CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY (Unaudited) (USD $)	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	YOU On Demand Shareholders' (Deficit)/Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Total
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 13,742	$ 62,388,502	$ (58,841,664)	$ 604,632	$ 4,165,212	$ 53,046	$ 4,218,258
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012	13,742,394
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Warrants issued for service	0	108,031	0	0	108,031	0	108,031
Common shares issued for service	29	79,348	0	0	79,377	0	79,377
Common shares issued for service (in shares)	28,390
Stock option compensation expense	0	163,683	0	0	163,683	0	163,683
Conversion of Series B preferred shares into common	1,049	3,222,526	0	0	3,223,575	0	3,223,575
Conversion of Series B preferred shares into common (in shares)	1,048,907
Net loss	0	0	(3,344,765)	0	(3,344,765)	(330,402)	(3,675,167)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	0	0	0	19,061	19,061	2,330	21,391
Balance at Mar. 31, 2013	$ 14,820	$ 65,962,090	$ (62,186,429)	$ 623,693	$ 4,414,174	$ (275,026)	$ 4,139,148
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2013	14,819,691