | 80.6 | 7 | |
| Total current assets | 156.2 | 30.8 | |
| Long-term notes receivable — related-party | 2,984.9 | 1,215.5 | |
| Investments in consolidated subsidiaries, including intercompany balances | 33,570.7 | 20,829.5 | |
| Other assets, net | 266.1 | 13.7 | |
| Total assets | 36,977.9 | 22,089.5 | |
| Current liabilities: | |||
| Accounts payable | 0.5 | 3.5 | |
| Other payables — related-party | 22.5 | 26.4 | |
| Current portion of notes payable — related-party | 7,575.4 | 3,033.3 | |
| Accrued liabilities and other | 12.6 | 9.1 | |
| Total current liabilities | 7,611 | 3,072.3 | |
| Long-term notes payable — related-party | 15,757.2 | 14,332.5 | |
| Other long-term liabilities | 3.5 | 3.3 | |
| Total liabilities | 23,371.7 | 17,408.1 | |
| Commitments and contingencies | |||
| Additional paid-in capital | 6,136.9 | 9,214.5 | |
| Accumulated earnings (deficit) | 6,350.4 | (5,172.2) | |
| Accumulated other comprehensive earnings, net of taxes | 1,112.7 | 631.8 | |
| Treasury shares, at cost | (0.1) | 0.1 | |
| Total stockholders’ equity | 13,606.2 | 4,681.4 | |
| Total liabilities and equity | 36,977.9 | 22,089.5 | |
| Class A | |||
| Current liabilities: | |||
| Common stock | 1.8 | 2 | |
| Class B | |||
| Current liabilities: | |||
| Common stock | 0.1 | 0.1 | |
| Class C | |||
| Current liabilities: | |||
| Common stock | $ 4.4 | $ 5.3 |
| SCHEDULE I (Parent Company Information) CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET (Parenthetical) (Details) - Liberty Global Plc - $ / shares | Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 |
| Class A | ||
| Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items] | ||
| Common stock, nominal value (in dollars per share) | $ 0.01 | $ 0.01 |
| Common stock, issued (in shares) | 181,560,735 | 204,450,499 |
| Common stock, outstanding (in shares) | 181,560,735 | 204,450,499 |
| Class B | ||
| Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items] | ||
| Common stock, nominal value (in dollars per share) | $ 0.01 | $ 0.01 |
| Common stock, issued (in shares) | 12,151,526 | 11,099,593 |
| Common stock, outstanding (in shares) | 12,151,526 | 11,099,593 |
| Class C | ||
| Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items] | ||
| Common stock, nominal value (in dollars per share) | $ 0.01 | $ 0.01 |
| Common stock, issued (in shares) | 438,867,447 | 531,174,389 |
| Common stock, outstanding (in shares) | 438,867,447 | 531,174,389 |
| SCHEDULE I (Parent Company Information) CONDENSED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (Details) - Liberty Global Plc - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended | ||
| Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | |
| Operating costs and expenses: | |||
| Selling, general and administrative (including stock-based compensation) | $ 61 | $ 42.8 | $ 44.9 |
| Related-party fees and allocations | 20.6 | 8 | 55.2 |
| Depreciation and amortization | 1.4 | 1.5 | 1 |
| Other operating expenses | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Operating income | (83.2) | (52.3) | (101.1) |
| Non-operating income (expense): | |||
| Interest expense — related-party | (864.6) | (678) | (406.5) |
| Interest income — related-party | 89.6 | 70.9 | 822.7 |
| Foreign currency transaction gains (losses), net | 281.2 | 381 | (644.8) |
| Other income, net | 3.4 | 0.1 | (3.3) |
| Non-operating income (expense) | (490.4) | (226) | (231.9) |
| Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings (losses) of consolidated subsidiaries, net | (573.6) | (278.3) | (333) |
| Equity in earnings (losses) of consolidated subsidiaries, net | 11,921.4 | 887.9 | (2,386) |
| Income tax benefit (expense) | 173.6 | 115.7 | (59.1) |
| Net earnings (loss) attributable to Liberty Global shareholders | $ 11,521.4 | $ 725.3 | $ (2,778.1) |
| SCHEDULE I (Parent Company Information) CONDENSED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (Details) - Liberty Global Plc - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended | |||||
| Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | |
| Cash flows from operating activities: | ||||||
| Net earnings (loss) | $ 11,521.4 | $ 725.3 | $ (2,778.1) | |||
| Adjustments to reconcile loss from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations: | ||||||
| Equity in losses (earnings) of consolidated subsidiaries, net | (11,921.4) | (887.9) | 2,386 | |||
| Share-based compensation expense | 35.8 | 20.6 | 19.8 | |||
| Related-party fees and allocations | 20.6 | 8 | 55.2 | |||
| Depreciation and amortization | 1.4 | 1.5 | 1 | |||
| Other operating expenses | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Foreign currency transaction losses (gains), net | (281.2) | (381) | 644.8 | |||
| Deferred income tax benefit | (10) | (2.8) | (1.6) | |||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||
| Receivables and other operating assets | (213.7) | (134.8) | 502.7 | |||
| Payables and accruals | 554.3 | 564.4 | (160.9) | |||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | (292.6) | (86.7) | 668.9 | |||
| Cash flows from investing activities: | ||||||
| Distribution and repayments from (investments in and advances to) consolidated subsidiaries, net | (142.8) | (93.4) | 1,188.7 | |||
| Funding of the Vodafone Escrow Accounts, net | (295.2) | 0 | 0 | |||
| Other investing activities, net | (0.1) | 0 | (7) | |||
| Net cash provided (used) by investing activities | (438.1) | (93.4) | 1,181.7 | |||
| Cash flows from financing activities: | ||||||
| Borrowings of related-party debt | 5,870.5 | 3,133.3 | 4,632.7 | |||
| Repayments of related-party debt | (2,018.6) | (1,010) | (3,496) | |||
| Repurchase of Liberty Global ordinary shares | (3,219.4) | (2,009.9) | (2,976.2) | |||
| Borrowings of third-party debt | 98.6 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Other financing activities, net | (5) | 4.3 | 3.6 | |||
| Net cash used by financing activities | 726.1 | 117.7 | (1,835.9) | |||
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash | 0.5 | 0 | (0.4) | |||
| Total | (4.1) | (62.4) | 14.3 | |||
| Cash and cash equivalents: | ||||||
| Beginning of period | 16 | 78.4 | 64.1 | |||
| End of period | 11.9 | 16 | 78.4 | |||
| Details of end of period cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash: | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ 6.7 | $ 10.8 | $ 73.2 | |||
| Restricted cash included in other current assets | 5.2 | 5.2 | 5.2 | |||
| Total cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash | $ 16 | $ 16 | $ 64.1 | $ 11.9 | $ 16 | $ 78.4 |
| SCHEDULE II VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS (Details) - Allowance for doubtful accounts — Trade receivables (Continuing operations) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended | ||
| Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | |
| SEC Schedule, 12-09, Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward] | |||
| Balance at beginning of period | $ 45.8 | $ 74.2 | $ 56.1 |
| Impact of the adoption of ASU 2014-09 | 0 | 11.9 | 0 |
| Additions to costs and expenses | 44.6 | 61.6 | 51.6 |
| Acquisitions | 0 | 0 | 1.5 |
| Deductions or write-offs | (48.3) | (98.4) | (41.7) |
| Foreign currency translation adjustments | 0.7 | (3.5) | 6.7 |
| Balance at end of period | $ 42.8 | $ 45.8 | $ 74.2 |
