| USD ($) $ in Millions | LTM | Dec 31, 2025 | Dec 31, 2024 | Dec 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | Dec 31, 2019 | Dec 31, 2018 | Dec 31, 2017 | Dec 31, 2016 | Dec 31, 2015 | Dec 31, 2014 | Dec 31, 2013 | Dec 31, 2012 | Dec 31, 2011 | Dec 31, 2010 | Dec 31, 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Operating Activities | ||||||||||||||||||
Net income | - | $ 23,386 | $ 12,253 | $ 15,623 | ||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | ||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 20,038 | 20,886 | 20,580 | 18,777 | ||||||||||||||
Amortization of film and television costs | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Distributed (undistributed) earnings from investments in equity affiliates | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Provision for uncollectible accounts | 2,496 | 2,271 | 1,969 | 1,969 | ||||||||||||||
Asset impairments and abandonments and restructuring | 3,992 | 838 | 5,075 | 1,193 | ||||||||||||||
Deferred income tax expense | - | - | 1,570 | 3,037 | ||||||||||||||
Net (gain) loss on investments, net of impairments | - | - | 80 | 441 | ||||||||||||||
Pension and postretirement benefit expense (credit) | (1,584) | (1,588) | (1,883) | (2,552) | ||||||||||||||
Impairment of intangible assets | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Net gain from impairment and sale of investments | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Actuarial and settlement (gain) loss on pension and postretirement benefits – net | 519 | 519 | 56 | 1,594 | ||||||||||||||
Net (gain) loss on investments | (444) | (5,889) | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Asset abandonments and impairments | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Actuarial loss on pension and postretirement benefits | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Net (gain) loss from impairment and sale of investments | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Actuarial loss on pension and postretirement benefit plans | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Income from discontinued operations | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Gain on license exchange | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||||
Receivables | (1,816) | (1,526) | 123 | 82 | ||||||||||||||
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Equipment installment receivables and related sales | (1,498) | 324 | (1,846) | (133) | ||||||||||||||
Contract asset and cost deferral | (1,343) | (1,208) | 497 | 1 | ||||||||||||||
Inventories, prepaid and other current assets | 669 | (460) | (383) | (642) | ||||||||||||||
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities | 1,660 | 884 | (810) | (1,764) | ||||||||||||||
Changes in income taxes | 2,826 | 2,226 | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Postretirement claims and contributions | (1,207) | (1,436) | (166) | (735) | ||||||||||||||
Retirement benefit funding | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Share-based payment excess tax benefit | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Other – net | 1,208 | 1,057 | 1,656 | 1,423 | ||||||||||||||
Total adjustments | 25,516 | 16,898 | 26,518 | 22,691 | ||||||||||||||
Total adjustments | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities | - | 40,284 | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities from Continuing Operations | - | - | 38,771 | 38,314 | ||||||||||||||
Investing Activities | ||||||||||||||||||
Capital expenditures | (22,419) | (20,842) | (20,263) | (17,853) | ||||||||||||||
Interest during construction | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired | (26,009) | (379) | (380) | (2,942) | ||||||||||||||
Dispositions | 3,637 | 3,218 | 75 | 72 | ||||||||||||||
Distributions from DIRECTV in excess of cumulative equity in earnings | - | 0 | 928 | 2,049 | ||||||||||||||
(Purchases), sales and settlement of securities and investments, net | 155 | 181 | 2,575 | (902) | ||||||||||||||
Advances to and investments in equity affiliates, net | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Cash collections of deferred purchase price | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Sale of other investments | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Other – net | (1,228) | (955) | (425) | (84) | ||||||||||||||
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities | - | (18,777) | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities from Continuing Operations | - | - | (17,490) | (19,660) | ||||||||||||||
Financing Activities | ||||||||||||||||||
Net change in short-term borrowings with original maturities of three months or less | 0 | 0 | 0 | (914) | ||||||||||||||
Issuance of other short-term borrowings | 3,000 | 0 | 491 | 5,406 | ||||||||||||||
Repayment of other short-term borrowings | (3,000) | 0 | (2,487) | (3,415) | ||||||||||||||
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-Term Debt | 35,870 | 14,027 | 19 | 10,004 | ||||||||||||||
Repayment of long-term debt | (13,851) | (5,528) | (10,297) | (12,044) | ||||||||||||||
Note payable to DIRECTV, net of payments | 0 | 0 | 0 | (130) | ||||||||||||||
Payment of vendor financing | (1,506) | (1,181) | (1,792) | (5,742) | ||||||||||||||
Redemption of preferred stock | 0 | (2,075) | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Issuance of preferred stock | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Issuance of other long-term financing obligations | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Purchase of treasury stock | (9,303) | (4,500) | (215) | (194) | ||||||||||||||
Issuance of treasury stock | 3 | 21 | 15 | 3 | ||||||||||||||
Issuance of preferred interests in subsidiary | 0 | 2,221 | 0 | 7,151 | ||||||||||||||
Redemption of preferred interests in subsidiary | (65) | (65) | 0 | (5,333) | ||||||||||||||
Dividends paid | (7,935) | (8,180) | (8,208) | (8,136) | ||||||||||||||
Share-based payment excess tax benefit | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Other – net | (2,321) | (1,126) | (2,234) | (2,270) | ||||||||||||||
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities | - | (6,386) | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash | (9,147) | 15,121 | (3,427) | 3,040 | ||||||||||||||
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities from Continuing Operations | - | - | (24,708) | (15,614) | ||||||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash from continuing operations | - | - | (3,427) | 3,040 | ||||||||||||||
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Discontinued Operations [Abstract] | ||||||||||||||||||
Cash used in operating activities | - | - | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
Cash provided by investing activities | - | - | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
Cash provided by financing activities | - | - | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash from discontinued operations | - | - | $ 0 | $ 0 |