0001091667-21-000163 | 10-Q | XBRL Viewer | Charter Communications INC MO

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Document And Entity Information	9 Months Ended
Document And Entity Information	Sep. 30, 2021 shares
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2021
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-33664
Entity Registrant Name	Charter Communications, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0001091667
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2021
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	84-1496755
Entity Address, Address Line One	400 Washington Blvd.
Entity Address, City or Town	Stamford
Entity Address, State or Province	CT
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	06902
City Area Code	203
Local Phone Number	905-7801
Title of 12(b) Security	Class A Common Stock $.001 Par Value
Trading Symbol	CHTR
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Class A Common Stock
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	179,291,073
Class B Common Stock
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	1

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 466	$ 1,001
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $182 and $217, respectively	2,645	2,539
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	387	369
Total current assets	3,498	3,909
INVESTMENT IN CABLE PROPERTIES:
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $33,340 and $31,639, respectively	34,179	34,357
Customer relationships, net	4,419	5,615
Franchises	67,322	67,322
Goodwill	29,554	29,554
Total investment in cable properties, net	135,474	136,848
OTHER NONCURRENT ASSETS	3,523	3,449
Total assets	142,495	144,206
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	9,241	8,867
Current portion of long-term debt	2,996	1,008
Total current liabilities	12,237	9,875
LONG-TERM DEBT	85,376	81,744
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES	18,980	18,108
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES	4,376	4,198
Preferred stock; $0.001 par value; 250 million shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding	0	0
Additional paid-in capital	30,015	29,000
Accumulated deficit	(2,151)	(5,195)
Treasury stock at cost; 16,627,760 and no shares, respectively	(10,834)	0
Total Charter shareholders’ equity	17,030	23,805
Noncontrolling interests	4,496	6,476
Total shareholders’ equity	21,526	30,281
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	142,495	144,206
Class A Common Stock
Common stock	0	0
Class B Common Stock
Common stock	$ 0	$ 0

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (PARENTHETICALS) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
CURRENT ASSETS:
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 182	$ 217
INVESTMENT IN CABLE PROPERTIES:
Property, plant and equipment, accumulated depreciation	$ 33,340	$ 31,639
Preferred stock, par value (dollars per share)	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Preferred stock, shares authorized (shares)	250,000,000	250,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued (shares)	0	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (shares)	0	0
Treasury stock, shares (shares)	16,627,760	0
Class A Common Stock
Common stock, par value (dollars per share)	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common stock, shares authorized (shares)	900,000,000	900,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (shares)	195,918,833	193,730,992
Common stock, shares outstanding (shares)	179,291,073	193,730,992
Class B Common Stock
Common stock, par value (dollars per share)	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common stock, shares authorized (shares)	1,000	1,000
Common stock, shares issued (shares)	1	1
Common stock, shares outstanding (shares)	1	1

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Income Statement [Abstract]
REVENUES	$ 13,146	$ 12,039	$ 38,470	$ 35,473
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Operating costs and expenses (exclusive of items shown separately below)	7,958	7,483	23,551	22,212
Depreciation and amortization	2,270	2,370	7,065	7,295
Other operating (income) expenses, net	(9)	14	284	23
Total costs and expenses	10,219	9,867	30,900	29,530
Income from operations	2,927	2,172	7,570	5,943
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES):
Interest expense, net	(1,016)	(946)	(3,003)	(2,883)
Other expenses, net	(157)	(117)	(237)	(413)
Total other income (expenses), net	(1,173)	(1,063)	(3,240)	(3,296)
Income before income taxes	1,754	1,109	4,330	2,647
Income tax expense	(347)	(177)	(844)	(372)
Consolidated net income	1,407	932	3,486	2,275
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(190)	(118)	(442)	(299)
Net income attributable to Charter shareholders	$ 1,217	$ 814	$ 3,044	$ 1,976
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO CHARTER SHAREHOLDERS:
Basic (dollars per share)	$ 6.69	$ 4.01	$ 16.33	$ 9.62
Diluted (dollars per share)	$ 6.50	$ 3.90	$ 15.78	$ 9.35
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic (shares)	181,925,180	202,826,502	186,380,681	205,468,736
Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted (shares)	187,166,071	208,722,129	197,316,667	211,399,781

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Common Stock Class A Common Stock	Common Stock Class B Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Treasury Stock	Total Charter Shareholders’ Equity	Noncontrolling Interests
Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 38,811	$ 0	$ 0	$ 31,405	$ 40	$ 0	$ 31,445	$ 7,366
Rollforward of Consolidated Shareholders' Equity:
Consolidated net income	467	0	0	0	396	0	396	71
Stock compensation expense	90	0	0	90	0	0	90	0
Exercise of stock options	93	0	0	93	0	0	93	0
Issuance of equity	23	0	0	23	0	0	23	0
Purchases of treasury stock	(2,352)	0	0	0	0	(2,352)	(2,352)	0
Purchase of noncontrolling interest, net of tax	(344)	0	0	(149)	0	0	(149)	(195)
Change in noncontrolling interest ownership, net of tax	(27)	0	0	82	0	0	82	(109)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(39)	0	0	0	0	0	0	(39)
Balance at Mar. 31, 2020	36,722	0	0	31,544	436	(2,352)	29,628	7,094
Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	38,811	0	0	31,405	40	0	31,445	7,366
Rollforward of Consolidated Shareholders' Equity:
Consolidated net income	2,275
Issuance of equity	23
Purchases of treasury stock	(6,868)
Balance at Sep. 30, 2020	33,712	0	0	31,758	2,016	(6,868)	26,906	6,806
Balance at Mar. 31, 2020	36,722	0	0	31,544	436	(2,352)	29,628	7,094
Rollforward of Consolidated Shareholders' Equity:
Consolidated net income	876	0	0	0	766	0	766	110
Stock compensation expense	90	0	0	90	0	0	90	0
Exercise of stock options	28	0	0	28	0	0	28	0
Purchases of treasury stock	(1,155)	0	0	0	0	(1,155)	(1,155)	0
Purchase of noncontrolling interest, net of tax	(111)	0	0	(42)	0	0	(42)	(69)
Change in noncontrolling interest ownership, net of tax	(11)	0	0	41	0	0	41	(52)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(38)	0	0	0	0	0	0	(38)
Balance at Jun. 30, 2020	36,401	0	0	31,661	1,202	(3,507)	29,356	7,045
Rollforward of Consolidated Shareholders' Equity:
Consolidated net income	932	0	0	0	814	0	814	118
Stock compensation expense	83	0	0	83	0	0	83	0
Exercise of stock options	50	0	0	50	0	0	50	0
Purchases of treasury stock	(3,361)	0	0	0	0	(3,361)	(3,361)	0
Purchase of noncontrolling interest, net of tax	(317)	0	0	(154)	0	0	(154)	(163)
Change in noncontrolling interest ownership, net of tax	(39)	0	0	118	0	0	118	(157)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(37)	0	0	0	0	0	0	(37)
Balance at Sep. 30, 2020	33,712	0	0	31,758	2,016	(6,868)	26,906	6,806
Balance at Dec. 31, 2020	30,281	0	0	29,000	(5,195)	0	23,805	6,476
Rollforward of Consolidated Shareholders' Equity:
Consolidated net income	921	0	0	0	807	0	807	114
Stock compensation expense	134	0	0	134	0	0	134	0
Exercise of stock options	9	0	0	9	0	0	9	0
Purchases of treasury stock	(3,652)	0	0	0	0	(3,652)	(3,652)	0
Purchase of noncontrolling interest, net of tax	(429)	0	0	(237)	0	0	(237)	(192)
Change in noncontrolling interest ownership, net of tax	(44)	0	0	131	0	0	131	(175)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(39)	0	0	0	0	0	0	(39)
Balance at Mar. 31, 2021	27,181	0	0	29,037	(4,388)	(3,652)	20,997	6,184
Balance at Dec. 31, 2020	30,281	0	0	29,000	(5,195)	0	23,805	6,476
Rollforward of Consolidated Shareholders' Equity:
Consolidated net income	3,486
Purchases of treasury stock	(10,834)
Balance at Sep. 30, 2021	21,526	0	0	30,015	(2,151)	(10,834)	17,030	4,496
Balance at Mar. 31, 2021	27,181	0	0	29,037	(4,388)	(3,652)	20,997	6,184
Rollforward of Consolidated Shareholders' Equity:
Consolidated net income	1,158	0	0	0	1,020	0	1,020	138
Stock compensation expense	100	0	0	100	0	0	100	0
Exercise of stock options	17	0	0	17	0	0	17	0
Purchases of treasury stock	(3,516)	0	0	0	0	(3,516)	(3,516)	0
Purchase of noncontrolling interest, net of tax	(492)	0	0	(279)	0	0	(279)	(213)
Change in noncontrolling interest ownership, net of tax	(330)	0	0	1,003	0	0	1,003	(1,333)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(32)	0	0	0	0	0	0	(32)
Balance at Jun. 30, 2021	24,086	0	0	29,878	(3,368)	(7,168)	19,342	4,744
Rollforward of Consolidated Shareholders' Equity:
Consolidated net income	1,407	0	0	0	1,217	0	1,217	190
Stock compensation expense	98	0	0	98	0	0	98	0
Exercise of stock options	17	0	0	17	0	0	17	0
Purchases of treasury stock	(3,666)	0	0	0	0	(3,666)	(3,666)	0
Purchase of noncontrolling interest, net of tax	(345)	0	0	(197)	0	0	(197)	(148)
Change in noncontrolling interest ownership, net of tax	(71)	0	0	219	0	0	219	(290)
Balance at Sep. 30, 2021	$ 21,526	$ 0	$ 0	$ 30,015	$ (2,151)	$ (10,834)	$ 17,030	$ 4,496

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Consolidated net income	$ 3,486	$ 2,275
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	7,065	7,295
Stock compensation expense	332	263
Noncash interest income, net	(20)	(31)
Deferred income taxes	668	252
Other, net	279	379
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and dispositions:
Accounts receivable	(106)	75
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(127)	(156)
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other	436	61
Net cash flows from operating activities	12,013	10,413
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(5,563)	(5,352)
Change in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures	(51)	(70)
Real estate investment through variable interest entity	(128)	(122)
Other, net	(20)	(43)
Net cash flows from investing activities	(5,762)	(5,587)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Borrowings of long-term debt	15,263	10,352
Repayments of long-term debt	(9,651)	(9,711)
Payments for debt issuance costs	(76)	(91)
Issuance of equity	0	23
Purchase of treasury stock	(10,834)	(6,868)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	43	171
Purchase of noncontrolling interest	(1,500)	(884)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(71)	(114)
Borrowings for real estate investments through variable interest entities	128	59
Other, net	(88)	(26)
Net cash flows from financing activities	(6,786)	(7,089)
NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(535)	(2,263)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	1,001	3,549
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	466	1,286
CASH PAID FOR INTEREST	3,038	3,023
CASH PAID FOR TAXES	$ 99	$ 84

Organization and Basis of Presentation (Notes)	9 Months Ended
Organization and Basis of Presentation (Notes)	Sep. 30, 2021
Organization and Basis of Presentation [Abstract]
Organization and Basis of Presentation	Organization and Basis of Presentation Organization Charter Communications, Inc. (together with its controlled subsidiaries, “Charter,” or the “Company”) is a leading broadband connectivity company and cable operator. Over an advanced high-capacity, two-way telecommunications network, the Company offers a full range of state-of-the-art residential and business services including Spectrum Internet, TV, Mobile and Voice. For small and medium-sized companies, Spectrum Business® delivers the same suite of broadband products and services coupled with special features and applications to enhance productivity, while for larger businesses and government entities, Spectrum Enterprise provides highly customized, fiber-based solutions. Spectrum Reach® delivers tailored advertising and production for the modern media landscape. The Company also distributes award-winning news coverage, sports and high-quality original programming to its customers through Spectrum Networks and Spectrum Originals. Charter is a holding company whose principal asset is a controlling equity interest in Charter Communications Holdings, LLC (“Charter Holdings”), an indirect owner of Charter Communications Operating, LLC (“Charter Operating”) under which substantially all of the operations reside. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions among consolidated entities have been eliminated. The Company’s operations are managed and reported to its Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), the Company’s chief operating decision maker, on a consolidated basis. The CEO assesses performance and allocates resources based on the consolidated results of operations. Under this organizational and reporting structure, the Company has one reportable segment. Basis of Presentation The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures typically included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K have been condensed or omitted for this quarterly report. The accompanying consolidated financial statements are unaudited and are subject to review by regulatory authorities. However, in the opinion of management, such financial statements include all adjustments, which consist of only normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the periods presented. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Areas involving significant judgments and estimates include capitalization of labor and overhead costs, impairments of franchises and goodwill, pension benefits and income taxes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform with the 2021 presentation.

Franchises, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Notes)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Franchises, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Indefinite-lived and finite-lived intangible assets consist of the following as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020:


	September 30, 2021						December 31, 2020
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Net Carrying Amount		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Net Carrying Amount
Indefinite-lived intangible assets:
Franchises	$	67,322	$	—	$	67,322	$	67,322	$	—	$	67,322
Goodwill	29,554		—		29,554		29,554		—		29,554
Wireless spectrum licenses	464		—		464		464		—		464
Trademarks	159		—		159		159		—		159
	$	97,499	$	—	$	97,499	$	97,499	$	—	$	97,499

Finite-lived intangible assets:
Customer relationships	$	18,232	$	(13,813)	$	4,419	$	18,230	$	(12,615)	$	5,615
Other intangible assets	420		(187)		233		420		(159)		261
	$	18,652	$	(14,000)	$	4,652	$	18,650	$	(12,774)	$	5,876

Amortization expense related to customer relationships and other intangible assets for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 was $377 million and $1.2 billion, respectively, and $445 million and $1.4 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively.

