SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012 Item	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
SEGMENT INFORMATION
Number of business segments			8
Segment information
Operating revenue from external customers	$ 187,584	$ 204,484	$ 378,704	$ 370,024
Operating income / (loss)	49,122	61,745	99,093	97,673
Identifiable assets	904,995	1,063,343	904,995	1,063,343	893,101
Depreciation and amortization (exclusive of amortization of programming rights, sublicensing rights and own production cost)	(4,983)	(4,209)	(10,140)	(8,145)
Amortization of programming rights	(79,391)	(75,474)	(155,150)	(146,211)
Amortization of sublicensing rights and own production cost	(503)	(511)	(3,238)	(825)
Business segment results
Segment information
Operating revenue from external customers	186,588	204,161	376,865	369,515
Intersegment revenue	3,217	12,383	11,452	16,290
Operating income / (loss)	52,022	72,921	106,719	117,171
Identifiable assets	1,287,784	1,448,975	1,287,784	1,448,975
Depreciation and amortization (exclusive of amortization of programming rights, sublicensing rights and own production cost)	(4,933)	(4,110)	(10,038)	(7,967)
Amortization of programming rights	(79,305)	(77,232)	(156,174)	(149,806)
Amortization of sublicensing rights and own production cost	(1,198)	(10,221)	(9,796)	(12,395)
CTC Network
Segment information
Operating revenue from external customers	111,597	127,829	236,230	236,121
Intersegment revenue	117	125	192	256
Operating income / (loss)	27,697	48,081	68,496	81,116
Identifiable assets	824,392	812,214	824,392	812,214
Depreciation and amortization (exclusive of amortization of programming rights, sublicensing rights and own production cost)	(1,325)	(693)	(2,754)	(1,264)
Amortization of programming rights	(57,884)	(53,302)	(111,422)	(105,912)
Amortization of sublicensing rights and own production cost	(335)	(506)	(3,070)	(932)
Domashny Network
Segment information
Operating revenue from external customers	20,989	24,320	43,865	44,068
Intersegment revenue	3	2	12	5
Operating income / (loss)	1,598	4,146	3,660	7,304
Identifiable assets	79,149	68,492	79,149	68,492
Depreciation and amortization (exclusive of amortization of programming rights, sublicensing rights and own production cost)	(336)	(251)	(695)	(475)
Amortization of programming rights	(12,309)	(12,375)	(25,061)	(22,289)
Amortization of sublicensing rights and own production cost	(32)		(32)
Peretz Network
Segment information
Operating revenue from external customers	17,820	15,905	33,500	28,576
Operating income / (loss)	5,122	780	7,057	345
Identifiable assets	85,706	195,568	85,706	195,568
Depreciation and amortization (exclusive of amortization of programming rights, sublicensing rights and own production cost)	(745)	(773)	(1,521)	(1,517)
Amortization of programming rights	(6,398)	(9,561)	(13,897)	(17,674)
CTC Television Station Group
Segment information
Operating revenue from external customers	23,229	25,360	41,022	43,219
Intersegment revenue	615	471	1,015	939
Operating income / (loss)	15,807	17,970	26,456	28,686
Identifiable assets	71,861	102,604	71,861	102,604
Depreciation and amortization (exclusive of amortization of programming rights, sublicensing rights and own production cost)	(519)	(538)	(1,014)	(1,089)
Amortization of programming rights	(88)	(90)	(172)	(176)
Domashny Television Station Group
Segment information
Operating revenue from external customers	4,450	4,063	7,935	6,692
Intersegment revenue	1,031	941	2,044	1,651
Operating income / (loss)	1,754	1,680	3,041	2,119
Identifiable assets	53,723	57,976	53,723	57,976
Depreciation and amortization (exclusive of amortization of programming rights, sublicensing rights and own production cost)	(713)	(455)	(1,424)	(882)
Amortization of programming rights	(1)	(2)	(2)	(2)
Peretz Television Station Group
Segment information
Operating revenue from external customers	2,336	1,827	3,805	2,881
Intersegment revenue	621	249	1,173	632
Operating income / (loss)	(470)	(1,324)	(1,673)	(3,074)
Identifiable assets	100,410	135,418	100,410	135,418
Depreciation and amortization (exclusive of amortization of programming rights, sublicensing rights and own production cost)	(1,180)	(1,268)	(2,391)	(2,432)
Amortization of programming rights	(1)	(1)	(1)	(2)
CIS Group
Segment information
Operating revenue from external customers	6,006	4,813	10,314	7,892
Operating income / (loss)	1,565	1,340	1,311	981
Identifiable assets	24,988	26,538	24,988	26,538
Depreciation and amortization (exclusive of amortization of programming rights, sublicensing rights and own production cost)	(106)	(120)	(223)	(272)
Amortization of programming rights	(2,601)	(1,855)	(5,596)	(3,705)
Production Group
Segment information
Operating revenue from external customers	161	44	194	66
Intersegment revenue	830	10,595	7,016	12,807
Operating income / (loss)	(1,051)	248	(1,629)	(306)
Identifiable assets	47,555	50,165	47,555	50,165
Depreciation and amortization (exclusive of amortization of programming rights, sublicensing rights and own production cost)	(9)	(12)	(16)	(36)
Amortization of programming rights	(23)	(46)	(23)	(46)
Amortization of sublicensing rights and own production cost	(831)	(9,715)	(6,694)	(11,463)
Eliminations and other
Segment information
Operating revenue from external customers	996	323	1,839	509
Intersegment revenue	(3,217)	(12,383)	(11,452)	(16,290)
Operating income / (loss)	(2,900)	(11,176)	(7,626)	(19,498)
Identifiable assets	(382,789)	(385,632)	(382,789)	(385,632)
Depreciation and amortization (exclusive of amortization of programming rights, sublicensing rights and own production cost)	(50)	(99)	(102)	(178)
Amortization of programming rights	(86)	1,758	1,024	3,595
Amortization of sublicensing rights and own production cost	$ 695	$ 9,710	$ 6,558	$ 11,570