NET INCOME PER SHARE (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	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	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
NET INCOME PER SHARE
Shares excluded from the diluted net income per common share computation because their effect was antidilutive									3,578,707	5,180,905	6,041,964
Net income attributable to CTC Media, Inc. stockholders	$ 64,875	$ (38,480)	$ 34,046	$ 32,622	$ (24,535)	$ 16,393	$ 38,468	$ 22,792	$ 93,063	$ 53,118	$ 145,731
Weighted average common shares outstanding-basic
Weighted average common shares outstanding-basic (in shares)									157,995,346	157,224,782	155,576,658
Dilutive effect of:
Common stock options and SARs (in shares)									66,904	786,877	515,380
Weighted average common shares outstanding-diluted									158,062,250	158,011,659	156,092,038
Net income per share attributable to CTC Media, Inc. stockholders:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.41	$ (0.24)	$ 0.21	$ 0.21	$ (0.16)	$ 0.10	$ 0.24	$ 0.15	$ 0.59	$ 0.34	$ 0.94
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.41	$ (0.24)	$ 0.21	$ 0.21	$ (0.16)	$ 0.10	$ 0.24	$ 0.14	$ 0.59	$ 0.34	$ 0.93