v3.19.3.a.u2
Segment Information (Reconciliation of Revenue from Segments to Consolidated) (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
 [1],[2]
Sep. 30, 2019
 [1]
Jun. 30, 2019
 [1]
Mar. 31, 2019
 [1]
Dec. 31, 2018
 [1]
Sep. 30, 2018
 [1]
Jun. 30, 2018
 [1]
Mar. 31, 2018
 [1]
Sep. 30, 2017
Jun. 30, 2017
Mar. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2019
Dec. 31, 2018
Dec. 31, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                            
Revenues $ 46,821 $ 44,588 $ 44,957 $ 44,827 $ 47,993 $ 45,739 $ 38,986 $ 38,038 $ 45,739 $ 38,986 $ 38,038 $ 181,193 $ 170,756 $ 160,546
Operations and Support Expenses                       125,021 116,230 116,189
EBITDA                       56,172 54,526 44,357
Depreciation and Amortization                       28,217 28,430 24,387
Operating Income (Loss) $ 5,321 $ 7,901 $ 7,500 $ 7,233 $ 6,160 $ 7,269 $ 6,466 $ 6,201 $ 7,269 $ 6,466 $ 6,201 27,955 26,096 19,970
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates                       (6) 48 128
Segment Contribution                       18,468 24,873 15,139
Operating Segments [Member]                            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                            
Revenues                       184,843 172,054 159,529
Operations and Support Expenses                       122,706 113,843 107,569
EBITDA                       62,137 58,211 51,960
Depreciation and Amortization                       20,087 19,844 19,532
Operating Income (Loss)                       42,050 38,367 32,428
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates                       189 59 58
Segment Contribution                       42,239 38,426 32,486
Eliminations and consolidations [Member]                            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                            
Revenues                       (5,253) (3,399) (1,183)
Operations and Support Expenses                       (3,735) (1,947) 31
EBITDA                       (1,518) (1,452) (1,214)
Depreciation and Amortization                       (2) (1) 0
Operating Income (Loss)                       (1,516) (1,451) (1,214)
Certain Significant Items [Member]                            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                            
Revenues                       0 0 (243)
Operations and Support Expenses                       2,082 899 3,880
EBITDA                       (2,082) (899) (4,123)
Depreciation and Amortization                       43 26 33
Operating Income (Loss)                       (2,125) (925) (4,156)
Communications [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]                            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                            
Revenues                       142,359 143,721 149,457
Operations and Support Expenses                       91,800 93,321 99,661
EBITDA                       50,559 50,400 49,796
Depreciation and Amortization                       18,329 18,292 18,308
Operating Income (Loss)                       32,230 32,108 31,488
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates                       0 0 0
Segment Contribution                       32,230 32,108 31,488
Communications [Member] | Mobility [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]                            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                            
Revenues                       71,056 70,521 70,259
Operations and Support Expenses                       40,681 40,690 42,317
EBITDA                       30,375 29,831 27,942
Depreciation and Amortization                       8,054 8,263 7,931
Operating Income (Loss)                       22,321 21,568 20,011
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates                       0 0 0
Segment Contribution                       22,321 21,568 20,011
Communications [Member] | Entertainment Group [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]                            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                            
Revenues                       45,126 46,460 49,995
Operations and Support Expenses                       35,028 36,430 38,903
EBITDA                       10,098 10,030 11,092
Depreciation and Amortization                       5,276 5,315 5,621
Operating Income (Loss)                       4,822 4,715 5,471
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates                       0 0 0
Segment Contribution                       4,822 4,715 5,471
Communications [Member] | Business Wireline [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]                            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                            
Revenues                       26,177 26,740 29,203
Operations and Support Expenses                       16,091 16,201 18,441
EBITDA                       10,086 10,539 10,762
Depreciation and Amortization                       4,999 4,714 4,756
Operating Income (Loss)                       5,087 5,825 6,006
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates                       0 0 0
Segment Contribution                       5,087 5,825 6,006
WarnerMedia [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]                            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                            
Revenues                       33,499 18,941 430
Operations and Support Expenses                       23,797 12,966 335
EBITDA                       9,702 5,975 95
Depreciation and Amortization                       538 305 4
Operating Income (Loss)                       9,164 5,670 91
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates                       162 25 (29)
Segment Contribution                       9,326 5,695 62
WarnerMedia [Member] | Turner [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]                            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                            
