Represents the decrease during the period in the advertising market.

No definition available.

Name:	ctcm_AdvertisingMarketDecreaseDuringPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	ctcm_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the average percentage of the average value of the functional currency against the reporting currency.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ctcm_AveragePercentageOfFunctionalCurrencyAgainstReportingCurrency
Namespace Prefix:	ctcm_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the maximum foreign ownership percentage interest allowed in Russian mass media companies effective January 1, 2016. Russian entities and individuals that beneficially own interests in Russian mass media businesses greater than 20% through off-shore holding structures have an additional year in which to restructure such foreign holding structures.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ctcm_BeneficialForeignOwnershipThresholdPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	ctcm_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of equity interests acquired at the acquisition date in the business combination. Includes voting interests and participation interests.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ctcm_BusinessAcquisitionPercentageOfInterestsAcquired
Namespace Prefix:	ctcm_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the maximum foreign ownership percentage interest allowed in Russian mass media companies.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ctcm_DirectForeignOwnershipThresholdPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	ctcm_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the total bonus pool available under the management incentive plan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ctcm_IncentivePlanTotalBonusPool
Namespace Prefix:	ctcm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the number of amendments or waivers to Russian law approved expanding the permitted level foreign ownership in Russian mass media companies as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ctcm_NumberOfAmendmentsOrWaiversApproved
Namespace Prefix:	ctcm_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the ownership interest percentage held by the stockholders' in the entity's equity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ctcm_OwnershipInterestHeldByStockholders
Namespace Prefix:	ctcm_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the ownership interest in the business of the stockholder entity, held by its parent.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ctcm_OwnershipInterestInStockholderSBusinessHeldByParent
Namespace Prefix:	ctcm_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the entity's ownership interest in the principal subsidiaries.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ctcm_OwnershipPercentageInPrincipalSubsidiaries
Namespace Prefix:	ctcm_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the percentage of appreciation or depreciation of the functional currency against the reporting currency.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ctcm_PercentageOfAppreciationDepreciationOfFunctionalCurrencyAgainstReportingCurrency
Namespace Prefix:	ctcm_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the percentage of contribution in group's revenue and net income by CTC Media's Russian operations.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ctcm_PercentageOfContributionInGroupsRevenueAndNetIncome
Namespace Prefix:	ctcm_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represent the amount of US dollar-denominated contractual commitments for acquisition.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ctcm_ReportingCurrencyDenominatedContractualCommitmentForAcquisition
Namespace Prefix:	ctcm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the amount of US dollar-denominated expense mostly related to costs in US level.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ctcm_ReportingCurrencyDenominatedExpenseMostlyRelatedToCostsInUSLevel
Namespace Prefix:	ctcm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the amount of US dollar-denominated expense which is not contractually committed for acquisition.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ctcm_ReportingCurrencyDenominatedExpenseWhichIsNotContractuallyCommittedForAcquisition
Namespace Prefix:	ctcm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of a currency that the reporting entity is obligated to purchase at settlement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 12

-Section 13

-Sentence Column B

+ Details

Name:	invest_InvestmentForeignCurrencyContractAmountPurchased
Namespace Prefix:	invest_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage of voting equity interests acquired at the acquisition date in the business combination.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25497992&loc=d3e1392-128463

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPercentageOfVotingInterestsAcquired
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

A bank's noninterest bearing demand deposits in other banks (such as correspondents).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Article 9

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DueFromBanks
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Foreign exchange rate used to translate amounts denominated in functional currency to reporting currency.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 830

-SubTopic 30

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6897108&loc=SL6897125-166521

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyExchangeRateTranslation1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTranslationAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The parent entity's interest in net assets of the subsidiary, expressed as a percentage.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of business during the period. The cash portion only of the acquisition price.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Investing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3213-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PlanNameAxis=ctcm_ManagementIncentivePlan2015Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ctcm_ProgrammingRightsByMajorClassAxis=ctcm_ProgrammingRightsIn2015Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ctcm_ProgrammingRightsByMajorClassAxis=ctcm_ProgrammingRightsIn2016Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ctcm_ProgrammingRightsByMajorClassAxis=ctcm_ProgrammingRightsIn2017Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=ctcm_RussianTelevisionAdvertisingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=ctcm_ModernTimesGroupMTGABMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=ctcm_MTGMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=ctcm_TelcrestInvestmentsLimitedMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=ctcm_OtherPublicStockholdersMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis=ctcm_UTHRussiaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis=ctcm_ProposedOfferOrAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=ctcm_RussianAndKazakhstanOperationsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis=us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CurrencyAxis=currency_USD
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details) $ in Thousands	Sep. 24, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) item	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) item	Sep. 30, 2014	Jul. 06, 2015	Apr. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Foreign currency exchange forward transactions
Direct foreign ownership percentage threshold				50.00%
Beneficial foreign ownership percentage threshold				20.00%
Number Of Amendments Or Waivers Approved \| item		0		0
Ownership percentage in principal subsidiaries				100.00%
Exchange rate
Percentage of appreciation or depreciation of Russian ruble against US dollar		16.00%		15.00%
Change in average percentage of the average value of the Russian Ruble against the US Dollar against corresponding prior period			43.00%		40.00%
Exchange rate (in ruble)		66.2		66.2
2015 Management Incentive Plan
Exchange rate
Total bonus pool		$ 10,000		$ 10,000			$ 10,000
Programming Rights In 2015
Exchange rate
US dollar-denominated contractual commitments		9,500		9,500
US dollar-denominated expense which is not contractually committed		6,200		6,200
US dollar-denominated expense, mostly related to costs in US level		7,000		7,000
Programming Rights In 2016
Exchange rate
US dollar-denominated contractual commitments		31,700		31,700
Programming Rights In 2017
Exchange rate
US dollar-denominated contractual commitments		$ 3,300		$ 3,300
Russian Television
Exchange rate
Decrease in advertising market (as a percent)				19.00%
Modern Times Group MTG AB
Foreign currency exchange forward transactions
Ownership interest in MTG Russia AB		100.00%		100.00%
Modern Times Group MTG AB \| Minimum
Foreign currency exchange forward transactions
Percentage of contribution in group's revenues and net income by CTC Media's Russian operations				90.00%
MTG
Foreign currency exchange forward transactions
Stockholder's ownership (as a percent)		38.00%		38.00%
Telcrest Investments Limited
Foreign currency exchange forward transactions
Ownership interest held		25.00%		25.00%
Stockholder's ownership (as a percent)		25.00%		25.00%
Other Public Stockholders
Foreign currency exchange forward transactions
Stockholder's ownership (as a percent)		37.00%		37.00%
UTH \| Proposed Offer Or Agreement
Foreign currency exchange forward transactions
Percentage of interests acquired	80.00%
UTH \| Proposed Offer Or Agreement \| Russian And Kazakhstan operations
Foreign currency exchange forward transactions
Percentage interest acquired in the entity (as a percent)	75.00%	75.00%		75.00%		75.00%
Cash payment in acquisition	$ 200,500
Foreign exchange forward Contracts
Exchange rate
Purchases of foreign currency forward agreement		$ 20,000		$ 20,000
Exchange rate (in ruble)		66.96		66.96
U.S. dollar-denominated cash and cash equivalents
Exchange rate
Cash and cash deposits		$ 67,122		$ 67,122				$ 5,861