Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Interest expense	$ (100)	$ (93)
Interest income	7	5
Other items, net	(3)	(23)
Earnings before income taxes and equity in loss of investee companies	725	610
Provision for income taxes	(231)	(203)
Equity in loss of investee companies, net of tax	(21)	(13)
Net earnings (loss)	473	394
Reportable Segments [Line Items]
Revenues	3,849	3,500
Operating income (loss)	821	721
Other operating items, net	9	19
Depreciation and amortization	64	68
Stock-based compensation	43	46
Capital expenditures	38	17
Assets	23,501		$ 23,765
Operating Segments [Member]
Reportable Segments [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	812	702
Operating Segments [Member] | Entertainment Segment [Member]
Reportable Segments [Line Items]
Revenues	2,587	2,261
Operating income (loss)	449	346
Depreciation and amortization	30	32
Stock-based compensation	15	16
Capital expenditures	13	8
Assets	10,888		10,910
Operating Segments [Member] | Cable Networks Segment [Member]
Reportable Segments [Line Items]
Revenues	525	539
Operating income (loss)	228	251
Depreciation and amortization	6	6
Stock-based compensation	3	3
Capital expenditures	2	1
Assets	2,405		2,369
Operating Segments [Member] | Publishing Segment [Member]
Reportable Segments [Line Items]
Revenues	145	145
Operating income (loss)	13	12
Depreciation and amortization	1	1
Stock-based compensation	1	1
Capital expenditures	3	0
Assets	809		880
Operating Segments [Member] | Local Broadcasting Segment [Member]
Reportable Segments [Line Items]
Revenues	649	596
Operating income (loss)	206	161
Depreciation and amortization	19	21
Stock-based compensation	7	7
Capital expenditures	11	7
Assets	9,013		9,105
Corporate [Member]
Reportable Segments [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	(84)	(68)
Depreciation and amortization	8	8
Stock-based compensation	17	19
Capital expenditures	9	1
Assets	361		476
Corporate and Eliminations [Member]
Reportable Segments [Line Items]
Revenues	(57)	(41)
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Reportable Segments [Line Items]
Revenues	(64)	(43)
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Entertainment Segment [Member]
Reportable Segments [Line Items]
Revenues	(61)	(40)
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Local Broadcasting Segment [Member]
Reportable Segments [Line Items]
Revenues	(3)	(3)
Discontinued Operations [Member]
Reportable Segments [Line Items]
Assets	25		$ 25
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Reportable Segments [Line Items]
Other operating items, net	$ 9	$ 19