INCOME TAXES (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended			36 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2014
Pretax income (loss):
Domestic	$ (3,586)	$ (7,527)	$ (12,557)
Foreign	171,747	229,023	177,246
Total	168,161	221,496	164,689
Significant components of the provision for income taxes
Domestic - current	(5,894)	3,612	(7,047)
Foreign - current	(40,080)	(58,756)	(58,568)
Domestic - deferred	(8,612)	(10,947)	(20,325)
Foreign - deferred	(199)	4,756	21,067
Income tax expense	(54,785)	(61,335)	(64,873)
Russian withholding tax under the Treaty, on dividends distributed to CTC Media, Inc. (as a percent)	5.00%
Russian withholding tax on dividends distributed within the country (as a percent)	0.00%
Maximum percentage of ownership interest in subsidiary which Russian companies are required to hold to qualify for withholding tax exemption	50.00%
Minimum percentage of ownership interest in subsidiary which Russian companies are required to hold to qualify for withholding tax exemption	50.00%
Minimum period for which Russian companies are required to hold ownership interest in subsidiary to qualify for withholding tax exemption	365 days
Russian statutory income tax rate (as a percent)				20.00%
Kazakh statutory income tax rate (as a percent)				20.00%
Reconciliation of the US statutory federal tax rate to the Company's effective tax rate
U.S. statutory income tax rate (as a percent)				35.00%
Income tax expense at US statutory rates (35%)	(58,856)	(77,524)	(57,642)
Non-deductible expenses (stock-based compensation)	60	(642)	(1,673)
Reversals of tax contingencies non-deductible for income tax purposes	1,124	464	1,956
Foreign tax credits/prior years		15,554	4,680
Foreign tax credits/current year	11,805	12,098
Effect of impairment loss	(10,275)	(10,454)	(12,375)
Other permanent differences	1,357	(831)	181
Income tax expense	$ (54,785)	$ (61,335)	$ (64,873)