Acquisitions And Dispositions	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Acquisitions and Dispositions	DISPOSITIONS Acquisitions Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. ("Scripps") On July 31, 2017, Discovery announced that it has signed an agreement for Discovery to acquire Scripps in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at $14.6 billion, or $90.00 per share. The transaction is expected to close by early 2018. Scripps shareholders will receive $90.00 per share, comprised of $63.00 per share in cash and $27.00 per share in Discovery's Series C common stock based on Discovery’s July 21, 2017 closing price. The stock portion will be subject to a collar based on the volume weighted average price of Discovery's Series C common stock over the 15 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to closing (the “Average Discovery Price”). Scripps shareholders will receive 1.2096 shares of Discovery's Series C common stock if the Average Discovery Price is below $22.32, and 0.9408 shares of Discovery's Series C common stock if the Average Discovery Price is above $28.70. If the Average Discovery Price is greater than or equal to $22.32 but less than or equal to $28.70, Scripps shareholders will receive a number of shares between 1.2096 and 0.9408 equal to $27.00 in value. If the Average Discovery Price is between $22.32 and $25.51, Discovery has the option to pay additional cash instead of issuing more shares. Scripps shareholders will have the option to elect to receive their consideration in cash, stock or the mixture described above, subject to pro rata cut backs to the extent cash or stock is oversubscribed. Post-closing, Scripps’ shareholders will own approximately 20% of Discovery’s fully diluted common shares and Discovery’s shareholders will own approximately 80%. The cash portion of the purchase price will be financed with a combination of new debt and cash on hand. While Discovery expects to put in place financing for the transaction, Discovery also has secured fully committed financing from affiliates of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC to fund the acquisition. The aggregate purchase price includes an assumption of Scripps’ net debt of approximately $2.7 billion. The transaction is subject to approval by Discovery and Scripps’ shareholders, regulatory approvals, and other customary closing conditions. John C. Malone, Advance/Newhouse Programming Partnership (“Advance/Newhouse”) and members of the Scripps family have entered into voting agreements to vote in favor of the transaction. In addition, Advance/Newhouse has provided its consent, in its capacity as the holder of Discovery’s outstanding shares of Series A preferred stock, for Discovery to enter into the merger agreement and consummate the merger. In connection with this consent, Discovery and Advance/Newhouse have entered into an exchange agreement pursuant to which Advance/Newhouse will exchange all of its shares of Series A and Series C preferred stock of Discovery for shares of newly designated Series A-1 and Series C-1 preferred stock of Discovery. The exchange transaction will not change the aggregate number of shares of Discovery’s Series A common stock and Series C common stock that are beneficially owned by Advance/Newhouse or change voting rights or liquidation preferences afforded to Advance/Newhouse. Dispositions Raw and Betty Studios, LLC. On April 28, 2017, the Company sold Raw and Betty to All3Media. All3Media is a U.K. based television, film and digital production and distribution company. The Company owns 50% of All3Media and accounts for its investment in All3Media under the equity method of accounting. The Company recorded a loss of $4 million for the disposition of these businesses for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017. The loss on disposition of Raw and Betty included $38 million in net assets, including $30 million of goodwill. The impact to the Company's income before income taxes for Raw and Betty through the date of sale were losses of $3 million and $4 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, respectively, and income of $1 million and $3 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, respectively. Raw and Betty were components of the studios operating segment reported with Education and Other. Group Nine Transaction On December 2, 2016, the Company recorded a pre-tax gain of $50 million upon disposition of its digital network Seeker and production studio SourceFed, following its contribution of the businesses and $100 million in cash for the formation of a new joint venture, Group Nine Media, Inc. ("Group Nine Media"), on December 2, 2016 ("Group Nine Transaction"). Group Nine Media includes Thrillist Media Group, NowThis Media and TheDodo.com. As a result of the transaction, Discovery obtained a 39% ownership interest in the preferred stock of Group Nine Media, which is accounted for under the cost method of accounting. (See Note 3.) The gain on contribution of the digital networks business included the disposition of $32 million in net assets, including $22 million of goodwill allocated to the transaction based on the relative fair values of the digital networks business disposed of and the portion of the U.S. Networks reporting unit that was retained. Radio On June 30, 2015, Discovery sold its radio business in the Nordics to Bauer Media Group ("Bauer") for total consideration, net of cash disposed, of €72 million ($80 million), which included €54 million ($61 million) in cash and €18 million ($19 million) of contingent consideration. The cumulative gain on the disposal is $1 million. Based on the final resolution and receipt of contingent consideration payable, Discovery recorded a pre-tax gain of $13 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016. The Company had previously recorded a $12 million loss including estimated contingent consideration as disclosed for the quarter ended December 31, 2015. The Company determined that the disposals noted above did not meet the definition of discontinued operations, because the dispositions do not represent strategic shifts that have a significant impact on the Company's operations and consolidated financial results.

