Long-Term Debt (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount	$ 12,521,000,000		$ 12,521,000,000		$ 12,316,000,000
Accreted Value	12,620,000,000		12,620,000,000		12,306,000,000
Availability under the revolving portion of its credit facility	1,200,000,000		1,200,000,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(53,000,000)	(34,000,000)	(120,000,000)	(35,000,000)
Amount of principal redeemed			3,366,000,000	2,440,000,000
Senior notes 13.500% due November 15, 2016 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount	1,766,000,000		1,766,000,000		1,766,000,000
Accreted Value	2,038,000,000		2,038,000,000		2,057,000,000
Interest rates (in hundredths)	13.50%	13.50%	13.50%	13.50%
Senior notes 7.25% due October 30, 2017 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount	1,000,000,000		1,000,000,000		1,000,000,000
Accreted Value	1,000,000,000		1,000,000,000		1,000,000,000
Interest rates (in hundredths)	7.25%	7.25%	7.25%	7.25%
Senior notes 7.875% due April 30, 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount	900,000,000		900,000,000		900,000,000
Accreted Value	900,000,000		900,000,000		900,000,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt		34,000,000		34,000,000
Interest rates (in hundredths)	7.875%	7.875%	7.875%	7.875%
Senior notes 7.00% due January 15, 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount	1,400,000,000		1,400,000,000		0
Accreted Value	1,391,000,000		1,391,000,000		0
Loss on extinguishment of debt			67,000,000
Interest rates (in hundredths)	7.00%	7.00%	7.00%	7.00%
Senior notes 8.125% due April 30, 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount	700,000,000		700,000,000		700,000,000
Accreted Value	700,000,000		700,000,000		700,000,000
Interest rates (in hundredths)	8.125%	8.125%	8.125%	8.125%
Senior notes 6.500% due April 30, 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount	1,500,000,000		1,500,000,000		0
Accreted Value	1,500,000,000		1,500,000,000		0
Loss on extinguishment of debt	53,000,000		53,000,000
Interest rates (in hundredths)	6.50%	6.50%	6.50%	6.50%
Redemption provisions by debt instrument	(CCO Holdings may redeem some or all of the 2021 Notes at any time at a premium. The optional redemption price declines to 100 of the respective series' principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on or after varying dates in 2015 through 2018. In addition, at any time prior to April 30, 2014, CCO Holdings may redeem up to 35 of the aggregate principal amount of the notes at a redemption price at a premium plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date, with the net cash proceeds of one or more equity offerings as defined in the indenture; provided that certain conditions are met. In the event of specified change of control events, CCO Holdings must offer to purchase the outstanding 2021 Notes from the holders at a purchase price equal to 101 of the total principal amount of the notes, plus any accrued and unpaid interest.)		(CCO Holdings may redeem some or all of the 2021 Notes at any time at a premium. The optional redemption price declines to 100 of the respective series' principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on or after varying dates in 2015 through 2018. In addition, at any time prior to April 30, 2014, CCO Holdings may redeem up to 35 of the aggregate principal amount of the notes at a redemption price at a premium plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date, with the net cash proceeds of one or more equity offerings as defined in the indenture; provided that certain conditions are met. In the event of specified change of control events, CCO Holdings must offer to purchase the outstanding 2021 Notes from the holders at a purchase price equal to 101 of the total principal amount of the notes, plus any accrued and unpaid interest.)
Credit facility due September 6, 2014 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount	350,000,000		350,000,000		350,000,000
Accreted Value	320,000,000		320,000,000		314,000,000
Senior second lien notes 8.0% due April 30, 2012 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount	1,100,000,000		1,100,000,000		1,100,000,000
Accreted Value	1,107,000,000		1,107,000,000		1,112,000,000
Interest rates (in hundredths)	8.00%	8.00%	8.00%	8.00%
Senior second lien notes 10.875% due September 15, 2014 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount	546,000,000		546,000,000		546,000,000
Accreted Value	586,000,000		586,000,000		591,000,000
Interest rates (in hundredths)	10.875%	10.875%	10.875%	10.875%
Line of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount	3,259,000,000		3,259,000,000		5,954,000,000
Accreted Value	3,078,000,000		3,078,000,000		5,632,000,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt				1,000,000
Senior Notes 8.75% due 2013 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rates (in hundredths)		8.75%		8.75%
Amount of principal redeemed		800,000,000		800,000,000
Senior Second 8.375% Lien Notes due 2014 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rates (in hundredths)		8.375%		8.375%
Amount of principal redeemed		$ 770,000,000		$ 770,000,000