Revenues                       13,122 6,979 430
Operations and Support Expenses                       7,740 3,794 331
EBITDA                       5,382 3,185 99
Depreciation and Amortization                       235 131 4
Operating Income (Loss)                       5,147 3,054 95
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates                       52 54 45
Segment Contribution                       5,199 3,108 140
WarnerMedia [Member] | Home Box Office [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]                            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                            
Revenues                       6,749 3,598 0
Operations and Support Expenses                       4,312 2,187 0
EBITDA                       2,437 1,411 0
Depreciation and Amortization                       102 56 0
Operating Income (Loss)                       2,335 1,355 0
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates                       30 29 0
Segment Contribution                       2,365 1,384 0
WarnerMedia [Member] | Warner Bros. [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]                            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                            
Revenues                       14,358 8,703 0
Operations and Support Expenses                       11,816 7,130 0
EBITDA                       2,542 1,573 0
Depreciation and Amortization                       162 96 0
Operating Income (Loss)                       2,380 1,477 0
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates                       (30) (28) 0
Segment Contribution                       2,350 1,449 0
WarnerMedia [Member] | Other Media Revenues [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]                            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                            
Revenues                       (730) (339) 0
Operations and Support Expenses                       (71) (145) 4
EBITDA                       (659) (194) (4)
Depreciation and Amortization                       39 22 0
Operating Income (Loss)                       (698) (216) (4)
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates                       110 (30) (74)
Segment Contribution                       (588) (246) (78)
Latin America [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]                            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                            
Revenues                       6,963 7,652 8,269
Operations and Support Expenses                       6,463 7,158 7,404
EBITDA                       500 494 865
Depreciation and Amortization                       1,162 1,238 1,218
Operating Income (Loss)                       (662) (744) (353)
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates                       27 34 87
Segment Contribution                       (635) (710) (266)
Latin America [Member] | Vrio [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]                            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                            
Revenues                       4,094 4,784 5,456
Operations and Support Expenses                       3,378 3,743 4,172
EBITDA                       716 1,041 1,284
Depreciation and Amortization                       660 728 849
Operating Income (Loss)                       56 313 435
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates                       27 34 87
Segment Contribution                       83 347 522
Latin America [Member] | Mexico [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]                            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                            
Revenues                       2,869 2,868 2,813
Operations and Support Expenses                       3,085 3,415 3,232
EBITDA                       (216) (547) (419)
Depreciation and Amortization                       502 510 369
Operating Income (Loss)                       (718) (1,057) (788)
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates                       0 0 0
Segment Contribution                       (718) (1,057) (788)
Xandr [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]                            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                            
Revenues                       2,022 1,740 1,373
Operations and Support Expenses                       646 398 169
EBITDA                       1,376 1,342 1,204
Depreciation and Amortization                       58 9 2
Operating Income (Loss)                       1,318 1,333 1,202
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates                       0 0 0
Segment Contribution                       1,318 1,333 1,202
Corporate [Member]                            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                            
Revenues                       1,603 2,101  
Corporate [Member] | Consolidation [Member] | Acquisition-related Costs [Member]                            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                            
Revenues                       (72) (49) 0
Operations and Support Expenses                       960 1,185 798
EBITDA                       (1,032) (1,234) (798)
Depreciation and Amortization                       7,460 6,931 4,608
Operating Income (Loss)                       (8,492) (8,165) (5,406)
Corporate [Member] | Certain Significant Items [Member]                            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                            
Revenues                       1,675 2,150 2,443
Operations and Support Expenses                       3,008 2,250 3,911
EBITDA                       (1,333) (100) (1,468)
Depreciation and Amortization                       629 1,630 214
Operating Income (Loss)                       $ (1,962) $ (1,730) $ (1,682)
[1] Includes actuarial gains and losses on pension and postretirement benefit plans (Note 15).
[2] Includes an asset abandonment charge (Note 7).