BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012 Item	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Principles of Consolidation
Net income attributable to CTC Media, Inc. stockholders	$ 64,875,000	$ (38,480,000)	$ 34,046,000	$ 32,622,000	$ (24,535,000)	$ 16,393,000	$ 38,468,000	$ 22,792,000	$ 93,063,000	$ 53,118,000	$ 145,731,000
Business Segments
Number of business segments									8
Maximum
Property and Equipment
Useful life									3 years
Minimum
Property and Equipment
Useful life									25 years
Channel 31 Group
Principles of Consolidation
Percentage of economic interest owned									60.00%	60.00%	60.00%
Assets (excluding intercompany assets)	22,689,000								22,689,000
Liabilities (excluding intercompany liabilities)	7,186,000								7,186,000
Intercompany payables	4,005,000								4,005,000
Net income attributable to CTC Media, Inc. stockholders									2,849,000	3,578,000	2,212,000
Intercompany expenses									$ 598,000	$ 747,000	$ 767,000
Teleradiokompaniya 31st Kanal LLP (Channel 31)
Principles of Consolidation
Percentage of participation interest owned									20.00%
Prim LLP
Principles of Consolidation
Percentage of participation interest owned									70.00%
Advertising and Marketing LLP
Principles of Consolidation
Percentage of participation interest owned									60.00%