Segment and Revenue Information (Operating Income (Loss)) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	$ 1,228	$ 772
Restructuring and other corporate matters	(114)	(9)
Gain on sale of assets	549	0
Interest expense	(117)	(118)
Interest income	14	17
Other items, net	(21)	(11)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in earnings (loss) of investee companies	1,104	660
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	496	(135)
Equity in loss of investee companies, net of tax	(17)	(14)
Net earnings	1,583	511
Operating Segments [Member] | Entertainment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	530	486
Operating Segments [Member] | Cable Networks [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	175	236
Operating Segments [Member] | Publishing [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	17	16
Operating Segments [Member] | Local Media [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	138	118
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	(67)	(75)
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring and other corporate matters	(114)	(9)
Gain on sale of assets	$ 549	$ 0