DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Revenue and net income (loss) of discontinued operations
Gain from sale of discontinued operations, net of tax	$ 24,373,000	$ 7,752,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	48,874,000	(9,793,000)
Intangible impairment		29,250,000
Restructuring (income) expense	(57,000)	1,080,000
Assets and liabilities of facilities reported as discontinued operations
Current assets	407,000	232,425,000
Non-current assets	129,000	10,947,000
Current liabilities	31,017,000	250,030,000
Non-current liabilities	253,000	1,032,000
Discover
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
Amount of reserve for contingencies	1,600,000
Forecast
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
Significant future cash flows anticipated from disposition of the business	0
Real estate businesses
Revenue and net income (loss) of discontinued operations
Revenue	93,000	3,857,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	(410,000)	(16,804,000)
Gain from sale of discontinued operations, net of tax		7,752,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	(410,000)	(9,052,000)
Goodwill disposal charges		8,000,000
Restructuring (income) expense	200,000	2,600,000
Assets and liabilities of facilities reported as discontinued operations
Current assets		33,000
Current liabilities	206,000	702,000
Non-current liabilities		54,000
Net assets (liabilities)	(206,000)	(723,000)
Lending Tree Loans
Revenue and net income (loss) of discontinued operations
Revenue	86,740,000	117,509,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	26,160,000	(741,000)
Income tax benefit (expense)	(1,249,000)
Gain from sale of discontinued operations, net of tax	24,373,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	49,284,000	(741,000)
Intangible impairment	1,400,000
Restructuring (income) expense	100,000	4,000,000
Assets and liabilities of facilities reported as discontinued operations
Loans held for sale		217,467,000
Other current assets	407,000	14,925,000
Current assets	407,000	232,392,000
Property and equipment		4,181,000
Goodwill		5,579,000
Other non-current assets	129,000	1,187,000
Non-current assets	129,000	10,947,000
Warehouse lines of credit		197,659,000
Other current liabilities	30,811,000	51,669,000
Current liabilities	30,811,000	249,328,000
Non-current liabilities	253,000	978,000
Net assets (liabilities)	(30,528,000)	(6,967,000)
Lending Tree Loans | Trademarks
Revenue and net income (loss) of discontinued operations
Intangible impairment		$ 4,100,000