UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Preferred Class B	Preferred Stock	Preferred Stock Preferred Class B	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Preferred Class B	AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member]	Accumulated Foreign Currency Adjustment Attributable to Parent [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Parent [Member]	Parent [Member] Preferred Class B	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 56,840				$ 37	$ 641,930		$ (61,118)		$ (524,009)	$ 56,840		$ 0
Shares, Outstanding at Dec. 31, 2018					37,728
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period					190
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised	(271)					(271)					(271)
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Other	(776)					(1,346)					(1,346)		570
Stock-based compensation	1,384					1,384					1,384
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(87)								$ (87)		(87)
Net loss attributable to RealNetworks										1,533	1,533		(319)
Stockholders' Equity, Other	(450)					(362)					(362)		(88)
Shares, Outstanding at Mar. 31, 2019					37,918
Net loss from continuing operations	1,214
Shares, Outstanding at Dec. 31, 2018					37,728
Foreign currency translation adjustments									(811)
Net loss attributable to RealNetworks	(13,637)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests of continuing operations	(106)
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock	0
Shares, Outstanding at Sep. 30, 2019					38,067
Net loss from continuing operations	(14,495)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(811)
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	58,754				$ 37	642,059		(61,205)		(522,476)	58,415		339
Shares, Outstanding at Mar. 31, 2019					37,918
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period					131
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised	128					128					128
Stock-based compensation	533					533					533
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(492)								(492)		(492)
Net loss attributable to RealNetworks	(9,202)									(9,202)			(253)
Shares, Outstanding at Jun. 30, 2019					38,049
Net loss from continuing operations	(9,455)
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	49,468				$ 37	642,720		(61,697)		(531,678)	49,382		86
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period					18
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised	(2)					(3)
Stock-based compensation	503					503					503
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(232)								(232)		(232)
Net loss attributable to RealNetworks	(5,968)									(5,968)			(286)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests of continuing operations	(54)
Stockholders' Equity, Other	(450)					(353)					(353)		(97)
Shares, Outstanding at Sep. 30, 2019					38,067
Net loss from continuing operations	(6,254)
Restricted Stock, Value, Shares Issued Net of Tax Withholdings					$ 1
Stockholders Equity, Capital Transaction Of Equity Method Investee	(2)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(232)
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	43,933				38	643,573		(61,929)		(537,646)	44,036		(103)
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	38,273		$ 0		$ 38	644,070		(61,323)		(544,010)	38,775		(502)
Shares, Outstanding at Dec. 31, 2019			0		38,227
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period					4
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised	0					0					0
Stock-based compensation	380					380					380
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(907)								(907)		(907)
Net loss attributable to RealNetworks										(4,642)	(4,642)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests of continuing operations													(47)
Shares, Outstanding at Mar. 31, 2020			8,065		38,231
Net loss from continuing operations	(4,689)
Issuance of Preferred B Stock (in shares)				8,065
Issuance of Preferred B Stock		$ 10,000		$ 8			$ 9,992					$ 10,000
Shares, Outstanding at Dec. 31, 2019			0		38,227
Foreign currency translation adjustments									(394)
Net loss attributable to RealNetworks	(12,992)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests of continuing operations	(196)
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock	10,000
Shares, Outstanding at Sep. 30, 2020			8,065		38,275
Net loss from continuing operations	(13,552)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(394)
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	43,057		$ 8		$ 38	654,442		(62,230)		(548,652)	43,606		(549)
Shares, Outstanding at Mar. 31, 2020			8,065		38,231
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period					(23)
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised	(5)					(5)					(5)
Stock-based compensation	323					323					323
Foreign currency translation adjustments	520								520		520
Net loss attributable to RealNetworks										(5,112)	(5,112)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests of continuing operations													(442)
Shares, Outstanding at Jun. 30, 2020			8,065		38,254
Net loss from continuing operations	(5,554)
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	38,341		$ 8		$ 38	654,760		(61,710)		(553,764)	39,332		(991)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period					(21)
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised	(7)					(7)					(7)
Stock-based compensation	390					390					390
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(7)								$ (7)		(7)
Net loss attributable to RealNetworks	(3,238)									(3,238)	(3,238)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests of continuing operations	(77)												(71)
Shares, Outstanding at Sep. 30, 2020			8,065		38,275
Net loss from continuing operations	(3,309)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(7)
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 35,408		$ 8		$ 38	$ 655,143		$ (61,717)		$ (557,002)	$ 36,470		$ (1,062)