The Company expects amortization expense on its finite-lived intangible assets will be as follows:


Three months ended December 31, 2021	$	375
2022	1,332
2023	1,075
2024	824
2025	576
Thereafter	470
	$	4,652

Actual amortization expense in future periods could differ from these estimates as a result of new intangible asset acquisitions or divestitures, changes in useful lives, impairments, adoption of new accounting standards and other relevant factors.

Investments (Notes)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Investments [Abstract]

Investments

Real Estate Investments through Variable Interest Entities

In July 2018, the Company entered into a build-to-suit lease arrangement with a single-asset special purpose entity ("SPE Building 1") to build the first building in the building complex for the new Charter headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut. The SPE Building 1 obtained a first-lien mortgage note to finance the construction with fixed monthly payments through July 15, 2035 with a 5.612% coupon interest rate. All payments of the mortgage note are guaranteed by Charter. The initial term of the lease is 15 years which commenced on August 1, 2020, with no termination options. At the end of the lease term there is a mirrored put option for the SPE to sell the property to Charter and call option for Charter to purchase the property for a fixed purchase price.

In April 2020, the Company entered into a build-to-suit lease agreement with a second special purpose entity (“SPE Building 2”) to build the adjoining building and atrium, in the building complex for the new Charter headquarters. Charter does not guarantee the financing for SPE Building 2. The initial term of the lease is 15 years commencing February 26, 2022, with no termination options. At the end of the lease term, there is a put option for the SPE Building 2 to sell the property to Charter for

a fixed price. If SPE Building 2 does not exercise the put option and the Company exercises its first renewal term, there is a call option for Charter to purchase the property for a fixed purchase price in year 3 of the first renewal term.

As the Company has determined that SPE Building 1 and SPE Building 2 (collectively, the "SPEs") are variable interest entities ("VIEs") of which the Company became the primary beneficiary upon the effectiveness of the arrangements in July 2018 and April 2020, respectively, the Company has consolidated the assets and liabilities of the SPEs in its consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 as follows.


	September 30, 2021		December 31, 2020
Assets
Current assets	$	5	$	3
Property, plant and equipment	$	639	$	490
Liabilities
Current liabilities	$	52	$	28
Other long-term liabilities	$	600	$	470

Property, plant and equipment includes land, a parking garage and building construction costs, including the capitalization of qualifying interest. Other long-term liabilities includes mortgage note liabilities and liability-classified noncontrolling interests for the SPEs recorded at amortized cost with accretion towards settlement of the put/call option in the leases. As of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, other long-term liabilities include $509 million and $400 million in SPE mortgage note liability, respectively.

Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities (Notes)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities [Abstract]

Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities consist of the following as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020:


	September 30, 2021		December 31, 2020
Accounts payable – trade	$	686	$	763
Deferred revenue	501		436
Accrued liabilities:
Programming costs	2,106		1,940
Labor	1,235		1,374
Capital expenditures	1,123		1,227
Interest	1,067		1,083
Taxes and regulatory fees	638		555
Property and casualty	491		462
Operating lease liabilities	262		235
Other	1,132		792
	$	9,241	$	8,867

Leases (Notes)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Leases [Abstract]

Operating Leases

LeasesOperating lease expenses were $115 million and $345 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively, and $110 million and $326 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively, inclusive of $34 million and $104 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively, and $34 million and $101 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively, of both short-term lease costs and variable lease costs that were not included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities.

Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities, recorded as operating cash flows in the statements of cash flows, were $244 million and $221 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Operating lease right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease obligations were $271 million and $253 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases is as follows.


	September 30, 2021			December 31, 2020
Operating lease right-of-use assets:
Included within other noncurrent assets	$	1,279		$	1,214

Operating lease liabilities:
Current portion included within accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	262		$	235
Long-term portion included within other long-term liabilities	1,159			1,110
	$	1,421		$	1,345

Weighted average remaining lease term for operating leases	5.9 years			6.4 years
Weighted average discount rate for operating leases	3.5		%	3.9		%

Maturities of operating lease liabilities as of September 30, 2021 are as follows.


Three months ended December 31, 2021	$	83
2022	327
2023	310
2024	261
2025	209
Thereafter	443
Undiscounted lease cash flow commitments	1,633
Reconciling impact from discounting	(212)
Lease liabilities on consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2021	$	1,421

The Company had $63 million of finance lease liabilities recognized in the consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 included within accounts payable and accrued liabilities and other long-term liabilities. The related finance lease right-of-use assets are recorded in property, plant and equipment, net. The Company’s finance leases were not considered material for further supplemental lease disclosures.

Long-Term Debt (Notes)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Long-Term Debt

Long-term debt consists of the following as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020:


	September 30, 2021				December 31, 2020
	Principal Amount		Accreted Value		Principal Amount		Accreted Value
CCO Holdings, LLC:
4.000% senior notes due March 1, 2023	$	500	$	499	$	500	$	498
5.750% senior notes due February 15, 2026	—		—		2,500		2,475
5.500% senior notes due May 1, 2026	750		747		1,500		1,492
5.875% senior notes due May 1, 2027	—		—		800		796
5.125% senior notes due May 1, 2027	3,250		3,228		3,250		3,225


5.000% senior notes due February 1, 2028	2,500	2,474	2,500	2,472
5.375% senior notes due June 1, 2029	1,500	1,501	1,500	1,501
4.750% senior notes due March 1, 2030	3,050	3,042	3,050	3,042
4.500% senior notes due August 15, 2030	2,750	2,750	2,750	2,750
4.250% senior notes due February 1, 2031	3,000	3,002	3,000	3,001
4.500% senior notes due May 1, 2032	2,900	2,927	2,900	2,928
4.500% senior notes due June 1, 2033	1,750	1,728	—	—
4.250% senior notes due January 15, 2034	2,000	1,981	—	—
Charter Communications Operating, LLC:
4.464% senior notes due July 23, 2022	3,000	2,996	3,000	2,992
Senior floating rate notes due February 1, 2024	900	901	900	902
4.500% senior notes due February 1, 2024	1,100	1,096	1,100	1,094
4.908% senior notes due July 23, 2025	4,500	4,479	4,500	4,475
3.750% senior notes due February 15, 2028	1,000	990	1,000	989
4.200% senior notes due March 15, 2028	1,250	1,242	1,250	1,241
5.050% senior notes due March 30, 2029	1,250	1,242	1,250	1,242
2.800% senior notes due April 1, 2031	1,600	1,584	1,600	1,583
2.300% senior notes due February 1, 2032	1,000	992	1,000	991
6.384% senior notes due October 23, 2035	2,000	1,984	2,000	1,983
5.375% senior notes due April 1, 2038	800	787	800	786
3.500% senior notes due June 1, 2041	1,500	1,483	—	—
6.484% senior notes due October 23, 2045	3,500	3,468	3,500	3,468
5.375% senior notes due May 1, 2047	2,500	2,506	2,500	2,506
5.750% senior notes due April 1, 2048	2,450	2,392	2,450	2,392
5.125% senior notes due July 1, 2049	1,250	1,240	1,250	1,240
4.800% senior notes due March 1, 2050	2,800	2,797	2,800	2,797
3.700% senior notes due April 1, 2051	2,050	2,031	2,050	2,030
3.900% senior notes due June 1, 2052	2,400	2,321	—	—
6.834% senior notes due October 23, 2055	500	495	500	495
3.850% senior notes due April 1, 2061	1,850	1,809	1,350	1,339
4.400% senior notes due December 1, 2061	1,400	1,389	—	—
Credit facilities	11,480	11,422	10,150	10,081
Time Warner Cable, LLC:
4.000% senior notes due September 1, 2021	—	—	1,000	1,008
5.750% sterling senior notes due June 2, 2031 (a)	842	894	854	911
6.550% senior debentures due May 1, 2037	1,500	1,664	1,500	1,668
7.300% senior debentures due July 1, 2038	1,500	1,757	1,500	1,763
6.750% senior debentures due June 15, 2039	1,500	1,701	1,500	1,706
5.875% senior debentures due November 15, 2040	1,200	1,252	1,200	1,254
5.500% senior debentures due September 1, 2041	1,250	1,258	1,250	1,258
5.250% sterling senior notes due July 15, 2042 (b)	876	847	889	859
4.500% senior debentures due September 15, 2042	1,250	1,147	1,250	1,145
Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC:
8.375% senior debentures due March 15, 2023	1,000	1,069	1,000	1,104
8.375% senior debentures due July 15, 2033	1,000	1,258	1,000	1,270
Total debt	87,948	88,372	82,143	82,752


Less current portion:
4.000% senior notes due September 1, 2021	—		—		(1,000)		(1,008)
4.464% senior notes due July 23, 2022	(3,000)		(2,996)		—		—
Long-term debt	$	84,948	$	85,376	$	81,143	$	81,744

(a)Principal amount includes £625 million remeasured at $842 million and $854 million as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, using the exchange rate at the respective dates.

(b)Principal amount includes £650 million remeasured at $876 million and $889 million as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, using the exchange rate at the respective dates.

The accreted values presented in the table above represent the principal amount of the debt adjusted for original issue discount or premium at the time of sale, deferred financing costs, and, in regards to debt assumed in acquisitions, fair value premium adjustments as a result of applying acquisition accounting plus the accretion of those amounts to the balance sheet date. However, the amount that is currently payable if the debt becomes immediately due is equal to the principal amount of the debt. In regards to the fixed-rate British pound sterling denominated notes (the “Sterling Notes”), the principal amount of the debt and any premium or discount is remeasured into US dollars as of each balance sheet date. See Note 9. The Company has availability under the Charter Operating credit facilities of approximately $3.2 billion as of September 30, 2021.

In March 2021, Charter Operating and Charter Communications Operating Capital Corp. jointly issued $1.5 billion aggregate principal amount of 3.500% senior secured notes due June 2041 at a price of 99.544% of the aggregate principal amount, $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 3.900% senior secured notes due June 2052 at a price of 99.951% of the aggregate principal amount and an additional $500 million aggregate principal amount of 3.850% senior secured notes due April 2061 at a price of 94.668% of the aggregate principal amount. The net proceeds were used to pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes, including funding buybacks of Charter Class A common stock and Charter Holdings common units as well as repaying certain indebtedness, including $750 million of CCO Holdings, LLC's ("CCO Holdings") 5.750% notes due February 2026.

In June 2021, Charter Operating and Charter Communications Operating Capital Corp. issued an additional $1.4 billion of 3.900% senior secured notes due June 2052 priced at 95.578% of the aggregate principal amount and $1.4 billion aggregate principal amount of 4.400% senior secured notes due December 2061 at a price of 99.906% of the aggregate principal amount. Net proceeds were used to pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes, including funding buybacks of Charter Class A common stock and Charter Holdings common units as well as repaying certain indebtedness, including $500 million of CCO Holdings' 5.750% notes due February 2026, all of CCO Holdings' 5.875% notes due May 2027, and in July 2021, $1.0 billion of Time Warner Cable, LLC's 4.000% notes due September 2021.

In October 2021, Charter Operating and Charter Communications Operating Capital Corp. issued an $1.25 billion aggregate principal amount of 2.250% senior secured notes due January 2029 priced at 99.835% of the aggregate principal amount, $1.35 billion aggregate principal amount of 3.500% senior secured notes due March 2042 at a price of 99.253% of the aggregate principal amount and $1.4 billion aggregate principal amount of 3.950% senior secured notes due June 2062 at a price of 99.186% of the aggregate principal amount. Net proceeds were used to pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes, including funding buybacks of Charter Class A common stock and Charter Holdings common units as well as repaying certain indebtedness.

The Charter Operating notes are guaranteed by CCO Holdings and substantially all of the subsidiaries of Charter Operating. In addition, the Charter Operating notes are secured by a perfected first priority security interest in substantially all of the assets of Charter Operating and substantially all of its subsidiaries to the extent such liens can be perfected under the Uniform Commercial Code by the filing of a financing statement and the liens rank equally with the liens on the collateral securing obligations under the Charter Operating credit facilities. Charter Operating may redeem some or all of the Charter Operating notes at any time at a premium.

The Charter Operating notes are subject to the terms and conditions of the indenture governing the Charter Operating notes. The Charter Operating notes contain customary representations and warranties and affirmative covenants with limited negative covenants. The Charter Operating indenture also contains customary events of default.

In April 2021, CCO Holdings and CCO Holdings Capital Corp. jointly issued $1.0 billion of 4.500% senior unsecured notes due June 2033 at par, and in June 2021, an additional $750 million of the same series of notes was issued at a price of 99.250% of the aggregate principal amount. The net proceeds were used for general corporate purposes, including to fund potential buybacks of Charter Class A common stock and Charter Holdings common units, to repay certain indebtedness and to pay related fees and expenses.

In August 2021, CCO Holdings and CCO Holdings Capital Corp. jointly issued $2.0 billion of 4.250% senior unsecured notes due January 2034 at par. The net proceeds were used to pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes, including repaying $1.25 billion of CCO Holdings' 5.750% notes due February 2026 and $750 million of CCO Holdings' 5.500% notes due May 2026, as well as funding buybacks of Charter Class A common stock and Charter Holdings common units.

