Going Concern and Management's Plans (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Going Concern and Management's Plans [Abstract]
Net loss attributable to YOU On Demand shareholders	$ 4,048,153	$ (543,790)	$ 11,989,844	$ 7,267,121
Cash used for operations			8,258,654	3,123,064
Working capital	5,040,000		5,040,000
Funds available to raise capital via utilization of shelf registration			50,000,000
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loan from Chairman and Chief Executive Officer	3,000,000		3,000,000
Convertible note principal amount	3,000,000		3,000,000
Annual interest rate (in hundredths)	4.00%		4.00%
Maturity date, description			the earlier of (i) the date on which the Company closes the next financing of equity or equity-linked securities of the Company in which at least $5,000,000 in gross proceeds is raised, and (ii) May 10, 2013.
Maturity date			May 10, 2013
Minimum gross proceeds from issuance of equity to trigger earlier maturity date			$ 5,000,000
Convertible debt conversion price (in dollars per share)	$ 10		$ 10
Closing bid price of common stock on trading day (in dollars per share)			$ 4.75