CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 1,193,599	$ 1,980,878	$ 5,514,583	$ 5,573,198
Cost of revenue	1,547,762	1,440,666	5,266,933	3,791,411
Gross (loss) profit	(354,163)	540,212	247,650	1,781,787
Operating expense:
Selling, general and administrative expenses	2,459,708	2,214,997	7,788,731	6,311,346
Professional fees	139,337	790,891	1,080,129	1,657,895
Depreciation and amortization	1,246,974	1,087,002	3,726,701	3,280,656
Impairment of long-lived assets	420,000	19,023	420,000	340,771
Total operating expense	4,266,019	4,111,913	13,015,561	11,590,668
Loss from operations	(4,620,182)	(3,571,701)	(12,767,911)	(9,808,881)
Interest & other income / (expense)
Interest income	2,742	2,168	7,132	7,295
Interest expense	(28,000)	(325)	(48,512)	(1,241)
Stock purchase right	0	0	(43,748)	(155,166)
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities	(636,308)	0	(636,308)	0
Change in fair value of contingent consideration	537,784	3,189,048	74,351	937,522
Gain (loss) on investment in unconsolidated entities	64,797	5,604	52,291	(7,300)
Loss on write-off of uncollectible loans	0	0	(473,698)	0
Gain on deconsolidation of Shandong Media	141,814	0	141,814	0
Gain on disposal of AdNet	0	470,041	0	470,041
Other	(1,473)	(43,736)	(60,035)	(41,954)
(Loss) income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	(4,538,826)	51,099	(13,754,624)	(8,599,684)
Income tax benefit	101,399	74,631	282,244	261,563
Net (loss) income	(4,437,427)	125,730	(13,472,380)	(8,338,121)
Plus: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	389,274	418,060	1,482,536	1,071,000
Net (loss) income attributable to YOU On Demand shareholders	$ (4,048,153)	$ 543,790	$ (11,989,844)	$ (7,267,121)
Net loss per share attributable to YOU On Demand shareholders
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.36)		$ (1.11)	$ (0.01)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.36)		$ (1.11)	$ (0.01)
Weighted average shares outstanding
Basic (in shares)	11,293,895	10,467,130	10,765,931	9,555,941
Diluted (in shares)	11,293,895	10,780,941	10,765,931	9,555,941