SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013 Item	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 Item	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012 Item
SEGMENT INFORMATION
Number of business segments					8
Number of Russian-based television channels	3		3
Segment information
Operating revenue from external customers	$ 171,084	$ 162,009	$ 572,386	$ 540,713
Operating income / (loss)	44,187	(44,048)	135,766	55,045
Identifiable assets	925,063	887,301	925,063	887,301	985,574
Depreciation and amortization	(8,150)	(4,911)	(24,973)	(15,051)
Programming expenses	(69,738)	(66,103)	(252,368)	(224,491)
Impairment loss		(82,503)		(82,503)
Business segment results
Segment information
Operating revenue from external customers	171,084	162,009	572,386	540,713
Intersegment revenue	349	891	1,214	2,252
Operating income / (loss)	44,187	(44,048)	135,766	55,045
Identifiable assets	968,488	937,319	968,488	937,319
Depreciation and amortization	(8,150)	(4,911)	(24,973)	(15,051)
Programming expenses	(69,738)	(66,103)	(252,368)	(224,491)
Impairment loss		(82,503)		(82,503)
CTC Channel
Segment information
Operating revenue from external customers	119,329	110,679	403,794	386,865
Intersegment revenue	315	384	883	628
Operating income / (loss)	42,536	16,997	130,486	113,709
Identifiable assets	588,905	549,407	588,905	549,407
Depreciation and amortization	(2,211)	(1,781)	(6,832)	(5,513)
Programming expenses	(47,525)	(45,184)	(178,906)	(159,175)
Impairment loss		(19,523)		(19,523)
Domashny Channel
Segment information
Operating revenue from external customers	26,099	24,334	85,559	76,028
Intersegment revenue	29	74	161	272
Operating income / (loss)	3,636	(12,793)	13,373	(5,033)
Identifiable assets	108,173	130,214	108,173	130,214
Depreciation and amortization	(1,956)	(748)	(5,870)	(2,216)
Programming expenses	(12,289)	(12,266)	(40,436)	(37,357)
Impairment loss		(16,224)		(16,224)
Peretz Channel
Segment information
Operating revenue from external customers	17,115	19,971	59,018	57,034
Intersegment revenue	5		9	27
Operating income / (loss)	1,166	(39,949)	2,856	(34,397)
Identifiable assets	149,475	155,360	149,475	155,360
Depreciation and amortization	(2,863)	(1,871)	(8,898)	(5,772)
Programming expenses	(6,788)	(5,883)	(23,981)	(19,444)
Impairment loss		(43,795)		(43,795)
Channel 31
Segment information
Operating revenue from external customers	6,409	4,999	17,355	14,911
Operating income / (loss)	1,167	(1,539)	2,762	711
Identifiable assets	25,014	23,382	25,014	23,382
Depreciation and amortization	(721)	(91)	(2,198)	(271)
Programming expenses	(3,118)	(2,206)	(8,543)	(7,421)
Impairment loss		(2,961)		(2,961)
All Other
Segment information
Operating revenue from external customers	2,132	2,026	6,660	5,875
Intersegment revenue		433	161	1,325
Operating income / (loss)	(4,318)	(6,764)	(13,711)	(19,945)
Identifiable assets	96,921	78,956	96,921	78,956
Depreciation and amortization	(399)	(420)	(1,175)	(1,279)
Programming expenses	(18)	(564)	(502)	(1,094)
Eliminations
Segment information
Intersegment revenue	(349)	(891)	(1,214)	(2,252)
Identifiable assets	$ (43,425)	$ (50,018)	$ (43,425)	$ (50,018)