The CCO Holdings notes are senior debt obligations of CCO Holdings and CCO Holdings Capital Corp. and rank equally with all other current and future unsecured, unsubordinated obligations of CCO Holdings and CCO Holdings Capital Corp. They are structurally subordinated to all obligations of subsidiaries of CCO Holdings.

CCO Holdings may redeem some or all of the notes at any time at a premium. The optional redemption price declines to 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on or after varying dates in 2030 through 2031.

In addition, at any time prior to varying dates in 2024 through 2025, CCO Holdings may redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes at a premium plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date, with the net cash proceeds of one or more equity offerings (as defined in the indenture); provided that certain conditions are met. In the event of specified change of control events, CCO Holdings must offer to purchase the outstanding notes from the holders at a purchase price equal to 101% of the total principal amount of the notes, plus any accrued and unpaid interest.

Losses on extinguishment of debt are recorded in other expenses, net in the consolidated statements of operations and consisted of the following.


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
CCO Holdings notes redemption	$	(71)	$	(58)	$	(146)	$	(121)
Time Warner Cable, LLC notes redemption	2		—		2		—
	$	(69)	$	(58)	$	(144)	$	(121)

Common Stock (Notes)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Common Stock [Abstract]

Common Stock

The following represents the Company's purchase of Charter Class A common stock and the effect on the consolidated statements of cash flows during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020.


	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021			2020			2021			2020
	Shares	$		Shares	$		Shares	$		Shares	$
Share buybacks	4,738,842	$	3,584	5,466,295	$	3,250	15,442,417	$	10,450	11,947,078	$	6,452
Income tax withholding	104,949	82		186,548	111		572,869	384		769,853	416
Exercise cost	116,961			180,824			612,474			611,499
	4,960,752	$	3,666	5,833,667	$	3,361	16,627,760	$	10,834	13,328,430	$	6,868

Share buybacks above include shares of Charter Class A common stock purchased from Liberty Broadband Corporation (“Liberty Broadband”) pursuant to the LBB Letter Agreement as follows (see Note 19).


	Three Months Ended September 30, 2021		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021
Number of shares purchased	1,200,547		3,962,155
Amount of shares purchased	$	880	$	2,642

In October 2021, the Company purchased from Liberty Broadband an additional 0.7 million shares of Charter Class A common stock for approximately $561 million.

As of September 30, 2021, Charter had remaining board authority to purchase an additional $1.5 billion of Charter’s Class A common stock and/or Charter Holdings common units, excluding purchases from Liberty Broadband. The Company also withholds shares of its Class A common stock in payment of income tax withholding owed by employees upon vesting of equity awards as well as exercise costs owed by employees upon exercise of stock options.

In 2020, Charter’s board of directors approved the retirement of the then currently held treasury stock and those shares were retired as of December 31, 2020. The Company accounts for treasury stock using the cost method and includes treasury stock as a component of total shareholders’ equity.

In March 2020, pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement with Liberty Broadband, Advance/Newhouse Partnership (“A/N”) and Charter, dated May 23, 2015 (the "Stockholders Agreement"), Charter, Liberty Broadband and A/N closed on transactions in which Liberty Broadband and A/N exercised their preemptive right to purchase 35,112 and 20,182 shares, respectively, of Charter Class A common stock for a total purchase price of approximately $23 million.

Noncontrolling Interests (Notes)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Noncontrolling Interests [Abstract]

Noncontrolling Interests

Noncontrolling interests represents consolidated subsidiaries of which the Company owns less than 100%. The Company is a holding company whose principal asset is a controlling equity interest in Charter Holdings, the indirect owner of the Company’s cable systems. Noncontrolling interests on the Company’s balance sheet consist primarily of A/N's equity interests in Charter Holdings, which is comprised of a common ownership interest and prior to June 18, 2021, a convertible preferred ownership interest.

On June 18, 2021, the Company caused the conversion of all of A/N's 25 million Charter Holdings convertible preferred units into Charter Holdings common units. Each preferred unit was converted into 0.37334 Charter Holdings common units, representing a conversion price of $267.85 per unit, based on a conversion feature as defined in the Limited Liability Company Agreement of Charter Holdings, resulting in the issuance of a total of 9.3 million common units to A/N.

Net income of Charter Holdings attributable to A/N’s common noncontrolling interest for financial reporting purposes is based on the weighted average effective common ownership interest of approximately 7% prior to conversion of the preferred units and 11% after conversion during 2021 and 8% during 2020, and was $190 million and $371 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively, and $81 million and $186 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively. Net income of Charter Holdings attributable to A/N's preferred noncontrolling interest for financial reporting purposes is based on the preferred dividend which was $70 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, and $37 million and $112 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively.

The following table represents Charter Holdings' purchase of Charter Holdings common units from A/N pursuant to the A/N Letter Agreement (see Note 19) and the effect on total shareholders' equity during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020.


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
Number of units purchased	565,972		644,806		2,270,660		1,720,482
Average price per unit	$	724.50	$	568.19	$	660.52	$	514.10
Amount of units purchased	$	410	$	366	$	1,500	$	884
Decrease in noncontrolling interest based on carrying value	$	(148)	$	(163)	$	(553)	$	(427)
Decrease in additional paid-in-capital, net of tax	$	(197)	$	(154)	$	(713)	$	(345)

Total shareholders' equity was also adjusted during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 due to the changes in Charter Holdings' ownership including the impact of the preferred unit conversion discussed above as follows.


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
Decrease in noncontrolling interest	$	(290)	$	(157)	$	(1,798)	$	(318)
Increase in additional paid-in-capital, net of tax	$	219	$	118	$	1,353	$	241

As a result of the preferred unit conversion, the preferred noncontrolling interest carrying amount of $3.2 billion was reclassified to common noncontrolling interest and remeasured to $2.0 billion representing the relative effective Charter Holdings common ownership amount in all Charter Holdings partnership capital account balances resulting in a $1.2 billion reclass from noncontrolling interest to additional paid-in capital. A deferred tax liability of $300 million was recorded with the offset to additional paid-in capital as part of the Charter Holdings ownership change equity adjustments.

Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Notes)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Abstract]

Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

The Company uses derivative instruments to manage foreign exchange risk on the Sterling Notes, and does not hold or issue derivative instruments for speculative trading purposes.

Cross-currency derivative instruments are used to effectively convert £1.275 billion aggregate principal amount of fixed-rate British pound sterling denominated debt, including annual interest payments and the payment of principal at maturity, to fixed-rate U.S. dollar denominated debt. The cross-currency swaps have maturities of June 2031 and July 2042. The Company is required to post collateral on the cross-currency derivative instruments when the derivative contracts are in a liability position. In April 2019, the Company entered into a collateral holiday agreement for 60% of both the 2031 and 2042 cross-currency swaps, which eliminates the requirement to post collateral for three years, as well as a ten year collateral cap on the remaining 40% of the cross-currency swaps which limits the required collateral posting on that 40% of the cross-currency swaps to $150 million. In March 2021, the collateral holiday for 20% of the swaps was extended to November 2022 in consideration for the Company's agreement to post collateral over a threshold amount on that 20% portion of the swaps from March 2021 through October 2021. The fair value of the Company's cross-currency derivatives was $317 million and $184 million and is included in other long-term liabilities on its consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.

The Company’s derivative instruments are not designated as hedges and are marked to fair value each period, with the impact recorded as a gain or loss on financial instruments in the consolidated statements of operations in other expenses, net. While these derivative instruments are not designated as hedges for accounting purposes, management continues to believe such instruments are closely correlated with the respective debt, thus managing associated risk.

The effect of financial instruments are recorded in other expenses, net in the consolidated statements of operations and consisted of the following.


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
Change in fair value of cross-currency derivative instruments	$	(111)	$	135	$	(133)	$	(230)
Foreign currency remeasurement of Sterling Notes to U.S. dollars	47		(66)		26		45
Gain (loss) on financial instruments, net	$	(64)	$	69	$	(107)	$	(185)

Fair Value Measurements (Notes)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements

Accounting guidance establishes a three-level hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements, based on the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date, as follows:

•Level 1 – inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

•Level 2 – inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument.

•Level 3 – inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.

Financial Assets and Liabilities

The Company has estimated the fair value of its financial instruments as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 using available market information or other appropriate valuation methodologies. Considerable judgment, however, is required in interpreting market data to develop the estimates of fair value. Accordingly, the estimates presented in the accompanying consolidated financial statements are not necessarily indicative of the amounts the Company would realize in a current market exchange.

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, receivables, payables and other current assets and liabilities approximate fair value because of the short maturity of those instruments.

As of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, accounts receivable, net on the consolidated balance sheets includes approximately $377 million and $338 million of current equipment installment plan receivables, respectively, and other noncurrent assets includes approximately $170 million and $134 million of noncurrent equipment installment plan receivables, respectively.

Financial instruments accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis and classified within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy include the Company's cross-currency derivative instruments which are recorded in other-long term liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets and were valued at $317 million and $184 million as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.

The estimated fair value of the Company’s senior notes and debentures as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 is based on quoted market prices in active markets and is classified within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy, while the estimated fair value of the Company’s credit facilities is based on quoted market prices in inactive markets and is classified within Level 2. The carrying amount of the consolidated variable interest entity's mortgage note liability approximates fair value.

A summary of the carrying value and fair value of debt as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 is as follows:


	September 30, 2021				December 31, 2020
	Carrying Value		Fair Value		Carrying Value		Fair Value
Senior notes and debentures	$	76,950	$	85,880	$	72,671	$	84,163
Credit facilities	$	11,422	$	11,428	$	10,081	$	10,063

Nonfinancial Assets and Liabilities

The Company’s nonfinancial assets such as equity-method investments, franchises, property, plant, and equipment, and other intangible assets are not measured at fair value on a recurring basis; however, they are subject to fair value adjustments in certain circumstances, such as when there is evidence that an impairment may exist. When such impairments are recorded, fair values are generally classified within Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

+ References + Details

Revenue (Notes)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Revenue [Abstract]

Revenue

Revenues

The Company’s revenues by product line are as follows:


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
Internet	$	5,363	$	4,722	$	15,670	$	13,659
Video	4,502		4,221		13,224		13,014
Voice	409		449		1,202		1,357
Residential revenue	10,274		9,392		30,096		28,030

Small and medium business	1,062		988		3,116		2,967
Enterprise	656		617		1,930		1,845
Commercial revenue	1,718		1,605		5,046		4,812

Advertising sales	391		460		1,146		1,074
Mobile	535		368		1,546		936
Other	228		214		636		621
	$	13,146	$	12,039	$	38,470	$	35,473

- Definition

The entire disclosure of revenue from contract with customer to transfer good or service and to transfer nonfinancial asset. Includes, but is not limited to, disaggregation of revenue, credit loss recognized from contract with customer, judgment and change in judgment related to contract with customer, and asset recognized from cost incurred to obtain or fulfill contract with customer. Excludes insurance and lease contracts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=49130388

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121604090&loc=SL49130551-203045

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (b)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121604090&loc=SL49130556-203045

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121604090&loc=SL49130554-203045

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121604090&loc=SL49130550-203045

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (e)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121604090&loc=SL49130554-203045

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121604090&loc=SL49130554-203045

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121604090&loc=SL49130554-203045

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 15
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121604090&loc=SL49130558-203045

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121604090&loc=SL49130554-203045

+ Details

Operating Costs and Expenses (Notes)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Operating Costs and Expenses [Abstract]

Operating Costs and Expenses

Operating costs and expenses, exclusive of items shown separately in the consolidated statements of operations, consist of the following for the periods presented:


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
Programming	$	2,983	$	2,727	$	8,949	$	8,492
Regulatory, connectivity and produced content	634		612		1,902		1,651
Costs to service customers	1,899		1,902		5,530		5,598
Marketing	788		788		2,280		2,273
Mobile	607		456		1,765		1,243
Other	1,047		998		3,125		2,955
	$	7,958	$	7,483	$	23,551	$	22,212

Programming costs consist primarily of costs paid to programmers for basic, premium, digital, video on demand and pay-per-view programming. Regulatory, connectivity and produced content costs represent payments to franchise and regulatory authorities, costs directly related to providing video, Internet and voice services as well as payments for sports, local and news content produced by the Company. Included in regulatory, connectivity and produced content costs is content acquisition costs for the Los Angeles Lakers’ basketball games and Los Angeles Dodgers’ baseball games, which are recorded as games are exhibited over the contract period. Costs to service customers include costs related to field operations, network operations and customer care for the Company’s residential and SMB customers, including internal and third-party labor for the non-capitalizable portion of installations, service and repairs, maintenance, bad debt expense, billing and collection, occupancy and vehicle costs. Marketing costs represent the costs of marketing to current and potential commercial and residential customers including labor costs. Mobile costs represent costs associated with the Company's mobile service such as device and service costs, marketing, sales and commissions, retail stores, personnel costs, taxes, among others. Other includes corporate overhead, advertising sales expenses, indirect costs associated with the Company’s enterprise business customers and regional sports and news networks, property tax and insurance expense and stock compensation expense, among others.

