NET INCOME PER SHARE (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
NET INCOME PER SHARE
Shares excluded from the diluted net income per common share computation because their effect was antidilutive	4,233,472	4,691,163
Components of basic and diluted net income per share
Net income attributable to CTC Media, Inc. stockholders	$ 32,622	$ 22,792
Weighted average common shares outstanding-basic
Common stock (in shares)	157,495,591	157,001,909
Dilutive effect of:
Common stock options (in shares)	309,893	1,000,286
Weighted average common shares outstanding-diluted	157,805,484	158,002,195
Net income per share attributable to CTC Media, Inc. stockholders:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.21	$ 0.15
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.21	$ 0.14