Segment Information (Tables)
   | 
12 Months Ended | 
Dec. 31, 2019  | 
| Segment Information | 
 
 | 
| Schedule of performance measures | 
 Performance Measures 
  | 
  | 
  | 
  | 
  | 
  | 
  | 
  | 
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  | 
  | 
  | 
  | 
  | 
 
  | 
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Years ended December 31,  | 
   | 
 
  | 
  | 
2019  | 
  | 
2018  | 
  | 
2017  | 
   | 
 
  | 
  | 
  | 
  | 
  | 
Adjusted  | 
  | 
  | 
  | 
Adjusted  | 
  | 
  | 
  | 
Adjusted  | 
   | 
 
  | 
  | 
Revenue  | 
  | 
OIBDA  | 
  | 
Revenue  | 
  | 
OIBDA  | 
  | 
Revenue  | 
  | 
OIBDA  | 
   | 
 
  | 
  | 
amounts in thousands  | 
   | 
 
Skyhook   | 
      | 
$  | 
 14,859  | 
      | 
 (4,704)  | 
      | 
 22,256  | 
      | 
 3,161  | 
      | 
 13,092  | 
      | 
 (9,496)  | 
  | 
 
Charter   | 
  | 
   | 
 45,764,000  | 
   | 
 16,752,000  | 
   | 
 43,634,000  | 
   | 
 15,824,000  | 
   | 
 41,581,000  | 
   | 
 14,955,000  | 
  | 
 
Corporate and other  | 
  | 
   | 
 —  | 
   | 
 (12,187)  | 
   | 
—  | 
   | 
 (6,689)  | 
   | 
—  | 
   | 
 (6,920)  | 
  | 
 
  | 
  | 
   | 
 45,778,859  | 
   | 
 16,735,109  | 
   | 
 43,656,256  | 
   | 
 15,820,472  | 
   | 
 41,594,092  | 
   | 
 14,938,584  | 
  | 
 
Eliminate equity method affiliate  | 
  | 
   | 
 (45,764,000)  | 
   | 
 (16,752,000)  | 
   | 
 (43,634,000)  | 
   | 
 (15,824,000)  | 
   | 
 (41,581,000)  | 
   | 
 (14,955,000)  | 
  | 
 
Consolidated Liberty Broadband  | 
  | 
$  | 
 14,859  | 
   | 
 (16,891)  | 
   | 
 22,256  | 
   | 
 (3,528)  | 
   | 
 13,092  | 
   | 
 (16,416)  | 
  | 
 
 
 
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| Schedule of segment reporting information | 
 Other Information 
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December 31, 2019  | 
  | 
December 31, 2018  | 
   | 
 
  | 
  | 
Total  | 
  | 
Investments  | 
  | 
Capital  | 
  | 
Total  | 
  | 
Investments  | 
  | 
Capital  | 
   | 
 
  | 
  | 
assets  | 
  | 
in affiliates  | 
  | 
expenditures  | 
  | 
assets  | 
  | 
in affiliates  | 
  | 
expenditures  | 
   | 
 
  | 
  | 
amounts in thousands  | 
   | 
 
Skyhook   | 
      | 
$  | 
 18,145  | 
      | 
 —  | 
      | 
 500  | 
      | 
 21,763  | 
      | 
 —  | 
      | 
 41  | 
  | 
 
Charter  | 
  | 
   | 
 148,188,000  | 
   | 
 —  | 
   | 
 7,195,000  | 
   | 
 146,130,000  | 
   | 
 —  | 
   | 
 9,125,000  | 
  | 
 
Corporate and other  | 
  | 
   | 
 12,238,197  | 
   | 
 12,194,674  | 
   | 
 —  | 
   | 
 12,076,674  | 
   | 
 12,004,376  | 
   | 
 —  | 
  | 
 
  | 
  | 
   | 
 160,444,342  | 
   | 
 12,194,674  | 
   | 
 7,195,500  | 
   | 
 158,228,437  | 
   | 
 12,004,376  | 
   | 
 9,125,041  | 
  | 
 
Eliminate equity method affiliate  | 
  | 
   | 
 (148,188,000)  | 
   | 
 —  | 
   | 
 (7,195,000)  | 
   | 
 (146,130,000)  | 
   | 
 —  | 
   | 
 (9,125,000)  | 
  | 
 
Consolidated Liberty Broadband  | 
  | 
$  | 
 12,256,342  | 
   | 
 12,194,674  | 
   | 
 500  | 
   | 
 12,098,437  | 
   | 
 12,004,376  | 
   | 
 41  | 
  | 
 
 
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| Schedule of revenue by geographic area | 
  
  | 
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  | 
  | 
Years ended December 31,  | 
   | 
 
  | 
  | 
2019  | 
  | 
2018  | 
  | 
2017  | 
   | 
 
  | 
  | 
amounts in thousands  | 
   | 
 
United States  | 
      | 
$  | 
 12,507  | 
      | 
 19,946  | 
      | 
 10,315  | 
  | 
 
Other countries  | 
  | 
   | 
 2,352  | 
   | 
 2,310  | 
   | 
 2,777  | 
  | 
 
  | 
  | 
$  | 
 14,859  | 
   | 
 22,256  | 
   | 
 13,092  | 
  | 
 
 
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| Schedule of reconciliation of segment Adjusted OIBDA to earnings (loss) before income taxes | 
  
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  | 
  | 
Years ended December 31,  | 
   | 
 
  | 
  | 
2019  | 
  | 
2018  | 
  | 
2017  | 
   | 
 
  | 
  | 
amounts in thousands  | 
   | 
 
Consolidated segment Adjusted OIBDA  | 
      | 
$  | 
 (16,891)  | 
      | 
 (3,528)  | 
      | 
 (16,416)  | 
  | 
 
Stock-based compensation  | 
  | 
   | 
 (10,511)  | 
   | 
 (5,707)  | 
   | 
 (5,292)  | 
  | 
 
Depreciation and amortization  | 
  | 
   | 
 (1,875)  | 
   | 
 (2,779)  | 
   | 
 (3,770)  | 
  | 
 
Operating income (loss)   | 
  | 
  | 
 (29,277)  | 
  | 
 (12,014)  | 
  | 
 (25,478)  | 
  | 
 
Interest expense  | 
  | 
  | 
 (25,166)  | 
  | 
 (23,302)  | 
  | 
 (19,570)  | 
  | 
 
Share of earnings (loss) of affiliates, net  | 
  | 
   | 
 286,401  | 
   | 
 166,146  | 
   | 
 2,508,991  | 
  | 
 
Gain (loss) on dilution of investment in affiliate  | 
  | 
   | 
 (79,329)  | 
   | 
 (43,575)  | 
   | 
 (17,872)  | 
  | 
 
Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments, net  | 
  | 
   | 
 1,170  | 
   | 
 3,659  | 
   | 
 3,098  | 
  | 
 
Other, net  | 
  | 
   | 
 1,359  | 
   | 
 963  | 
   | 
 1,431  | 
  | 
 
Earnings (loss) before income taxes  | 
  | 
$  | 
 155,158  | 
   | 
 91,877  | 
   | 
 2,450,600  | 
  | 
 
 
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