Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Document And Entity Information [Abstract] Statement [Table] Statement [Line Items] Document Type Amendment Flag Document Period End Date Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Filer Category Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Public Float Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract] Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents, end of year Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value, Total Available-for-sale Securities, Current, Total Available For Sale Securities Current Estimated Fair Value Total short-term investments Short-term investments Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of amounts paid for streaming content which met the criteria for capitalization, net of related accumulated amortization, which is expected to be used within one year. Content Library Net Current Current content library, net Less: Current content library, net Current content library, net Current content library, net Prepaid content Other current assets Total current assets Total current assets Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of amounts paid for streaming content and DVDs which met the criteria for capitalization, net of related accumulated amortization, which is expected to be used beyond one year. Content Library Net Noncurrent Content library, net Content library, net Non-current content library, net Content library, net Non-current content library, net Property and equipment, net Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Ending Balance Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Beginning Balance Property and equipment, net Property and equipment, net Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Total Other non-current assets Other non-current assets Total assets Total assets Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Current liabilities: Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of content liabilities incurred and payable to vendors for content received that are used in an entity's business. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer). Content Accounts Payable Current Content accounts payable Content accounts payable Accounts Payable, Current Content accounts payable Total content accounts payable Other accounts payable Accrued Liabilities, Current Accrued expenses Accrued expenses Deferred Revenue, Current Deferred Revenue, Current, Total Deferred revenue Total current liabilities Total current liabilities Senior Notes, Noncurrent Long-term debt outstanding Long-term debt Related Party Transaction, Due from (to) Related Party Long-term debt due to related party Related Party Transaction, Due from (to) Related Party, Total Long-term debt due to related party Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of content liabilities incurred and payable to vendors for content received that are used in an entity's business. Used to reflect the non-current portion of the liabilities (due in greater than one year). Content Accounts Payable Noncurrent Non-current content liabilities Non-current content liabilities Other non-current liabilities Other non-current liabilities Total liabilities Total liabilities CommitmentsAndContingencies2009 Commitments and contingencies (Note 5) Commitments and contingencies (Note 9) Stockholders' equity: Preferred Stock, Value, Issued Preferred Stock, Value, Issued, Ending Balance Preferred Stock, Value, Issued, Beginning Balance Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2010 and 2009; no shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2010 and 2009 Preferred Stock, Value, Issued, Total Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2011 and 2010; no shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2011 and 2010 Common stock, $0.001 par value; 160,000,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2010 and 2009; 52,781,949 and 53,440,073 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively Common Stock, Value, Issued, Ending Balance Common Stock, Value, Issued, Beginning Balance Common stock, $0.001 par value; 160,000,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2011 and 2010; 55,398,615 and 52,781,949 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively Common Stock, Value, Issued, Total AdditionalPaidInCapitalCommonStock Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock, Ending Balance Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock, Beginning Balance Additional paid-in capital Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance Accumulated other comprehensive income Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Total Retained earnings Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Ending Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Beginning Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Total Balances as of December 31, 2007 Ending Balance Beginning Balance Total stockholders' equity Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Preferred Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Preferred stock, par value Preferred Stock, Shares Authorized Preferred stock, shares authorized Preferred Stock, Shares Issued Preferred stock, shares issued Preferred Stock, Shares Issued, Total Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding, Ending Balance Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding, Beginning Balance Preferred stock, shares outstanding Common stock, par value Common stock, shares authorized Common stock, shares issued Common Stock, Shares, Issued, Total Common stock, shares outstanding Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, Ending Balance Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, Beginning Balance Consolidated Statements Of Operations [Abstract] Revenues Revenues Revenues, Total Total