Bank Financing and Debt (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended								9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 Senior Debt [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Senior Debt [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Senior Notes 2017 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Senior Notes 2042 [Member]	Feb. 29, 2012 Senior Notes 2022 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Debentures 2012 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Senior Notes 2012 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Senior Notes 2014 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Senior Notes 2056 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Consolidated Leverage Ratio [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Commercial Paper [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Continuing Operations [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Continuing Operations [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Discontinued Operations [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Discontinued Operations [Member]
Bank Financing And Debt Details [Abstract]
Commercial paper	$ 341,000,000		$ 341,000,000		$ 0
Senior debt (1.95% - 8.875% due 2014 - 2042)	5,861,000,000		5,861,000,000		5,863,000,000
Obligations under capital leases	117,000,000		117,000,000		72,000,000
Less current portion of long-term debt	21,000,000		21,000,000		18,000,000
Total long-term debt from continuing operations, net of current portion	5,944,000,000		5,944,000,000		5,904,000,000
Total Debt [Line Items]
Total debt	6,319,000,000		6,319,000,000		5,935,000,000														6,306,000,000	5,922,000,000	13,000,000	13,000,000
Debt Parentheticals [Abstract]
Minimum interest rate of senior debt			1.95%
Maximum interest rate of senior debt			8.875%
Net unamortized discount on senior debt	14,000,000		14,000,000		16,000,000
Increase in carrying value of debt relating to previously settled fair value hedges	19,000,000		19,000,000		23,000,000
Senior debt not guaranteed by CBS Operations Inc.	52,000,000		52,000,000
Debt due within one year reflecting intent and ability to refinance on a long-term basis			99,000,000
Net loss on early extinguishment of debt	0	(57,000,000)	0	(32,000,000)
Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility																	2,000,000,000	2,000,000,000
Availability under the credit facility																	1,990,000,000
Weighted average interest rate																		0.30%
Debt Covenants [Line Items]
Credit Facility covenant description															4.5x
Credit Facility covenant compliance																1.6x
Debt Instruments [Line Items]
Stated interest rate								1.95%	4.85%	3.375%	8.625%	5.625%	8.20%	6.75%
Debt redemptions											152,000,000	338,000,000	400,000,000	700,000,000
Face value of debt						$ 5,860,000,000	$ 5,860,000,000	$ 400,000,000	$ 500,000,000	$ 700,000,000