Other Operating (Income) Expenses, Net (Notes)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Other Income and Expenses [Abstract]

Other Operating Expenses, Net

Other Operating (Income) Expenses, Net

Other operating (income) expenses, net consist of the following for the periods presented:


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
Special charges, net	$	(7)	$	28	$	242	$	50
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets, net	(2)		(14)		42		(27)
	$	(9)	$	14	$	284	$	23

Special charges, net

Special charges, net primarily includes net amounts of litigation settlements, including the $220 million tentative settlement with Sprint Communications Company L.P. (“Sprint”) and T-Mobile USA, Inc. ("T-Mobile") for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 discussed in Note 20, and employee termination costs.

(Gain) loss on disposal of assets, net

(Gain) loss on disposal of assets, net represents the net (gain) loss recognized on the sales and disposals of fixed assets and cable systems.

Other Expenses, Net (Notes)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Other Income and Expenses [Abstract]

Other Expenses, Net

Other expenses, net consist of the following for the periods presented:


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
Loss on extinguishment of debt (see Note 6)	$	(69)	$	(58)	$	(144)	$	(121)
Gain (loss) on financial instruments, net (see Note 9)	(64)		69		(107)		(185)
Net periodic pension benefits (costs) (see Note 21)	(15)		(115)		176		(94)
Loss on equity investments, net (see Note 3)	(9)		(13)		(162)		(13)
	$	(157)	$	(117)	$	(237)	$	(413)

Stock Compensation Plans (Notes)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Stock Compensation Plans [Abstract]

Stock Compensation Plans

Charter’s stock incentive plans provide for grants of nonqualified stock options, incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, dividend equivalent rights, performance units and performance shares, share awards, phantom stock, restricted stock units and restricted stock. Directors, officers and other employees of the Company and its subsidiaries, as well as others performing consulting services for the Company, are eligible for grants under the stock incentive plans.

Charter granted the following equity awards for the periods presented.


	Three Months Ended September 30,		Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021	2020	2021	2020
Stock options	36,900	17,100	1,278,700	1,282,400
Restricted stock	—	—	4,600	6,000
Restricted stock units	8,900	5,000	363,100	420,900

Stock options and restricted stock units generally cliff vest three years from the date of grant. Stock options generally expire ten years from the grant date and restricted stock units have no voting rights. Restricted stock generally vests one year from the date of grant.

As of September 30, 2021, total unrecognized compensation remaining to be recognized in future periods totaled $272 million for stock options, $2 million for restricted stock and $257 million for restricted stock units and the weighted average period over which they are expected to be recognized is two years for stock options, seven months for restricted stock and two years for restricted stock units.

The Company recorded stock compensation expense of $98 million and $332 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively, and $83 million and $263 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively, which is included in operating costs and expenses.

Income Taxes (Notes)	9 Months Ended
Income Taxes (Notes)	Sep. 30, 2021
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Income Taxes Substantially all of the Company’s operations are held through Charter Holdings and its direct and indirect subsidiaries. Charter Holdings and the majority of its subsidiaries are limited liability companies that are generally not subject to income tax. However, certain of these limited liability companies are subject to state income tax. In addition, the subsidiaries that are corporations are subject to income tax. Generally, the taxable income, gains, losses, deductions and credits of Charter Holdings are passed through to its members, Charter and A/N. Charter is responsible for its share of taxable income or loss of Charter Holdings allocated to it in accordance with the Charter Holdings Limited Liability Company Agreement (“LLC Agreement”) and partnership tax rules and regulations. As a result, Charter's primary deferred tax component recorded in the consolidated balance sheets relates to its excess financial reporting outside basis, excluding amounts attributable to nondeductible goodwill, over Charter's tax basis in the investment in Charter Holdings. The Company recorded income tax expense of $347 million and $844 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively, and $177 million and $372 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively. Income tax expense increased during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 compared to the corresponding period in 2020 primarily as a result of higher pretax income. Charter Holdings, the indirect owner of the Company’s cable systems, generally allocates its taxable income, gains, losses, deductions and credits proportionately according to the members’ respective ownership interests, except for special allocations required under Section 704(c) of the Internal Revenue Code and the Treasury Regulations (“Section 704(c)”). Pursuant to Section 704(c) and the LLC Agreement, each item of income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to any property contributed to the capital of the partnership shall, solely for tax purposes, be allocated among the members so as to take into account any variation between the adjusted basis of such property to the partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and its initial gross asset value using the “traditional method” as described in the Treasury Regulations. In determining the Company’s tax provision for financial reporting purposes, the Company establishes a reserve for uncertain tax positions unless such positions are determined to be “more likely than not” of being sustained upon examination, based on their technical merits. There is considerable judgment involved in making such a determination. The Company has recorded unrecognized tax benefits totaling approximately $353 million and $298 million, excluding interest and penalties, as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. The Company does not currently anticipate that its reserve for uncertain tax positions will significantly increase or decrease during 2021; however, various events could cause the Company’s current expectations to change in the future. These uncertain tax positions, if ever recognized in the financial statements, would be recorded in the consolidated statements of operations as part of the income tax provision. No tax years for Charter are currently under examination by the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") for income tax purposes. Charter's 2016 through 2020 tax years remain open for examination and assessment. Charter’s short period return dated May 17, 2016 (prior to the merger with Time Warner Cable Inc. ("TWC") and acquisition of Bright House Networks, LLC ("Bright House")) and prior years remain open solely for purposes of examination of Charter’s loss and credit carryforwards. The IRS is currently examining Charter Holdings’ income tax return for 2016. Charter Holdings’ 2018 through 2020 tax years remain open for examination and assessment, while 2017 remains open solely for purposes of credit carryforwards. The IRS is currently examining TWC’s income tax returns for 2011 through 2014. TWC’s tax year 2015 remains subject to examination and assessment. Prior to TWC’s separation from Time Warner Inc. (“Time Warner”) in March 2009, TWC was included in the consolidated U.S. federal and certain state income tax returns of Time Warner. The IRS has examined Time Warner’s 2008 through 2010 income tax returns and the results are under appeal. The Company does not anticipate that these examinations will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations. In addition, the Company is also subject to ongoing examinations of the Company’s tax returns by state and local tax authorities for various periods. Activity related to these state and local examinations did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, nor does the Company anticipate a material impact in the future.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for income taxes. Disclosures may include net deferred tax liability or asset recognized in an enterprise's statement of financial position, net change during the year in the total valuation allowance, approximate tax effect of each type of temporary difference and carryforward that gives rise to a significant portion of deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets, utilization of a tax carryback, and tax uncertainties information.

+ References + Details

Earnings Per Share (Notes)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per ShareBasic earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income attributable to Charter shareholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per common share considers the impact of potentially dilutive securities using the treasury stock and if-converted methods and is based on the weighted average number of shares used for the basic earnings per share calculation, adjusted for the dilutive effect of stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, equity awards with market conditions and Charter Holdings convertible preferred units and common units. Charter Holdings common units of 23 million and 18 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively, and Charter Holdings common and convertible preferred units of 26 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share as their effect would

have been antidilutive. The following is the computation of diluted earnings per common share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020.


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
Numerator:
Net income attributable to Charter shareholders	$	1,217	$	814	$	3,044	$	1,976
Effect of dilutive securities:

Charter Holdings convertible preferred units	—		—		70		—
Net income attributable to Charter shareholders after assumed conversions	$	1,217	$	814	$	3,114	$	1,976

Denominator:
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic	181,925,180		202,826,502		186,380,681		205,468,736
Effect of dilutive securities:
Assumed exercise or issuance of shares relating to stock plans	5,240,891		5,895,627		5,158,105		5,931,045

Weighted average Charter Holdings convertible preferred units	—		—		5,777,881		—
Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted	187,166,071		208,722,129		197,316,667		211,399,781

Basic earnings per common share attributable to Charter shareholders	$	6.69	$	4.01	$	16.33	$	9.62
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to Charter shareholders	$	6.50	$	3.90	$	15.78	$	9.35

Comprehensive Income (Notes)	9 Months Ended
Comprehensive Income (Notes)	Sep. 30, 2021
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Comprehensive Income	Comprehensive IncomeComprehensive income equaled net income attributable to Charter shareholders for each of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020.

Related Party Transactions (Notes)	9 Months Ended
Related Party Transactions (Notes)	Sep. 30, 2021
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Related Party Transactions	Related Party Transactions The following sets forth certain transactions in which the Company and the directors, executive officers, and affiliates of the Company are involved. Liberty Broadband and A/N Under the terms of the Stockholders Agreement, the number of Charter’s directors is fixed at 13, and includes its CEO. Two designees selected by A/N are members of the board of directors of Charter and three designees selected by Liberty Broadband are members of the board of directors of Charter. The remaining eight directors are not affiliated with either A/N or Liberty Broadband. Each of A/N and Liberty Broadband is entitled to nominate at least one director to each of the committees of Charter’s board of directors, subject to applicable stock exchange listing rules and certain specified voting or equity ownership thresholds for each of A/N and Liberty Broadband, and provided that the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Compensation and Benefit Committee each have at least a majority of directors independent from A/N, Liberty Broadband and Charter (referred to as the “unaffiliated directors”). Each of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Compensation and Benefits Committee is currently comprised of three unaffiliated directors and one designee of each of A/N and Liberty Broadband. A/N and Liberty Broadband also have certain other committee designations and other governance rights. Mr. Thomas Rutledge, the Company’s CEO, is the chairman of the board of Charter. In December 2016, Charter and A/N entered into a letter agreement, as amended in December 2017 (the “A/N Letter Agreement”), that requires A/N to sell to Charter or to Charter Holdings, on a monthly basis, a number of shares of Charter Class A common stock or Charter Holdings common units that represents a pro rata participation by A/N and its affiliates in any repurchases of shares of Charter Class A common stock from persons other than A/N effected by Charter during the immediately preceding calendar month, at a purchase price equal to the average price paid by Charter for the shares repurchased from persons other than A/N during such immediately preceding calendar month. A/N and Charter both have the right to terminate or suspend the pro rata repurchase arrangement on a prospective basis. In February 2021, Charter and Liberty Broadband entered into a letter agreement (the “LBB Letter Agreement”). The LBB Letter Agreement implements Liberty Broadband’s obligations under the Stockholders Agreement to participate in share repurchases by Charter. Under the LBB Letter Agreement, Liberty Broadband will sell to Charter, generally on a monthly basis, a number of shares of Charter Class A common stock representing an amount sufficient for Liberty Broadband’s ownership of Charter to be reduced such that it does not exceed the ownership cap then applicable to Liberty Broadband under the Stockholders Agreement at a purchase price per share equal to the volume weighted average price per share paid by Charter for shares repurchased during such immediately preceding calendar month other than (i) purchases from A/N, (ii) purchases in privately negotiated transactions or (iii) purchases for the withholding of shares of Charter Class A common stock pursuant to equity compensation programs of Charter. Gregory Maffei, a director of Charter and President and CEO and director and holder of 12.6% voting interest in Liberty Broadband, is Chairman of the board of directors of Qurate Retail, Inc. ("Qurate") and Dr. John Malone, a director emeritus of Charter and Chairman of the board of directors and holder of 45.8% of voting interest in Liberty Broadband, also serves on the Qurate board of directors. As reported in SEC filings of Qurate, Mr. Maffei and Dr. Malone, Mr. Maffei has ownership of an approximate 6.3% voting interest in Quarate and Dr. Malone has ownership of an approximate 41.2% voting interest in Qurate. Qurate wholly owns HSN, Inc. (“HSN”) and QVC, Inc. (“QVC”). The Company has programming relationships with HSN and QVC. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company recorded revenue in aggregate of approximately $10 million and $33 million, respectively, from HSN and QVC as part of channel carriage fees and revenue sharing arrangements for home shopping sales made to customers in the Company’s footprint, and approximately $12 million and $36 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively. Dr. Malone and Mr. Steven Miron, a member of Charter’s board of directors, also serve on the board of directors of Discovery, Inc. (“Discovery”). As reported in Discovery's SEC filings, Dr. Malone owns less than 1.0% of the series A common stock, 95.0% of the series B common stock and 3.7% of the series C common stock of Discovery and has a 26.5% voting interest in Discovery for the election of directors. As reported in Discovery's SEC filings, Advance/Newhouse Programming Partnership (“A/N PP”), an affiliate of A/N and in which Mr. Miron is the CEO, owns 100% of the Series A-1 preferred stock of Discovery and 100% of the Series C-1 preferred stock of Discovery and has a 23.2% voting interest for matters other than the election of directors. A/N PP also has the right to appoint three directors out of a total of twelve directors to Discovery’s board. The Company purchases programming from Discovery. Based on publicly available information, the Company does not believe that Discovery would currently be considered a related party. The amount paid in the aggregate to Discovery represents less than 2% of total operating costs and expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020. Equity Investments The Company has agreements with certain equity investees pursuant to which the Company has made or received related party transaction payments. The Company recorded payments to equity investees totaling $52 million and $169 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively, and $50 million and $167 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively.

