Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $31,200 in 2010 and $32,800 in 2009 Accumulated other comprehensive earnings Investments and acquisitions, net of cash acquired Investments and acquisitions, net of cash acquired Additional paid-in capital Depreciation of plant and equipment Advertising Accounts receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts Amortization Amortization Statement of Financial Position [Abstract] Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year Cash and cash equivalents at end of year Interest paid (Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable (Increase) decrease in inventories Decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Common stock, shares authorized (in shares) Common stock of $0.50 par value. Authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued 209,694,630 shares in 2010 and 2009 Other Comprehensive Earnings (Loss) Cost of sales Current liabilities Total current liabilities Liabilities, Current Deferred income taxes Derivative Financial Instruments Diluted (in dollars per share) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash Stock-based compensation Income Statement [Abstract] Income Taxes Other intangibles, net Interest expense Interest expense Inventories Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Total liabilities and shareholders' equity Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Total liabilities Liabilities Long-term debt Repayments of borrowings with original maturities of more than three months Repayments of borrowings with original maturities of more than three months Cash flows from financing activities Net cash (utilized) provided by financing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Cash flows from investing activities Net cash utilized by investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Cash flows from operating activities Net cash provided by operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Net earnings Net earnings Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Nonoperating (income) expense Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Abstract] Total nonoperating expense, net Nonoperating Income (Expense) Total nonoperating expense, net Other assets Total other assets Assets, Noncurrent Operating profit Operating profit Basis of Presentation Other Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities Other investing activities Other (income) expense, net Dividends paid Dividends paid Pension, Postretirement and Postemployment Benefits Preference stock, shares authorized (in shares) Preference stock, shares issued (in shares) Net proceeds from borrowings with original maturities of more than three months Proceeds from sales of short-term investments Net (repayments) proceeds of other short-term borrowings Stock option transactions Property, plant and equipment, net Additions to property, plant and equipment Additions to property, plant and equipment Purchases of short-term investments Purchases of short-term investments Purchases of common stock Purchases of common stock Retained earnings Royalties Net revenues Segment Reporting Selling, distribution and administration Short-term borrowings Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract] Shareholders' equity Supplemental information Income taxes paid Current assets Total current assets Assets, Current Product development Total assets Assets Intangible Assets Disclosure Interest income Other liabilities Cash dividends declared (in dollars per share) Assets Assets [Abstract] Fair Value of Financial Instruments Financial Instruments Treasury stock, at cost Treasury stock, at cost, 72,278,515 shares in 2010 and 72,597,140 shares in 2009 Basic (in dollars per share) Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation Preference stock, par value (in dollars per shares) Common stock, shares issued (in shares) Other Other Assets, Noncurrent Costs and Expenses Total expenses Operating Expenses Per common share Earnings before income taxes Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Cumulative Effects of Changes in Accounting Principles, Noncontrolling Interest Common stock, par value (in dollars per shares) Treasury stock, at cost (in shares) Total shareholders' equity Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Balance Balance Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Income taxes Preference stock of $2.50 par value. Authorized 5,000,000 shares; none issued Goodwill Earnings Per Share Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Accounts payable Accrued liabilities Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities: Document Type Amendment Flag Amendment Description Document Period End Date Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Public Float Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Entity [Text Block] Document Information [Text Block] Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus The net change during the reporting period in other operating obligations not otherwise defined in the taxonomy, including long-term portion of royalty advances under long-term contracts. Increase Decrease In Other Operating Liabilities And Long Term Royalty Advances Other, including long-term advances Cash paid during the period for [Abstract] Cash paid during the period for: Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract] Schedule Of Equity Investments [Text Block] Equity Method Investment Current portion of long-term debt Prepaid Expenses And Other Current Assets Prepaid expenses and other current assets Sum of the amounts paid in advance for capitalized costs that will be expensed with the passage of time or the occurrence of a triggering event, and will be charged against earnings within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer AND Aggregate carrying amount, as of the balance sheet date, of current assets not separately presented elsewhere in the balance sheet. Current assets are expected to be realized or consumed within one year (or the normal operating cycle, if longer) Subsequent Events Adjustments Noncash Items To Reconcile Net Income Loss To Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Program production cost amortization Increase Decrease In Operating Assets Program production costs Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Statement [Table] Statement, Equity Components [Axis] Statement [Line Items] Equity Component [Domain] Common Stock Additional Paid-in Capital Retained Earnings Accumulated Other Comprehensive Earnings Treasury Stock Conversion of debentures Purchases of common stock Treasury Stock Value Acquired Cost Method Stock-based compensation transactions Stock-based compensation expense Profit Loss Net earnings Other comprehensive loss Comprehensive earnings Comprehensive earnings Dividends declared Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Property, Plant & Equipment Goodwill and Intangibles Financing Arrangements Accrued Liabilities Long-Term Debt Capital Stock Stock Options, Other Stock Awards and Warrants Leases Commitments and Contingencies Quarterly Financial Data Other financing activities Schedule To Financial Statements [Abstract] Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Program Production Costs Details regarding the capitalization and amortization of costs reltaed to the production of television programming.