Commitments and Contingencies (Schedule of Company Payment Obligations) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012
Contractual Obligation [Line Items]
Contractual Obligations	$ 1,294
Contractual Obligation, Due 2013	685
Contractual Obligation, Due 2014	240
Contractual Obligation, Due 2015	142
Contractual Obligation, Due 2016	112
Contractual Obligation, Due 2017	101
Contractual Obligation, Due Thereafter	14
Capital and Operating Lease Obligations [Member]
Contractual Obligation [Line Items]
Contractual Obligations	125	[1]
Contractual Obligation, Due 2013	32	[1]
Contractual Obligation, Due 2014	28	[1]
Contractual Obligation, Due 2015	21	[1]
Contractual Obligation, Due 2016	17	[1]
Contractual Obligation, Due 2017	13	[1]
Contractual Obligation, Due Thereafter	14	[1]
Programming Minimum Commitments [Member]
Contractual Obligation [Line Items]
Contractual Obligations	521	[2]
Contractual Obligation, Due 2013	146	[2]
Contractual Obligation, Due 2014	94	[2]
Contractual Obligation, Due 2015	98	[2]
Contractual Obligation, Due 2016	95	[2]
Contractual Obligation, Due 2017	88	[2]
Contractual Obligation, Due Thereafter	0	[2]
Other [Member]
Contractual Obligation [Line Items]
Contractual Obligations	648	[3]
Contractual Obligation, Due 2013	507	[3]
Contractual Obligation, Due 2014	118	[3]
Contractual Obligation, Due 2015	23	[3]
Contractual Obligation, Due 2016	0	[3]
Contractual Obligation, Due 2017	0	[3]
Contractual Obligation, Due Thereafter	$ 0	[3]

[1] The Company leases certain facilities and equipment under noncancelable operating leases. Leases and rental costs charged to expense for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 were $28 million, $27 million, $28 million, respectively.

[2] The Company pays programming fees under multi-year contracts ranging from three to ten years, typically based on a flat fee per customer, which may be fixed for the term, or may in some cases escalate over the term. Programming costs included in the accompanying statement of operations were $2.0 billion, $1.9 billion, and $1.8 billion for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010 respectively. Certain of the Company’s programming agreements are based on a flat fee per month or have guaranteed minimum payments. The table sets forth the aggregate guaranteed minimum commitments under the Company’s programming contracts.

[3] “Other” represents other guaranteed minimum commitments, which consist primarily of commitments to the Company's customer premise equipment vendors and billing services vendors.