Contingencies (Notes)	9 Months Ended
Contingencies (Notes)	Sep. 30, 2021
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Contingencies	Contingencies In August 2015, a purported stockholder of Charter, Matthew Sciabacucchi, filed a lawsuit in the Delaware Court of Chancery, on behalf of a putative class of Charter stockholders, challenging the transactions involving Charter, TWC, A/N, and Liberty Broadband announced by Charter on May 26, 2015. The lawsuit, which named as defendants Charter and its board of directors, alleged that the transactions resulted from breaches of fiduciary duty by Charter’s directors and that Liberty Broadband improperly benefited from the challenged transactions at the expense of other Charter stockholders. Charter denies any liability, believes that it has substantial defenses, and is vigorously defending this lawsuit. Although Charter is unable to predict the outcome of this lawsuit, it does not expect the outcome will have a material effect on its operations, financial condition or cash flows. The California Attorney General and the Alameda County, California District Attorney are investigating whether certain of Charter’s waste disposal policies, procedures and practices are in violation of the California Business and Professions Code and the California Health and Safety Code. That investigation was commenced in January 2014. A similar investigation involving TWC was initiated in February 2012. Charter is cooperating with these investigations. While the Company is unable to predict the outcome of these investigations, it does not expect that the outcome will have a material effect on its operations, financial condition, or cash flows. Sprint filed a patent suit against Charter and Bright House on December 2, 2017 in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. This suit alleges infringement of 9 patents related to the Company's provision of Voice over Internet Protocol (“VoIP”) services. Sprint previously sued TWC with respect to eight of these patents and obtained a final judgment of $151 million inclusive of interest and costs, which the Company paid in November 2019. The Company has also brought a patent suit against Sprint (TC Tech, LLC v. Sprint) in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware implicating Sprint's LTE technology and a similar suit against T-Mobile in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas. Sprint filed a subsequent patent suit against Charter on May 17, 2018 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. This suit alleges infringement of two patents related to the Company's video on demand services. The court transferred this case to the United States District Court for the District of Delaware on December 20, 2018 pursuant to an agreement between the parties. On February 18, 2020, Sprint filed a lawsuit against Charter, Bright House and TWC. Sprint alleges that Charter misappropriated trade secrets from Sprint years ago through employees hired by Bright House. Sprint asserts that the alleged trade secrets relate to the VoIP business of Charter, TWC and Bright House. The case is now pending in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas. Charter, T-Mobile and Sprint have tentatively reached a settlement of all of the foregoing suits that would result in a payment of $220 million by Charter to T-Mobile. The Company can give no assurance that this tentative settlement will be finalized. Pending finalization of the settlement and in the event the settlement is not finalized, the Company will vigorously defend these Sprint suits and prosecute the suits it has brought against T-Mobile and Sprint. While the Company is unable to predict the outcome of these lawsuits, it does not expect that the litigation will have a material effect on its operations, financial condition, or cash flows. In addition to the Sprint litigation described above, the Company is a defendant or co-defendant in several additional lawsuits involving alleged infringement of various intellectual property relating to various aspects of its businesses. Other industry participants are also defendants in certain of these cases or related cases. In the event that a court ultimately determines that the Company infringes on any intellectual property, the Company may be subject to substantial damages and/or an injunction that could require the Company or its vendors to modify certain products and services the Company offers to its subscribers, as well as negotiate royalty or license agreements with respect to the intellectual property at issue. While the Company believes the lawsuits are without merit and intends to defend the actions vigorously, no assurance can be given that any adverse outcome would not be material to the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity. The Company cannot predict the outcome of any such claims nor can it reasonably estimate a range of possible loss. The Company is party to other lawsuits, claims and regulatory inquiries that arise in the ordinary course of conducting its business. The ultimate outcome of these other legal matters pending against the Company cannot be predicted, and although such lawsuits and claims are not expected individually to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity, such lawsuits could have, in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. Whether or not the Company ultimately prevails in any particular lawsuit or claim, litigation can be time consuming and costly and injure the Company’s reputation.

Employee Benefit Plans (Notes)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Retirement Benefits [Abstract]

Employee Benefit Plans

The Company sponsors qualified defined and nonqualified defined benefit pension plans that provide pension benefits to a majority of employees who were employed by TWC before the merger with TWC.

Pension benefits are based on formulas that reflect the employees’ years of service and compensation during their employment period. Actuarial gains or losses are changes in the amount of either the benefit obligation or the fair value of plan assets resulting from experience different from that assumed or from changes in assumptions. The Company has elected to follow a mark-to-market pension accounting policy for recording the actuarial gains or losses annually during the fourth quarter, or earlier if a remeasurement event occurs during an interim period. No future compensation increases or future service will be credited to participants of the pension plans given the frozen nature of the plans.

The components of net periodic pension benefit (costs) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 are recorded in in other expenses, net in the consolidated statements of operations and consisted of the following:


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
Interest cost	$	(24)	$	(29)	$	(72)	$	(85)
Expected return on plan assets	40		39		124		116
Remeasurement gain (loss), net	(31)		(125)		124		(125)
Net periodic pension benefits (costs)	$	(15)	$	(115)	$	176	$	(94)

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, settlements for lump-sum distributions to pension plan participants exceeded the estimated annual interest cost of the plans. As a result, the pension liability and pension asset values were reassessed as of September 30, 2021 utilizing remeasurement date assumptions in accordance with the Company's mark-to-market pension accounting policy to record gains and losses in the period in which a remeasurement event occurs. The $31 million remeasurement loss during the three months ended September 30, 2021 was primarily driven by losses to record assets to fair value and the $124 million remeasurement gain recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 was primarily driven by changes in the discount rate.

The Company made no cash contributions to the qualified pension plans during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020; however, the Company may make discretionary cash contributions to the qualified pension plans in the future. Such contributions will be dependent on a variety of factors, including current and expected interest rates, asset performance, the funded status of the qualified pension plans and management’s judgment. For the nonqualified unfunded pension plan, the Company will continue to make contributions during 2021 to the extent benefits are paid.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for retirement benefits.

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+ Details

Recently Issued Accounting Standards (Notes)	9 Months Ended
Recently Issued Accounting Standards (Notes)	Sep. 30, 2021
Recently Issued Accounting Standards [Abstract]
Recently Issued Accounting Standards	Recently Issued Accounting Standards ASU No. 2020-06, Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity's Own Equity (“ASU 2020-06”) In August 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2020-06, which reduces the number of accounting models for convertible instruments, amends diluted earnings per share calculations for convertible instruments and allows more contracts to qualify for equity classification. ASU 2020-06 will be effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2021. Early adoption is permitted. The Company elected to early adopt ASU 2020-06 on January 1, 2021. The adoption of ASU 2020-06 did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for change in accounting principle. Includes, but is not limited to, nature, reason, and method of adopting amendment to accounting standards or other change in accounting principle.

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-SubTopic 40
-Section 65
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (g)(2)(iv)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121370832&loc=SL117420844-207641

Reference 13: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (f)(1)
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Reference 14: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 250
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 11.M.Q2)
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Reference 15: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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Reference 16: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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Reference 17: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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Reference 18: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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Reference 21: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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Reference 22: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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Reference 23: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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Reference 24: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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Reference 25: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 65
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph (e)(3)

+ Details

Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021
Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Abstract]
Derivatives Policy	The Company uses derivative instruments to manage foreign exchange risk on the Sterling Notes, and does not hold or issue derivative instruments for speculative trading purposes.

Franchises, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Indefinite-lived and Finite-lived Intangible Assets

Indefinite-lived and finite-lived intangible assets consist of the following as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020:


	September 30, 2021						December 31, 2020
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Net Carrying Amount		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Net Carrying Amount
Indefinite-lived intangible assets:
Franchises	$	67,322	$	—	$	67,322	$	67,322	$	—	$	67,322
Goodwill	29,554		—		29,554		29,554		—		29,554
Wireless spectrum licenses	464		—		464		464		—		464
Trademarks	159		—		159		159		—		159
	$	97,499	$	—	$	97,499	$	97,499	$	—	$	97,499

Finite-lived intangible assets:
Customer relationships	$	18,232	$	(13,813)	$	4,419	$	18,230	$	(12,615)	$	5,615
Other intangible assets	420		(187)		233		420		(159)		261
	$	18,652	$	(14,000)	$	4,652	$	18,650	$	(12,774)	$	5,876

Expected Future Amortization Expense

The Company expects amortization expense on its finite-lived intangible assets will be as follows:


Three months ended December 31, 2021	$	375
2022	1,332
2023	1,075
2024	824
2025	576
Thereafter	470
	$	4,652

Investments (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Investments [Abstract]

Schedule of Variable Interest Entities


	September 30, 2021		December 31, 2020
Assets
Current assets	$	5	$	3
Property, plant and equipment	$	639	$	490
Liabilities
Current liabilities	$	52	$	28
Other long-term liabilities	$	600	$	470

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of the significant judgments and assumptions made in determining whether a variable interest (as defined) held by the entity requires the variable interest entity (VIE) (as defined) to be consolidated and (or) disclose information about its involvement with the VIE, individually or in aggregate (as applicable); the nature of restrictions, if any, on the consolidated VIE's assets and on the settlement of its liabilities reported by an entity in its statement of financial position, including the carrying amounts of such assets and liabilities; the nature of, and changes in, the risks associated with involvement in the VIE; how involvement with the VIE affects the entity's financial position, financial performance, and cash flows; the lack of recourse if creditors (or beneficial interest holders) of the consolidated VIE have no recourse to the general credit of the primary beneficiary (if applicable); the terms of arrangements, giving consideration to both explicit arrangements and implicit variable interests, if any, that could require the entity to provide financial support to the VIE, including events or circumstances that could expose the entity to a loss; the methodology used by the entity for determining whether or not it is the primary beneficiary of the variable interest entity; the significant factors considered and judgments made in determining that the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the VIE's economic performance are shared (as defined); the carrying amounts and classification of assets and liabilities of the VIE included in the statement of financial position; the entity's maximum exposure to loss, if any, as a result of its involvement with the VIE, including how the maximum exposure is determined and significant sources of the entity's exposure to the VIE; a comparison of the carrying amounts of the assets and liabilities and the entity's maximum exposure to loss; information about any liquidity arrangements, guarantees, and (or) other commitments by third parties that may affect the fair value or risk of the entity's variable interest in the VIE; whether or not the entity has provided financial support or other support (explicitly or implicitly) to the VIE that it was not previously contractually required to provide or whether the entity intends to provide that support, including the type and amount of the support and the primary reasons for providing the support; and supplemental information the entity determines necessary to provide.

+ References + Details

Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities [Abstract]

Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities consist of the following as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020:


	September 30, 2021		December 31, 2020
Accounts payable – trade	$	686	$	763
Deferred revenue	501		436
Accrued liabilities:
Programming costs	2,106		1,940
Labor	1,235		1,374
Capital expenditures	1,123		1,227
Interest	1,067		1,083
Taxes and regulatory fees	638		555
Property and casualty	491		462
Operating lease liabilities	262		235
Other	1,132		792
	$	9,241	$	8,867

Leases (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Leases [Abstract]

Schedule of supplemental balance sheet information

Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases is as follows.


	September 30, 2021			December 31, 2020
Operating lease right-of-use assets:
Included within other noncurrent assets	$	1,279		$	1,214

Operating lease liabilities:
Current portion included within accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	262		$	235
Long-term portion included within other long-term liabilities	1,159			1,110
	$	1,421		$	1,345

Weighted average remaining lease term for operating leases	5.9 years			6.4 years
Weighted average discount rate for operating leases	3.5		%	3.9		%

Schedule of future minimum lease payments for operating leases

Maturities of operating lease liabilities as of September 30, 2021 are as follows.


Three months ended December 31, 2021	$	83
2022	327
2023	310
2024	261
2025	209
Thereafter	443
Undiscounted lease cash flow commitments	1,633
Reconciling impact from discounting	(212)
Lease liabilities on consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2021	$	1,421

Long-Term Debt (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Long-term Debt Summary

Long-term debt consists of the following as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020:


	September 30, 2021				December 31, 2020
	Principal Amount		Accreted Value		Principal Amount		Accreted Value
CCO Holdings, LLC:
4.000% senior notes due March 1, 2023	$	500	$	499	$	500	$	498
5.750% senior notes due February 15, 2026	—		—		2,500		2,475
5.500% senior notes due May 1, 2026	750		747		1,500		1,492
5.875% senior notes due May 1, 2027	—		—		800		796
5.125% senior notes due May 1, 2027	3,250		3,228		3,250		3,225