revenues Cost of revenues: Subscription Fulfillment expenses represent those expenses incurred in content processing, including operating and staffing the Company's shipping centers, as well as receiving, encoding, inspecting and warehousing the Company's content library. Fulfillment expenses also include operating and staffing the Company's customer service centers and credit card fees. Fulfillment Expense Fulfillment expenses Total cost of revenues Cost of revenues and operating expenses Total cost of revenues Gross Profit Gross profit Gross profit Operating expenses: Marketing Technology and development Research and Development Expense, Total General and administrative General and Administrative Expense, Total Litigation Settlement, Expense Legal settlement Legal Settlement Total operating expenses Total operating expenses Operating income Operating income Other income (expense): Interest Expense Interest expense Interest Expense, Total Interest expense Interest and other income (expense) Interest and other income Income before income taxes Income before income taxes Provision for income taxes Provision for income taxes Net Income Net income Net income Net income Net Income Per Share [Abstract] Net income per share: Earnings Per Share, Basic Basic earnings per share Earnings Per Share, Basic, Total Basic Earnings Per Share, Diluted Diluted earnings per share Earnings Per Share, Diluted, Total Diluted Weighted-average common shares outstanding: Weighted-average common shares outstanding Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic, Total Basic Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted Weighted-average number of shares, Diluted Weighted-average number of shares Diluted Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Statement, Equity Components [Axis] Equity Component [Domain] Equity Component [Domain] Parent [Member] Parent [Member] Common Stock [Member] Common Stock [Member] Additional Paid In Capital [Member] Additional Paid-In Capital [Member] Treasury Stock [Member] Treasury Stock [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] Retained Earnings [Member] Retained Earnings [Member] Shares, Outstanding Ending Balance (in shares) Beginning Balance (in shares) Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Available-for-sale Securities Adjustment, Net of Tax Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net of taxes Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Available-for-sale Securities Adjustment, Net of Tax, Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax, Total Cumulative translation adjustment Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent Comprehensive income, net of taxes Comprehensive income, net of taxes Issuance of common stock upon exercise of options (in shares) Options Outstanding, Number of Shares, Exercised Options outstanding, number of shares, exercised Issuance of common stock upon exercise of options (in shares) Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised Issuance of common stock upon exercise of options Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues Issuance of common stock, net of costs Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues Issuance of common stock, net of costs (in shares) Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Employee Stock Purchase Plans Issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan (in shares) Shares purchased during period Stock Issued During Period, Value, Employee Stock Purchase Plan Issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Shares Repurchases of common stock (in shares) Repurchases of common stock (in shares) Total number of shares repurchased Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Value Repurchases of common stock Repurchases of common stock Dollar amount of shares repurchased Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition Stock-based compensation expense Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition, Total Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Income Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation Excess stock option income tax benefits Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows [Abstract] Cash flows from operating activities: Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Additions to Streaming Content Library Additions to Streaming Content Library Additions to streaming content library Additions to streaming content library Change in Streaming Content Liabilities Change in Streaming Content Liabilities Change in streaming content liabilities Amortization of Streaming Content Library Amortization of Streaming Content Library Amortization of streaming content library Amortization of DVD Content Library Amortization of DVD Content Library Amortization of DVD content library Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and intangibles Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and intangibles Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction, Total Stock-based compensation expense Stock-based compensation expense, net of tax Stock-based compensation expense before income taxes Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Operating Activities Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation Other Noncash Income (Expense) Other non-cash items Other non-cash items Other Noncash Income (Expense), Total Deferred taxes Total deferred Gain (Loss) on Sale of Other Investments Gain on sale of business Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid Expense Prepaid content Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets Other current assets Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets, Total Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable, Total Other accounts payable Increase (Decrease) in Accrued Liabilities Increase (Decrease) in Accrued