DISPOSITIONS

Acquisitions

Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. ("Scripps")

On July 31, 2017, Discovery announced that it has signed an agreement for Discovery to acquire Scripps in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at $14.6 billion, or $90.00 per share. The transaction is expected to close by early 2018.

Scripps shareholders will receive $90.00 per share, comprised of $63.00 per share in cash and $27.00 per share in Discovery's Series C common stock based on Discovery’s July 21, 2017 closing price. The stock portion will be subject to a collar based on the volume weighted average price of Discovery's Series C common stock over the 15 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to closing (the “Average Discovery Price”). Scripps shareholders will receive 1.2096 shares of Discovery's Series C common stock if the Average Discovery Price is below $22.32, and 0.9408 shares of Discovery's Series C common stock if the Average Discovery Price is above $28.70. If the Average Discovery Price is greater than or equal to $22.32 but less than or equal to $28.70, Scripps shareholders will receive a number of shares between 1.2096 and 0.9408 equal to $27.00 in value. If the Average Discovery Price is between $22.32 and $25.51, Discovery has the option to pay additional cash instead of issuing more shares. Scripps shareholders will have the option to elect to receive their consideration in cash, stock or the mixture described above, subject to pro rata cut backs to the extent cash or stock is oversubscribed. Post-closing, Scripps’ shareholders will own approximately 20% of Discovery’s fully diluted common shares and Discovery’s shareholders will own approximately 80%. The cash portion of the purchase price will be financed with a combination of new debt and cash on hand. While Discovery expects to put in place financing for the transaction, Discovery also has secured fully committed financing from affiliates of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC to fund the acquisition. The aggregate purchase price includes an assumption of Scripps’ net debt of approximately $2.7 billion. The transaction is subject to approval by Discovery and Scripps’ shareholders, regulatory approvals, and other customary closing conditions.

John C. Malone, Advance/Newhouse Programming Partnership (“Advance/Newhouse”) and members of the Scripps family have entered into voting agreements to vote in favor of the transaction. In addition, Advance/Newhouse has provided its consent, in its capacity as the holder of Discovery’s outstanding shares of Series A preferred stock, for Discovery to enter into the merger agreement and consummate the merger. In connection with this consent, Discovery and Advance/Newhouse have entered into an exchange agreement pursuant to which Advance/Newhouse will exchange all of its shares of Series A and Series C preferred stock of Discovery for shares of newly designated Series A-1 and Series C-1 preferred stock of Discovery. The exchange transaction will not change the aggregate number of shares of Discovery’s Series A common stock and Series C common stock that are beneficially owned by Advance/Newhouse or change voting rights or liquidation preferences afforded to Advance/Newhouse.

Dispositions

Raw and Betty Studios, LLC.

On April 28, 2017, the Company sold Raw and Betty to All3Media. All3Media is a U.K. based television, film and digital production and distribution company. The Company owns 50% of All3Media and accounts for its investment in All3Media under the equity method of accounting. The Company recorded a loss of $4 million for the disposition of these businesses for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017. The loss on disposition of Raw and Betty included $38 million in net assets, including $30 million of goodwill. The impact to the Company's income before income taxes for Raw and Betty through the date of sale were losses of $3 million and $4 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, respectively, and income of $1 million and $3 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, respectively. Raw and Betty were components of the studios operating segment reported with Education and Other.

Group Nine Transaction

On December 2, 2016, the Company recorded a pre-tax gain of $50 million upon disposition of its digital network Seeker and production studio SourceFed, following its contribution of the businesses and $100 million in cash for the formation of a new joint venture, Group Nine Media, Inc. ("Group Nine Media"), on December 2, 2016 ("Group Nine Transaction"). Group Nine Media includes Thrillist Media Group, NowThis Media and TheDodo.com. As a result of the transaction, Discovery obtained a 39% ownership interest in the preferred stock of Group Nine Media, which is accounted for under the cost method of accounting. (See Note 3.) The gain on contribution of the digital networks business included the disposition of $32 million in net assets, including $22 million of goodwill allocated to the transaction based on the relative fair values of the digital networks business disposed of and the portion of the U.S. Networks reporting unit that was retained.

Radio

On June 30, 2015, Discovery sold its radio business in the Nordics to Bauer Media Group ("Bauer") for total consideration, net of cash disposed, of €72 million ($80 million), which included €54 million ($61 million) in cash and €18 million ($19 million) of contingent consideration. The cumulative gain on the disposal is $1 million. Based on the final resolution and receipt of contingent consideration payable, Discovery recorded a pre-tax gain of $13 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016. The Company had previously recorded a $12 million loss including estimated contingent consideration as disclosed for the quarter ended December 31, 2015.

The Company determined that the disposals noted above did not meet the definition of discontinued operations, because the dispositions do not represent strategic shifts that have a significant impact on the Company's operations and consolidated financial results.