5.000% senior notes due February 1, 2028	2,500	2,474	2,500	2,472
5.375% senior notes due June 1, 2029	1,500	1,501	1,500	1,501
4.750% senior notes due March 1, 2030	3,050	3,042	3,050	3,042
4.500% senior notes due August 15, 2030	2,750	2,750	2,750	2,750
4.250% senior notes due February 1, 2031	3,000	3,002	3,000	3,001
4.500% senior notes due May 1, 2032	2,900	2,927	2,900	2,928
4.500% senior notes due June 1, 2033	1,750	1,728	—	—
4.250% senior notes due January 15, 2034	2,000	1,981	—	—
Charter Communications Operating, LLC:
4.464% senior notes due July 23, 2022	3,000	2,996	3,000	2,992
Senior floating rate notes due February 1, 2024	900	901	900	902
4.500% senior notes due February 1, 2024	1,100	1,096	1,100	1,094
4.908% senior notes due July 23, 2025	4,500	4,479	4,500	4,475
3.750% senior notes due February 15, 2028	1,000	990	1,000	989
4.200% senior notes due March 15, 2028	1,250	1,242	1,250	1,241
5.050% senior notes due March 30, 2029	1,250	1,242	1,250	1,242
2.800% senior notes due April 1, 2031	1,600	1,584	1,600	1,583
2.300% senior notes due February 1, 2032	1,000	992	1,000	991
6.384% senior notes due October 23, 2035	2,000	1,984	2,000	1,983
5.375% senior notes due April 1, 2038	800	787	800	786
3.500% senior notes due June 1, 2041	1,500	1,483	—	—
6.484% senior notes due October 23, 2045	3,500	3,468	3,500	3,468
5.375% senior notes due May 1, 2047	2,500	2,506	2,500	2,506
5.750% senior notes due April 1, 2048	2,450	2,392	2,450	2,392
5.125% senior notes due July 1, 2049	1,250	1,240	1,250	1,240
4.800% senior notes due March 1, 2050	2,800	2,797	2,800	2,797
3.700% senior notes due April 1, 2051	2,050	2,031	2,050	2,030
3.900% senior notes due June 1, 2052	2,400	2,321	—	—
6.834% senior notes due October 23, 2055	500	495	500	495
3.850% senior notes due April 1, 2061	1,850	1,809	1,350	1,339
4.400% senior notes due December 1, 2061	1,400	1,389	—	—
Credit facilities	11,480	11,422	10,150	10,081
Time Warner Cable, LLC:
4.000% senior notes due September 1, 2021	—	—	1,000	1,008
5.750% sterling senior notes due June 2, 2031 (a)	842	894	854	911
6.550% senior debentures due May 1, 2037	1,500	1,664	1,500	1,668
7.300% senior debentures due July 1, 2038	1,500	1,757	1,500	1,763
6.750% senior debentures due June 15, 2039	1,500	1,701	1,500	1,706
5.875% senior debentures due November 15, 2040	1,200	1,252	1,200	1,254
5.500% senior debentures due September 1, 2041	1,250	1,258	1,250	1,258
5.250% sterling senior notes due July 15, 2042 (b)	876	847	889	859
4.500% senior debentures due September 15, 2042	1,250	1,147	1,250	1,145
Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC:
8.375% senior debentures due March 15, 2023	1,000	1,069	1,000	1,104
8.375% senior debentures due July 15, 2033	1,000	1,258	1,000	1,270
Total debt	87,948	88,372	82,143	82,752


Less current portion:
4.000% senior notes due September 1, 2021	—		—		(1,000)		(1,008)
4.464% senior notes due July 23, 2022	(3,000)		(2,996)		—		—
Long-term debt	$	84,948	$	85,376	$	81,143	$	81,744

(a)Principal amount includes £625 million remeasured at $842 million and $854 million as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, using the exchange rate at the respective dates.

(b)Principal amount includes £650 million remeasured at $876 million and $889 million as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, using the exchange rate at the respective dates.

Schedule of Extinguishment of Debt

Losses on extinguishment of debt are recorded in other expenses, net in the consolidated statements of operations and consisted of the following.


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
CCO Holdings notes redemption	$	(71)	$	(58)	$	(146)	$	(121)
Time Warner Cable, LLC notes redemption	2		—		2		—
	$	(69)	$	(58)	$	(144)	$	(121)

Common Stock (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Common Stock [Abstract]

Class of Treasury Stock


	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021			2020			2021			2020
	Shares	$		Shares	$		Shares	$		Shares	$
Share buybacks	4,738,842	$	3,584	5,466,295	$	3,250	15,442,417	$	10,450	11,947,078	$	6,452
Income tax withholding	104,949	82		186,548	111		572,869	384		769,853	416
Exercise cost	116,961			180,824			612,474			611,499
	4,960,752	$	3,666	5,833,667	$	3,361	16,627,760	$	10,834	13,328,430	$	6,868


	Three Months Ended September 30, 2021		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021
Number of shares purchased	1,200,547		3,962,155
Amount of shares purchased	$	880	$	2,642

Noncontrolling Interest (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]

Schedule of Noncontrolling Interest Purchased


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
Number of units purchased	565,972		644,806		2,270,660		1,720,482
Average price per unit	$	724.50	$	568.19	$	660.52	$	514.10
Amount of units purchased	$	410	$	366	$	1,500	$	884
Decrease in noncontrolling interest based on carrying value	$	(148)	$	(163)	$	(553)	$	(427)
Decrease in additional paid-in-capital, net of tax	$	(197)	$	(154)	$	(713)	$	(345)

Schedule of effects on statement of shareholders' equity due to ownership changes


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
Decrease in noncontrolling interest	$	(290)	$	(157)	$	(1,798)	$	(318)
Increase in additional paid-in-capital, net of tax	$	219	$	118	$	1,353	$	241

Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Abstract]

Income Statement Effects of Financial Instruments

The effect of financial instruments are recorded in other expenses, net in the consolidated statements of operations and consisted of the following.


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
Change in fair value of cross-currency derivative instruments	$	(111)	$	135	$	(133)	$	(230)
Foreign currency remeasurement of Sterling Notes to U.S. dollars	47		(66)		26		45
Gain (loss) on financial instruments, net	$	(64)	$	69	$	(107)	$	(185)

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]

Carrying Value and Fair Value of Debt

A summary of the carrying value and fair value of debt as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 is as follows:


	September 30, 2021				December 31, 2020
	Carrying Value		Fair Value		Carrying Value		Fair Value
Senior notes and debentures	$	76,950	$	85,880	$	72,671	$	84,163
Credit facilities	$	11,422	$	11,428	$	10,081	$	10,063

Revenue (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Revenue [Abstract]

Revenue

The Company’s revenues by product line are as follows:


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
Internet	$	5,363	$	4,722	$	15,670	$	13,659
Video	4,502		4,221		13,224		13,014
Voice	409		449		1,202		1,357
Residential revenue	10,274		9,392		30,096		28,030

Small and medium business	1,062		988		3,116		2,967
Enterprise	656		617		1,930		1,845
Commercial revenue	1,718		1,605		5,046		4,812

Advertising sales	391		460		1,146		1,074
Mobile	535		368		1,546		936
Other	228		214		636		621
	$	13,146	$	12,039	$	38,470	$	35,473

Operating Costs and Expenses (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Operating Costs and Expenses [Abstract]

Operating Costs and Expenses

Operating costs and expenses, exclusive of items shown separately in the consolidated statements of operations, consist of the following for the periods presented:


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
Programming	$	2,983	$	2,727	$	8,949	$	8,492
Regulatory, connectivity and produced content	634		612		1,902		1,651
Costs to service customers	1,899		1,902		5,530		5,598
Marketing	788		788		2,280		2,273
Mobile	607		456		1,765		1,243
Other	1,047		998		3,125		2,955
	$	7,958	$	7,483	$	23,551	$	22,212

Other Operating (Income) Expenses, Net (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Other Income and Expenses [Abstract]

Other Operating Expenses, Net

Other operating (income) expenses, net consist of the following for the periods presented:


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
Special charges, net	$	(7)	$	28	$	242	$	50
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets, net	(2)		(14)		42		(27)
	$	(9)	$	14	$	284	$	23

Other Expenses, Net (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Other Income and Expenses [Abstract]

Other Expenses, Net

Other expenses, net consist of the following for the periods presented:


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
Loss on extinguishment of debt (see Note 6)	$	(69)	$	(58)	$	(144)	$	(121)
Gain (loss) on financial instruments, net (see Note 9)	(64)		69		(107)		(185)
Net periodic pension benefits (costs) (see Note 21)	(15)		(115)		176		(94)
Loss on equity investments, net (see Note 3)	(9)		(13)		(162)		(13)
	$	(157)	$	(117)	$	(237)	$	(413)

Stock Compensation Plans (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Stock Compensation Plans [Abstract]

Equity Award Grants

Charter granted the following equity awards for the periods presented.


	Three Months Ended September 30,		Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021	2020	2021	2020
Stock options	36,900	17,100	1,278,700	1,282,400
Restricted stock	—	—	4,600	6,000
Restricted stock units	8,900	5,000	363,100	420,900

Earnings Per Share (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Earnings Per Share

The following is the computation of diluted earnings per common share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020.


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
Numerator:
Net income attributable to Charter shareholders	$	1,217	$	814	$	3,044	$	1,976
Effect of dilutive securities:

Charter Holdings convertible preferred units	—		—		70		—
Net income attributable to Charter shareholders after assumed conversions	$	1,217	$	814	$	3,114	$	1,976

Denominator:
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic	181,925,180		202,826,502		186,380,681		205,468,736
Effect of dilutive securities:
Assumed exercise or issuance of shares relating to stock plans	5,240,891		5,895,627		5,158,105		5,931,045

Weighted average Charter Holdings convertible preferred units	—		—		5,777,881		—
Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted	187,166,071		208,722,129		197,316,667		211,399,781

Basic earnings per common share attributable to Charter shareholders	$	6.69	$	4.01	$	16.33	$	9.62
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to Charter shareholders	$	6.50	$	3.90	$	15.78	$	9.35

Employee Benefit Plans (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Retirement Benefits [Abstract]

Net Periodic Pension Benefit


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
Interest cost	$	(24)	$	(29)	$	(72)	$	(85)
Expected return on plan assets	40		39		124		116
Remeasurement gain (loss), net	(31)		(125)		124		(125)
Net periodic pension benefits (costs)	$	(15)	$	(115)	$	176	$	(94)

Organization and Basis of Presentation (Details)	9 Months Ended
Organization and Basis of Presentation (Details)	Sep. 30, 2021
Organization and Basis of Presentation [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments	1

Franchises, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets:
Goodwill	$ 29,554		$ 29,554		$ 29,554
Indefinite-lived intangible assets and goodwill	97,499		97,499		97,499
Finite-lived Intangible Assets:
Gross Carrying Amount	18,652		18,652		18,650
Accumulated Amortization	(14,000)		(14,000)		(12,774)
Net Carrying Amount	4,652		4,652		5,876
Amortization expense	377	$ 445	1,200	$ 1,400
Three months ended December 31, 2021	375		375
2022	1,332		1,332
2023	1,075		1,075
2024	824		824
2025	576		576
Thereafter	470		470
Franchises
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets:
Indefinite-lived intangible assets	67,322		67,322		67,322
Wireless spectrum licenses
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets:
Indefinite-lived intangible assets	464		464		464
Trademarks
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets:
Indefinite-lived intangible assets	159		159		159
Customer relationships
Finite-lived Intangible Assets:
Gross Carrying Amount	18,232		18,232		18,230
Accumulated Amortization	(13,813)		(13,813)		(12,615)
Net Carrying Amount	4,419		4,419		5,615
Other intangible assets
Finite-lived Intangible Assets:
Gross Carrying Amount	420		420		420
Accumulated Amortization	(187)		(187)		(159)
Net Carrying Amount	$ 233		$ 233		$ 261

Investments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
Investments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Investments [Abstract]
Impairment on equity investments	$ 165
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Current assets	3,498	$ 3,909
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	34,179	34,357
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES	$ 4,376	4,198
Mortgage note liability
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (percentage)	5.612%
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Current assets	$ 5	3
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	639	490
Current liabilities	52	28
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES	600	470
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary \| Mortgage note liability
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES	$ 509	$ 400

Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities [Abstract]
Accounts payable – trade	$ 686	$ 763
Deferred revenue	501	436
Accrued liabilities:
Programming costs	2,106	1,940
Labor	1,235	1,374
Capital expenditures	1,123	1,227
Interest	1,067	1,083
Taxes and regulatory fees	638	555
Property and casualty	491	462
Operating lease liabilities	262	235
Other	1,132	792
Total accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$ 9,241	$ 8,867

Leases (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
Leases (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020
Leases [Abstract]
Operating Lease Expense	$ 115	$ 110	$ 345	$ 326
short term leases and variable leases costs	34	$ 34	104	101
Operating Lease Payments			244	221
Right-of-Use Asset Obtained in Exchange for Operating Lease Liability			271	$ 253
Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset	$ 1,279		$ 1,279		$ 1,214
Included within other noncurrent assets	OTHER NONCURRENT ASSETS		OTHER NONCURRENT ASSETS		OTHER NONCURRENT ASSETS
Operating lease liabilities	$ 262		$ 262		$ 235
Current portion included within accounts payable and accrued liabilities	us-gaap:AccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent		us-gaap:AccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent		us-gaap:AccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent
Noncurrent portion of operating lease liability	$ 1,159		$ 1,159		$ 1,110
Long-term portion included within other long-term liabilities	OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES		OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES		OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
Total Operating Lease Liability	$ 1,421		$ 1,421		$ 1,345
Weighted average remaining operating lease term (in years)	5 years 10 months 24 days		5 years 10 months 24 days		6 years 4 months 24 days
Weighted average discount rate - operating leases (percentage)	3.50%		3.50%		3.90%
Finance Lease Liabilities	$ 63		$ 63		$ 63
Lessee, Operating Lease, Liability, Payment, Due [Abstract]
Three months ended December 31, 2021	83		83
2022	327		327
2023	310		310
2024	261		261
2025	209		209
Thereafter	443		443
Undiscounted lease cash flow commitments	1,633		1,633
Reconciling impact from discounting	$ (212)		$ (212)