Liabilities, Total Accrued expenses Increase (Decrease) in Deferred Revenue Deferred revenue Increase (Decrease) in Other Noncurrent Assets and Liabilities, Net Other non-current assets and liabilities Other non-current assets and liabilities Other non-current assets and liabilities Net cash provided by operating activities Net cash provided by operating activities Cash flows from investing activities: The cash outflow for acquisition of DVD content library. Payments For Acquisitions Of Content Library Acquisition of DVD content library Purchases of short-term investments Purchases of short-term investments Payments to Acquire Available-for-sale Securities, Total Proceeds from sale of short-term investments Proceeds from Sale of Available-for-sale Securities, Total Proceeds from maturities of short-term investments Purchases of property and equipment Purchases of property and equipment Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment, Total Proceeds from Sale of Other Investments Proceeds from sale of business Proceeds from sale of business Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities Other assets Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities Net cash used in investing activities Cash flows from financing activities: Principal payments of lease financing obligations Principal payments of lease financing obligations Proceeds from Issuance of Shares under Incentive and Share-based Compensation Plans, Including Stock Options Proceeds from Issuance of Shares under Incentive and Share-based Compensation Plans, Including Stock Options, Total Proceeds from issuance of common stock upon exercise of options Proceeds from issuance of common stock Cash received from the issuance of common stock Proceeds from public offering of common stock, net of issuance costs Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation Proceeds from Lines of Credit Borrowings on line of credit, net of issuance costs Proceeds from Lines of Credit, Total Proceeds from lines of credit, net of issuance costs Repayments of Lines of Credit Payments on line of credit Payments on line of credit Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt Proceeds from issuance of debt, net of issuance costs Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt, Total Repurchases of common stock Repurchases of common stock Net cash used in financing activities Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Supplemental disclosure: Income Taxes Paid Income taxes paid Interest Paid Interest paid Interest Paid, Total Interest paid Organization And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure and Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] Organization And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies Short-Term Investments [Abstract] Short Term Investments And Fair Value Measurement [Text Block] Short Term Investments And Fair Value Measurement [Text Block] Short-Term Investments Short-Term Investments and Fair Value Measurement Balance Sheet Components [Abstract] Details of Certain Balance Sheet Accounts Details Of Certain Balance Sheet Accounts Disclosure Text Block Balance Sheet Components Long-Term Debt [Abstract] Long-term Debt [Text Block] Long-Term Debt Commitments And Contingencies [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Commitments And Contingencies Guarantees-Indemnification Obligations [Abstract] Guarantees [Text Block] Guarantees-Indemnification Obligations Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Stockholders Equity Note Disclosure Text Block Stockholders' Equity Income Taxes [Abstract] Income Tax Disclosure TextBlock Income Taxes Employee Benefit Plan [Abstract] Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block] Employee Benefit Plan Segment Information [Abstract] Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block] Segment Information Subsequent Event [Abstract] Subsequent Event [Line Items] Subsequent Events [Text Block] Subsequent Event Selected Quarterly Financial Data [Abstract] Quarterly Financial Information [Text Block] Selected Quarterly Financial Data Nature of Operations [Text Block] Description Of Business Basis of Accounting [Text Block] Basis Of Presentation Reclassifications [Text Block] Reclassification Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block] Use Of Estimates Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block] Cash Equivalents And Short-Term Investments Company's accounting policy surrounding its DVD and streaming content library. Content Library [Policy Text Block] Content Library Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block] Property And Equipment Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block] Impairment Of Long-Lived Assets Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block] Revenue Recognition Advertising Costs, Policy [Policy Text Block] Marketing Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block] Income Taxes Foreign Currency Transactions and Translations Policy [Policy Text Block] Foreign Currency Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block] Net Income Per Share Compensation Related Costs, Policy [Policy Text Block] Stock-Based Compensation Disclosure of accounting policy for the repurchases of common stock. Stock Repurchases [Policy Text Block] Stock Repurchases Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Table Text Block] Computation Of Net Income Per Share Schedule of Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Table Text Block] Summary Of Potential Common Shares Excluded From Diluted Calculation Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis [Table Text Block] Available-For-Sale Securities Reported At Fair Value Schedule Of Fair Value Of Short Term Investment By Contractual Maturity [Text Block] Estimated Fair Value Of Short-Term Investments By Contractual Maturity