Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Investments in Affiliates Accounted for Using the Equity Method (Details)

v3.3.0.814
Investments in Affiliates Accounted for Using the Equity Method (Details) - USD ($)
 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
May. 26, 2015
Apr. 24, 2015
Mar. 31, 2015
Jan. 09, 2015
Nov. 30, 2014
May. 31, 2014
May. 31, 2013
Sep. 30, 2015
Sep. 30, 2014
Sep. 30, 2015
Sep. 30, 2014
Dec. 31, 2014
Investments in affiliates accounted for using the Equity Method                          
Cash paid to acquire equity method investments                       $ 124,492,000  
Cash received from rights offering   $ 4,400,000,000     $ 697,300,000           $ 697,309,000    
Share Price   $ 56.23                      
Potential reduction of subscription rights   25.00%                      
Charter consolidated statement of operations                          
Debt outstanding $ 372,000,000               $ 372,000,000   372,000,000   $ 372,000,000
Carrying value of equity method investment 2,432,487,000               2,432,487,000   2,432,487,000   2,498,804,000
Share of equity investment income (losses)                 (3,999,000) $ (34,542,000) (65,747,000) (95,968,000)  
(Gain) loss on dilution of investment in affiliate                 (851,000) (10,953,000) (2,113,000) (61,162,000)  
Charter                          
Investments in affiliates accounted for using the Equity Method                          
Cash paid to exercise warrants           $ 52,000,000              
Charter consolidated balance sheet                          
Current assets 406,000,000               406,000,000   406,000,000   371,000,000
Property and equipment, net 8,281,000,000               8,281,000,000   8,281,000,000   8,373,000,000
Goodwill 1,168,000,000               1,168,000,000   1,168,000,000   1,168,000,000
Intangible assets, net 6,922,000,000               6,922,000,000   6,922,000,000   7,111,000,000
Restricted cash and cash equivalents 19,626,000,000               19,626,000,000   19,626,000,000   7,111,000,000
Other assets 470,000,000               470,000,000   470,000,000   416,000,000
Total assets 36,873,000,000               36,873,000,000   36,873,000,000   24,550,000,000
Current liabilities 1,829,000,000               1,829,000,000   1,829,000,000   1,635,000,000
Deferred income taxes 1,616,000,000               1,616,000,000   1,616,000,000   1,674,000,000
Long-term debt 33,281,000,000               33,281,000,000   33,281,000,000   21,023,000,000
Other liabilities 87,000,000               87,000,000   87,000,000   72,000,000
Equity 60,000,000               60,000,000   60,000,000   146,000,000
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity 36,873,000,000               36,873,000,000   36,873,000,000   $ 24,550,000,000
Charter consolidated statement of operations                          
Revenue                 2,450,000,000 2,287,000,000 7,242,000,000 6,748,000,000  
Operating costs and expenses                 (1,620,000,000) (1,518,000,000) (4,802,000,000) (4,444,000,000)  
Depreciation and amortization                 (538,000,000) (535,000,000) (1,580,000,000) (1,568,000,000)  
Other operating expenses                 (19,000,000) (16,000,000) (69,000,000) (42,000,000)  
Total operating costs and expenses                 (2,177,000,000) (2,069,000,000) (6,451,000,000) (6,054,000,000)  
Operating income                 273,000,000 218,000,000 791,000,000 694,000,000  
Interest expense, net                 (353,000,000) (217,000,000) (871,000,000) (638,000,000)  
Other income (expense), net                 (8,000,000) 5,000,000 (141,000,000) (3,000,000)  
Income tax benefit (expense), net                 142,000,000 (59,000,000) 72,000,000 (188,000,000)  
Net income (loss)                 54,000,000 (53,000,000) (149,000,000) (135,000,000)  
Carrying value of equity method investment $ 2,432,000,000               $ 2,432,000,000   $ 2,432,000,000    
Ownership percentage 26.00%               26.00%   26.00%    
Excess basis amortization of debt and intangible assets                 $ (17,800,000) 21,100,000 $ 27,600,000 62,000,000  
(Gain) loss on dilution of investment in affiliate                 851,000 $ 11,000,000 2,100,000 $ 61,200,000  
Excess basis allocation within memo accounts                          
Property and equipment $ 375,000,000               375,000,000   375,000,000    
Customer relationships 591,000,000               591,000,000   591,000,000    
Franchise fees 1,451,000,000               1,451,000,000   1,451,000,000    
Trademarks 36,000,000               36,000,000   36,000,000    
Goodwill 944,000,000               944,000,000   944,000,000    
Debt (133,000,000)               (133,000,000)   (133,000,000)    
Deferred income tax liability (847,000,000)               (847,000,000)   (847,000,000)    
Total 2,417,000,000               2,417,000,000   $ 2,417,000,000    
Useful lives of property and equipment                     7 years    
Charter | Customer relationships                          
Excess basis allocation within memo accounts                          
Useful lives of customer relationships                     13 years    
Bright House                          
Excess basis allocation within memo accounts                          
Negotiation period     30 days                    
New Charter [Member]                          
Investments in affiliates accounted for using the Equity Method                          
Purchase price (in dollars per share)   $ 173.00                      
Cash paid to acquire equity method investments   $ 700,000,000                      
Proxy voting period   5 years                      
Maximum percentage of New Charter shares that may be voted by proxy   $ 7                      
Charter consolidated statement of operations                          
Ownership percentage   25.01%                      
Time Warner Cable Merger [Member] | Charter                          
Investments in affiliates accounted for using the Equity Method                          
Purchase price (in dollars per share)   $ 176.95                      
Cash paid to acquire equity method investments   $ 4,300,000,000                      
Charter acquisition of Bright House [Member] | Charter                          
Investments in affiliates accounted for using the Equity Method                          
Purchase price (in dollars per share)   $ 173.00                      
Cash paid to acquire equity method investments   $ 700,000,000                      
Liberty | Charter                          
Investments in affiliates accounted for using the Equity Method                          
Number of shares of common shares acquired             897,000 26,900,000          
Number of warrants acquired               1,100,000          
Purchase price of equity method investments             $ 124,500,000 $ 2,600,000,000          
Beneficial ownership percentage               27.00%          
Purchase price (in dollars per share)               $ 95.50          
Cash paid to acquire equity method investments               $ 1,200,000,000          
Charter consolidated statement of operations                          
Market value of equity method investment $ 5,071,000,000               $ 5,071,000,000   $ 5,071,000,000    
Excess basis allocation within memo accounts                          
Total               $ 2,532,000,000          
New Charter [Member] | Bright House                          
Excess basis allocation within memo accounts                          
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross       $ 10,400,000,000                  
Margin Loan Agreements | Charter                          
Investments in affiliates accounted for using the Equity Method                          
Number of common shares pledged as collateral 7,000,000