Long-Term Debt (Details) £ in Millions, $ in Millions	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
Long-Term Debt (Details) £ in Millions, $ in Millions	Oct. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Oct. 01, 2021 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2021 GBP (£)	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		$ 87,948		$ 87,948				$ 82,143
Accreted Value		88,372		88,372				82,752
Accreted value, current portion		(2,996)		(2,996)				(1,008)
Principal amount, noncurrent portion		84,948		84,948				81,143
Accreted value, noncurrent portion		85,376		85,376				81,744
Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt		(69)	$ (58)	(144)	$ (121)
Credit facilities
Long-term Debt:
Accreted Value		11,422		$ 11,422				10,081
CCO Holdings
Long-term Debt:
Debt Instrument Redemption Price (Percentage)				100.00%
Debt instrument, amount of principal that may be redeemed (percentage)				40.00%
Debt instrument redemption price in the event of change of control events (percentage)				101.00%
Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt		(71)	(58)	$ (146)	(121)
CCO Holdings \| 4.000% senior notes due March 1, 2023
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		500		500				500
Accreted Value		$ 499		$ 499				498
Stated interest rate (percentage)		4.00%		4.00%			4.00%
CCO Holdings \| 5.750% senior notes due February 15, 2026
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		$ 0		$ 0				2,500
Accreted Value		$ 0		$ 0				2,475
Stated interest rate (percentage)		5.75%		5.75%			5.75%
Debt repurchased, principal amount		$ 1,250		$ 1,250
CCO Holdings \| 5.500% senior notes due May 1, 2026
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		750		750				1,500
Accreted Value		$ 747		$ 747				1,492
Stated interest rate (percentage)		5.50%		5.50%			5.50%
Debt repurchased, principal amount		$ 750		$ 750
CCO Holdings \| 5.875% senior notes due May 1, 2027
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		0		0				800
Accreted Value		$ 0		$ 0				796
Stated interest rate (percentage)		5.875%		5.875%			5.875%
CCO Holdings \| 5.125% senior notes due May 1, 2027
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		$ 3,250		$ 3,250				3,250
Accreted Value		$ 3,228		$ 3,228				3,225
Stated interest rate (percentage)		5.125%		5.125%			5.125%
CCO Holdings \| 5.000% senior notes due February 1, 2028
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		$ 2,500		$ 2,500				2,500
Accreted Value		$ 2,474		$ 2,474				2,472
Stated interest rate (percentage)		5.00%		5.00%			5.00%
CCO Holdings \| 5.375% senior notes due June 1, 2029
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		$ 1,500		$ 1,500				1,500
Accreted Value		$ 1,501		$ 1,501				1,501
Stated interest rate (percentage)		5.375%		5.375%			5.375%
CCO Holdings \| 4.750% senior notes due March 1, 2030
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		$ 3,050		$ 3,050				3,050
Accreted Value		$ 3,042		$ 3,042				3,042
Stated interest rate (percentage)		4.75%		4.75%			4.75%
CCO Holdings \| 4.500% senior notes due August 15, 2030
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		$ 2,750		$ 2,750				2,750
Accreted Value		$ 2,750		$ 2,750				2,750
Stated interest rate (percentage)		4.50%		4.50%			4.50%
CCO Holdings \| 4.250% senior notes due February 1, 2031
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		$ 3,000		$ 3,000				3,000
Accreted Value		$ 3,002		$ 3,002				3,001
Stated interest rate (percentage)		4.25%		4.25%			4.25%
CCO Holdings \| 4.500% senior notes due May 1, 2032
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		$ 2,900		$ 2,900				2,900
Accreted Value		$ 2,927		$ 2,927				2,928
Stated interest rate (percentage)		4.50%		4.50%			4.50%
CCO Holdings \| 4.500% senior notes due June 1, 2033
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		$ 1,750		$ 1,750				0
Accreted Value		$ 1,728		$ 1,728				0
Stated interest rate (percentage)		4.50%		4.50%			4.50%
CCO Holdings \| 4.250% senior notes due January 1, 2034
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		$ 2,000		$ 2,000				0
Accreted Value		$ 1,981		$ 1,981				0
Stated interest rate (percentage)		4.25%		4.25%			4.25%
CCO Holdings \| 5.750% Senior Notes Due February 15, 2026 redeemed in March 2021
Long-term Debt:
Debt repurchased, principal amount		$ 750		$ 750
CCO Holdings \| 5.750% Senior Notes Due February 15, 2026 redeemed in June 2021
Long-term Debt:
Debt repurchased, principal amount		500		500
CCO Holdings \| 4.500% senior notes due June 1, 2033 issued in April 2021
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		1,000		1,000
CCO Holdings \| 4.500% senior notes due June 1, 2033 issued in May2021
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		750		$ 750
Debt instrument issue price (percentage)				99.25%
Charter Operating \| 4.464% senior notes due July 23, 2022
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		3,000		$ 3,000				3,000
Accreted Value		2,996		2,996				2,992
Principal amount, current portion		(3,000)		(3,000)				0
Accreted value, current portion		$ (2,996)		$ (2,996)				0
Stated interest rate (percentage)		4.464%		4.464%			4.464%
Charter Operating \| Senior floating rate notes due February 1, 2024
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		$ 900		$ 900				900
Accreted Value		901		901				902
Charter Operating \| 4.500% senior notes due February 1, 2024
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		1,100		1,100				1,100
Accreted Value		$ 1,096		$ 1,096				1,094
Stated interest rate (percentage)		4.50%		4.50%			4.50%
Charter Operating \| 4.908% senior notes due July 23, 2025
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		$ 4,500		$ 4,500				4,500
Accreted Value		$ 4,479		$ 4,479				4,475
Stated interest rate (percentage)		4.908%		4.908%			4.908%
Charter Operating \| 3.750% senior notes due February 15, 2028
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		$ 1,000		$ 1,000				1,000
Accreted Value		$ 990		$ 990				989
Stated interest rate (percentage)		3.75%		3.75%			3.75%
Charter Operating \| 4.200% senior notes due March 15, 2028
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		$ 1,250		$ 1,250				1,250
Accreted Value		$ 1,242		$ 1,242				1,241
Stated interest rate (percentage)		4.20%		4.20%			4.20%
Charter Operating \| 5.050% senior notes due March 30, 2029
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		$ 1,250		$ 1,250				1,250
Accreted Value		$ 1,242		$ 1,242				1,242
Stated interest rate (percentage)		5.05%		5.05%			5.05%
Charter Operating \| 2.800% senior notes due April 1, 2031
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		$ 1,600		$ 1,600				1,600
Accreted Value		$ 1,584		$ 1,584				1,583
Stated interest rate (percentage)		2.80%		2.80%			2.80%
Charter Operating \| 2.300% senior notes due February 1, 2032
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		$ 1,000		$ 1,000				1,000
Accreted Value		$ 992		$ 992				991
Stated interest rate (percentage)		2.30%		2.30%			2.30%
Charter Operating \| 6.384% senior notes due October 23, 2035
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		$ 2,000		$ 2,000				2,000
Accreted Value		$ 1,984		$ 1,984				1,983
Stated interest rate (percentage)		6.384%		6.384%			6.384%
Charter Operating \| 5.375% senior notes due April 1, 2038
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		$ 800		$ 800				800
Accreted Value		$ 787		$ 787				786
Stated interest rate (percentage)		5.375%		5.375%			5.375%
Charter Operating \| 3.500% senior notes due June 1, 2041
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		$ 1,500		$ 1,500				0
Accreted Value		$ 1,483		$ 1,483				0
Stated interest rate (percentage)		3.50%		3.50%			3.50%
Debt instrument issue price (percentage)				99.544%
Charter Operating \| 6.484% senior notes due October 23, 2045
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		$ 3,500		$ 3,500				3,500
Accreted Value		$ 3,468		$ 3,468				3,468
Stated interest rate (percentage)		6.484%		6.484%			6.484%
Charter Operating \| 5.375% senior notes due May 1, 2047
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		$ 2,500		$ 2,500				2,500
Accreted Value		$ 2,506		$ 2,506				2,506
Stated interest rate (percentage)		5.375%		5.375%			5.375%
Charter Operating \| 5.750% senior notes due April 1, 2048
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		$ 2,450		$ 2,450				2,450
Accreted Value		$ 2,392		$ 2,392				2,392
Stated interest rate (percentage)		5.75%		5.75%			5.75%
Charter Operating \| 5.125% senior notes due July 1, 2049
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		$ 1,250		$ 1,250				1,250
Accreted Value		$ 1,240		$ 1,240				1,240
Stated interest rate (percentage)		5.125%		5.125%			5.125%
Charter Operating \| 4.800% senior notes due March 1, 2050
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		$ 2,800		$ 2,800				2,800
Accreted Value		$ 2,797		$ 2,797				2,797
Stated interest rate (percentage)		4.80%		4.80%			4.80%
Charter Operating \| 3.700% senior notes due April 1, 2051
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		$ 2,050		$ 2,050				2,050
Accreted Value		$ 2,031		$ 2,031				2,030
Stated interest rate (percentage)		3.70%		3.70%			3.70%
Charter Operating \| 3.900% senior notes due June 1, 2052
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		$ 2,400		$ 2,400				0
Accreted Value		$ 2,321		$ 2,321				0
Stated interest rate (percentage)		3.90%		3.90%			3.90%
Charter Operating \| 6.834% senior notes due October 23, 2055
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		$ 500		$ 500				500
Accreted Value		$ 495		$ 495				495
Stated interest rate (percentage)		6.834%		6.834%			6.834%
Charter Operating \| 3.850% senior notes due April 1, 2061
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		$ 1,850		$ 1,850				1,350
Accreted Value		1,809		1,809				1,339
Charter Operating \| 4.400% senior notes due December 1, 2061
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		1,400		1,400				0
Accreted Value		$ 1,389		$ 1,389				0
Stated interest rate (percentage)		4.40%		4.40%			4.40%
Debt instrument issue price (percentage)				99.906%
Charter Operating \| Credit facilities
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		$ 11,480		$ 11,480				10,150
Accreted Value		11,422		11,422				10,081
Charter Operating \| Revolving Credit Facility
Long-term Debt:
Availability under credit facilities		3,200		3,200
Charter Operating \| 3.900% senior notes due June 1, 2052 issued in March 2021
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		1,000		$ 1,000
Debt instrument issue price (percentage)				99.951%
Charter Operating \| Additional 3.850% Senior Notes Due April 1, 2061
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		$ 500		$ 500
Stated interest rate (percentage)		3.85%		3.85%			3.85%
Debt instrument issue price (percentage)				94.668%
Charter Operating \| 3.900% senior notes due June 1, 2052 issued in May 2021
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		$ 1,400		$ 1,400
Debt instrument issue price (percentage)				95.578%
Charter Operating \| 2.250% senior notes due January 15, 2029 \| Subsequent Event
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount						$ 1,250
Stated interest rate (percentage)						2.25%
Debt instrument issue price (percentage)	99.835%
Charter Operating \| 3.500% senior notes due March 1, 2042 \| Subsequent Event
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount						$ 1,350
Stated interest rate (percentage)						3.50%
Debt instrument issue price (percentage)	99.253%
Charter Operating \| 3.950% senior notes due June 30, 2062 \| Subsequent Event
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount						$ 1,400
Stated interest rate (percentage)						3.95%
Debt instrument issue price (percentage)	99.186%
Time Warner Cable
Long-term Debt:
Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt		2	$ 0	$ 2	$ 0
Time Warner Cable \| 4.000% senior notes due September 1, 2021
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		0		0				1,000
Accreted Value		0		0				1,008
Principal amount, current portion		0		0				(1,000)
Accreted value, current portion		$ 0		$ 0				(1,008)
Stated interest rate (percentage)		4.00%		4.00%			4.00%
Debt repurchased, principal amount		$ 1,000		$ 1,000
Time Warner Cable \| 5.750% sterling senior notes due June 2, 2031 (a)
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		842		842			£ 625	854
Accreted Value		$ 894		$ 894				911
Stated interest rate (percentage)		5.75%		5.75%			5.75%
Time Warner Cable \| 6.550% senior debentures due May 1, 2037
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		$ 1,500		$ 1,500				1,500
Accreted Value		$ 1,664		$ 1,664				1,668
Stated interest rate (percentage)		6.55%		6.55%			6.55%
Time Warner Cable \| 7.300% senior debentures due July 1, 2038
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		$ 1,500		$ 1,500				1,500
Accreted Value		$ 1,757		$ 1,757				1,763
Stated interest rate (percentage)		7.30%		7.30%			7.30%
Time Warner Cable \| 6.750% senior debentures due June 15, 2039
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		$ 1,500		$ 1,500				1,500
Accreted Value		$ 1,701		$ 1,701				1,706
Stated interest rate (percentage)		6.75%		6.75%			6.75%
Time Warner Cable \| 5.875% senior debentures due November 15, 2040
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		$ 1,200		$ 1,200				1,200
Accreted Value		$ 1,252		$ 1,252				1,254
Stated interest rate (percentage)		5.875%		5.875%			5.875%
Time Warner Cable \| 5.500% senior debentures due September 1, 2041
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		$ 1,250		$ 1,250				1,250
Accreted Value		$ 1,258		$ 1,258				1,258
Stated interest rate (percentage)		5.50%		5.50%			5.50%
Time Warner Cable \| 5.250% sterling senior notes due July 15, 2042 (b)
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		$ 876		$ 876			£ 650	889
Accreted Value		$ 847		$ 847				859
Stated interest rate (percentage)		5.25%		5.25%			5.25%
Time Warner Cable \| 4.500% senior debentures due September 15, 2042
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		$ 1,250		$ 1,250				1,250
Accreted Value		$ 1,147		$ 1,147				1,145
Stated interest rate (percentage)		4.50%		4.50%			4.50%
Time Warner Cable Enterprises \| 8.375% senior debentures due March 15, 2023
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		$ 1,000		$ 1,000				1,000
Accreted Value		$ 1,069		$ 1,069				1,104
Stated interest rate (percentage)		8.375%		8.375%			8.375%
Time Warner Cable Enterprises \| 8.375% senior debentures due July 15, 2033
Long-term Debt:
Principal Amount		$ 1,000		$ 1,000				1,000
Accreted Value		$ 1,258		$ 1,258				$ 1,270
Stated interest rate (percentage)		8.375%		8.375%			8.375%

