The portion of other comprehensive income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest.

No definition available.

Name:	disca_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncome
Namespace Prefix:	disca_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount after tax of increase (decrease) to equity or (increase) decrease to net assets, resulting from the cumulative effect adjustment of a new accounting principle applied in the period of adoption.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CumulativeEffectOfNewAccountingPrincipleInPeriodOfAdoption
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount after tax, before reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss).

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114867106&loc=SL7669686-108580

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 55
-Paragraph 15
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109228884&loc=d3e1436-108581

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount after tax and reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114867106&loc=SL7669619-108580

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109259400&loc=d3e21463-112644

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 55
-Paragraph 15
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109228884&loc=d3e1436-108581

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1B
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114867106&loc=SL7669625-108580

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount after tax of reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 17B
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114867106&loc=SL34724394-108580

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114867106&loc=SL7669686-108580

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 55
-Paragraph 15
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109228884&loc=d3e1436-108581

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTaxAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of stockholders' equity (deficit), net of receivables from officers, directors, owners, and affiliates of the entity, attributable to both the parent and noncontrolling interests. Amount excludes temporary equity. Alternate caption for the concept is permanent equity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 16
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=108774443&loc=SL4568740-111683

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 55
-Paragraph 4I
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84234705&loc=SL4590271-111686

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=108774443&loc=SL4568447-111683

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis=us-gaap_AccountingStandardsUpdate201601Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis=us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis=us-gaap_AccumulatedForeignCurrencyAdjustmentIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis=us-gaap_AccumulatedNetInvestmentGainLossIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis=us-gaap_AccumulatedGainLossCashFlowHedgeIncludingNoncontrollingInterestMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Equity (Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Jan. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax
Beginning balance			$ 4,610
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	$ 35	$ 46	(149)	$ 180
Reclassifications from accumulated other comprehensive loss to net income	(9)	(15)	(4)	(3)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	26	31	(153)	177
Other comprehensive income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests				(1)
Ending balance	9,819		9,819
Accounting Standards Update 2016-01
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax
Reclassifications to retained earnings resulting from the adoption of ASU 2016-01						$ (26)
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax
Beginning balance	(790)	(617)	(585)	(762)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	26	31	(153)	177
Ending balance	(764)	(586)	(764)	(586)
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest \| Accounting Standards Update 2016-01
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax
Reclassifications to retained earnings resulting from the adoption of ASU 2016-01					$ 26
Currency Translation
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax
Beginning balance	(818)	(639)	(615)	(797)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	34	34	(173)	181
Reclassifications from accumulated other comprehensive loss to net income	0	(1)	4	11
Other comprehensive income (loss)	34	33	(169)	192
Other comprehensive income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests				(1)
Ending balance	(784)	(606)	(784)	(606)
Currency Translation \| Accounting Standards Update 2016-01
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax
Reclassifications to retained earnings resulting from the adoption of ASU 2016-01						0
AFS
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax
Beginning balance	0	15	26	11
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	0	20	0	28
Reclassifications from accumulated other comprehensive loss to net income	0	(10)	0	(14)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	10	0	14
Other comprehensive income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests				0
Ending balance	0	25	0	25
AFS \| Accounting Standards Update 2016-01
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax
Reclassifications to retained earnings resulting from the adoption of ASU 2016-01						(26)
Derivatives
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax
Beginning balance	28	7	4	24
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	1	(8)	24	(29)
Reclassifications from accumulated other comprehensive loss to net income	(9)	(4)	(8)	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(8)	(12)	16	(29)
Other comprehensive income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests				0
Ending balance	$ 20	$ (5)	$ 20	$ (5)
Derivatives \| Accounting Standards Update 2016-01
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax
Reclassifications to retained earnings resulting from the adoption of ASU 2016-01						$ 0