Common Stock (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
Common Stock (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Oct. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2021	Mar. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Treasury stock acquired (shares)		4,960,752			5,833,667			16,627,760	13,328,430
Value of treasury stock shares repurchased/withheld		$ 3,666	$ 3,516	$ 3,652	$ 3,361	$ 1,155	$ 2,352	$ 10,834	$ 6,868
Remaining authorized repurchase amount		$ 1,500						$ 1,500
Issuance of equity							$ 23		$ 23
Liberty Broadband
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Issuance of equity, shares									35,112
A/N
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Issuance of equity, shares									20,182
Share buybacks
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Treasury stock acquired (shares)		4,738,842			5,466,295			15,442,417	11,947,078
Value of treasury stock shares repurchased/withheld		$ 3,584			$ 3,250			$ 10,450	$ 6,452
Share buybacks \| Liberty Broadband
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Treasury stock acquired (shares)		1,200,547						3,962,155
Value of treasury stock shares repurchased/withheld		$ 880						$ 2,642
Share buybacks \| Liberty Broadband \| Subsequent Event
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Treasury stock acquired (shares)	700,000
Value of treasury stock shares repurchased/withheld	$ 561
Income tax withholding
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Treasury stock acquired (shares)		104,949			186,548			572,869	769,853
Value of treasury stock shares repurchased/withheld		$ 82			$ 111			$ 384	$ 416
Exercise cost
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Treasury stock acquired (shares)		116,961			180,824			612,474	611,499

Noncontrolling Interests (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2021	Mar. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 18, 2021
Noncontrolling Interests:
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	$ 190			$ 118			$ 442	$ 299
Purchase of noncontrolling interest, net of tax	(345)	$ (492)	$ (429)	(317)	$ (111)	$ (344)
Change in noncontrolling interest ownership, net of tax	(71)	(330)	(44)	(39)	(11)	(27)
Preferred Noncontrolling Interest, Carrying Amount									$ 3,200
Noncontrolling Interest, Carrying Amount									$ 2,000
Noncontrolling Interest, Change in Redemption Value							1,200
Common Noncontrolling Interest
Noncontrolling Interests:
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	$ 190			$ 81			$ 371	$ 186
Purchase of noncontrolling interest (shares)	565,972			644,806			2,270,660	1,720,482
Purchase of noncontrolling interest (price per share)	$ 724.50			$ 568.19			$ 660.52	$ 514.10
Purchase price of noncontrolling interest	$ 410			$ 366			$ 1,500	$ 884
Common Noncontrolling Interest \| A/N
Noncontrolling Interests:
Shares held by noncontrolling shareholders (shares)									9,300,000
Ownership percentage held by noncontrolling interest (percentage)	7.00%			8.00%			7.00%	8.00%
Preferred Noncontrolling Interest
Noncontrolling Interests:
Number of shares to be received upon conversion to Charter Class A common stock (in shares)									0.37334
Convertible units, conversion price (dollars per unit)									$ 267.85
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest				$ 37			$ 70	$ 112
Deferred Tax and Other Liabilities, Noncurrent									$ 300
Preferred Noncontrolling Interest \| A/N
Noncontrolling Interests:
Shares held by noncontrolling shareholders (shares)									25,000,000
Noncontrolling Interests
Noncontrolling Interests:
Purchase of noncontrolling interest, net of tax	$ (148)	(213)	(192)	(163)	(69)	(195)
Change in noncontrolling interest ownership, net of tax	(290)	(1,333)	(175)	(157)	(52)	(109)
Noncontrolling Interests \| Common Noncontrolling Interest
Noncontrolling Interests:
Purchase of noncontrolling interest, net of tax	(148)			(163)			(553)	(427)
Change in noncontrolling interest ownership, net of tax	(290)			(157)			(1,798)	(318)
Additional Paid-in Capital
Noncontrolling Interests:
Purchase of noncontrolling interest, net of tax	(197)	(279)	(237)	(154)	(42)	(149)
Change in noncontrolling interest ownership, net of tax	219	$ 1,003	$ 131	118	$ 41	$ 82
Additional Paid-in Capital \| Common Noncontrolling Interest
Noncontrolling Interests:
Impact of noncontrolling interest purchased	(197)			(154)			(713)	(345)
Change in noncontrolling interest ownership, net of tax	$ 219			$ 118			$ 1,353	$ 241
Maximum \| Charter
Noncontrolling Interests:
Minority Interest Ownership Percentage Threshold	100.00%						100.00%

Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Details) £ in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2021 GBP (£)	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)
Gain (Loss) On Financial Instruments, Net
Change in fair value of cross-currency derivative instruments	$ (111)	$ 135	$ (133)	$ (230)
Foreign currency remeasurement of Sterling Notes to U.S. dollars	47	(66)	26	45
Gain (loss) on financial instruments, net	$ (64)	$ 69	$ (107)	$ (185)
Cross Currency Derivatives
Derivatives:
Notional amount \| £					£ 1,275
Collateral holiday agreement, percentage of position covered	60.00%		60.00%		60.00%
Collateral holiday agreement, term			3 years
collateral cap term			10 years
Collateral cap, percentage of position covered	40.00%		40.00%		40.00%
Maximum amount of collateral required to be posted	$ 150		$ 150
Collateral Holiday Agreement Percentage Extended to November 2022	20.00%		20.00%		20.00%
Level 2 \| Cross Currency Derivatives
Derivatives:
Derivative Liability	$ 317		$ 317			$ 184

Fair Value Measurements (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Fair Value Measurements:
Carrying Value	$ 88,372	$ 82,752
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts Receivable, Net	2,645	2,539
Other noncurrent assets	3,523	3,449
Senior notes and debentures
Fair Value Measurements:
Carrying Value	76,950	72,671
Credit facilities
Fair Value Measurements:
Carrying Value	11,422	10,081
Level 1 \| Senior notes and debentures
Fair Value Measurements:
Fair Value	85,880	84,163
Level 2 \| Credit facilities
Fair Value Measurements:
Fair Value	11,428	10,063
Equipment installment plan receivable
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts Receivable, Net	377	338
Other noncurrent assets	170	134
Cross Currency Derivatives \| Level 2
Fair Value Measurements:
Derivative Liability	$ 317	$ 184

Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Product Information [Line Items]
REVENUES	$ 13,146	$ 12,039	$ 38,470	$ 35,473
Internet
Product Information [Line Items]
REVENUES	5,363	4,722	15,670	13,659
Video
Product Information [Line Items]
REVENUES	4,502	4,221	13,224	13,014
Voice
Product Information [Line Items]
REVENUES	409	449	1,202	1,357
Residential revenue
Product Information [Line Items]
REVENUES	10,274	9,392	30,096	28,030
Small and medium business
Product Information [Line Items]
REVENUES	1,062	988	3,116	2,967
Enterprise
Product Information [Line Items]
REVENUES	656	617	1,930	1,845
Commercial revenue
Product Information [Line Items]
REVENUES	1,718	1,605	5,046	4,812
Advertising sales
Product Information [Line Items]
REVENUES	391	460	1,146	1,074
Mobile
Product Information [Line Items]
REVENUES	535	368	1,546	936
Other
Product Information [Line Items]
REVENUES	$ 228	$ 214	$ 636	$ 621

Operating Costs and Expenses (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Operating Costs and Expenses [Abstract]
Programming	$ 2,983	$ 2,727	$ 8,949	$ 8,492
Regulatory, connectivity and produced content	634	612	1,902	1,651
Costs to service customers	1,899	1,902	5,530	5,598
Marketing	788	788	2,280	2,273
Mobile	607	456	1,765	1,243
Other	1,047	998	3,125	2,955
Operating costs and expenses (exclusive of items shown separately in the consolidated statements of operations)	$ 7,958	$ 7,483	$ 23,551	$ 22,212

Other Operating (Income) Expenses, Net (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Other Income and Expenses [Abstract]
Special charges, net	$ (7)	$ 28	$ 242	$ 50
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets, net	(2)	(14)	42	(27)
Other operating expenses, net	$ (9)	$ 14	284	$ 23
Loss Contingency, Damages Awarded, Value			$ 220		$ 151

Other Expenses, Net (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
Other Expenses, Net (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Other Income and Expenses [Abstract]
Loss on extinguishment of debt (see Note 6)	$ (69)	$ (58)	$ (144)	$ (121)
Gain (loss) on financial instruments, net (see Note 9)	(64)	69	(107)	(185)
Net periodic pension benefits (costs) (see Note 21)	(15)	(115)	176	(94)
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	(9)	(13)	(162)	(13)
Other expenses, net	$ (157)	$ (117)	$ (237)	$ (413)

Stock Compensation Plans (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
Stock Compensation Plans (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Stock Compensation Plans:
Stock compensation expense	$ 98.0	$ 83.0	$ 332.0	$ 263.0
Stock options
Stock Compensation Plans:
Stock options granted in period (shares)	36,900	17,100	1,278,700	1,282,400
Award vesting period			3 years
Award expiration period			10 years
Unrecognized compensation cost	$ 272.0		$ 272.0
Remaining period over which to recognize unrecognized compensation expense			2 years
Restricted stock
Stock Compensation Plans:
Awards other than stock options granted in period (shares)	0	0	4,600	6,000
Award vesting period			1 year
Unrecognized compensation cost	$ 2.0		$ 2.0
Remaining period over which to recognize unrecognized compensation expense			7 months
Restricted stock units
Stock Compensation Plans:
Awards other than stock options granted in period (shares)	8,900	5,000	363,100	420,900
Award vesting period			3 years
Unrecognized compensation cost	$ 257.0		$ 257.0
Remaining period over which to recognize unrecognized compensation expense			2 years

Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income tax expense	$ 347	$ 177	$ 844	$ 372
Unrecognized Tax Benefits	$ 353		$ 353		$ 298

- Definition

Amount of current income tax expense (benefit) and deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to continuing operations.

+ References + Details

Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)	23,000,000	26,000,000	18,000,000	26,000,000
Net income attributable to Charter shareholders	$ 1,217	$ 814	$ 3,044	$ 1,976
Charter Holdings convertible preferred units	0	0	70	0
Net income attributable to Charter shareholders after assumed conversions	$ 1,217	$ 814	$ 3,114	$ 1,976
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic (shares)	181,925,180	202,826,502	186,380,681	205,468,736
Assumed exercise or issuance of shares relating to stock plans	5,240,891	5,895,627	5,158,105	5,931,045
Weighted average Charter Holdings convertible preferred units	0	0	5,777,881	0
Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted (shares)	187,166,071	208,722,129	197,316,667	211,399,781
Basic earnings per common share attributable to Charter shareholders (dollars per share)	$ 6.69	$ 4.01	$ 16.33	$ 9.62
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to Charter shareholders (dollars per share)	$ 6.50	$ 3.90	$ 15.78	$ 9.35

Related Party Transactions (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Related Party Transactions:
Gregory Maffei's voting interest in Liberty Broadband (percentage)	12.60%		12.60%
Dr. John Malone's voting interest in Liberty Broadband (percentage)	45.80%		45.80%
Gregory Maffei's voting interest in Qurate Retail, Inc. (percentage)	6.30%		6.30%
Dr. John Malone's voting interest in Qurate Retail, Inc. (percentage)	41.20%		41.20%
Cash payments received from HSN, Inc. and QVC, Inc.	$ 10	$ 12	$ 33	$ 36
Dr. John Malone's voting interest in Discovery Communications, Inc. for election of directors (percentage)	26.50%		26.50%
Advance Newhouse Programming Partnership's ownership percentage in Series A preferred stock of Discovery Communications, Inc. (percentage)	100.00%		100.00%
Advance Newhouse Programming Partnership's ownership percentage in Series C preferred stock of Discovery Communications, Inc. (percentage)	100.00%		100.00%
Advance Newhouse Programming Partnership's voting interest in Discovery Communications, Inc. for election of directors (percentage)	23.20%		23.20%
Maximum
Related Party Transactions:
Percent of total operating costs and expenses paid to Discovery Communications, Inc. and Starz (percentage)	2.00%	2.00%	2.00%	2.00%
Equity Method Investee
Related Party Transactions:
Payments to related parties	$ 52	$ 50	$ 169	$ 167
Class A Common Stock
Related Party Transactions:
Dr. John Malone's ownership percentage in Discovery Communications, Inc. (percentage)	1.00%		1.00%
Class B Common Stock
Related Party Transactions:
Dr. John Malone's ownership percentage in Discovery Communications, Inc. (percentage)	95.00%		95.00%
Class C Common Stock
Related Party Transactions:
Dr. John Malone's ownership percentage in Discovery Communications, Inc. (percentage)	3.70%		3.70%

Contingencies (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Contingencies (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2019
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Loss Contingency, Damages Awarded, Value	$ 220	$ 151

Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]
Interest cost	$ (24)	$ (29)	$ (72)	$ (85)
Expected return on plan assets	40	39	124	116
Remeasurement gain (loss), net	(31)	(125)	124	(125)
Net periodic pension benefits (costs)	$ (15)	$ (115)	$ 176	$ (94)