Amortizable Intangible Assets and Unamortizable Intangible Assets (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Jul. 28, 2012	Apr. 28, 2012	Jul. 30, 2011
Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Useful Life	3 years
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 314,862
Accumulated Amortization	(67,076)
Total	247,786
Unamortizable intangible assets	314,736
Total intangible assets	562,522	564,054	563,034
Trade Name
Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Unamortizable intangible assets	293,400
Publishing Contracts
Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Unamortizable intangible assets	21,336
Customer Relationships and Other Acquired Intangible Assets
Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	271,938
Accumulated Amortization	(36,814)
Total	235,124
Customer Relationships and Other Acquired Intangible Assets | Minimum
Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Useful Life	3 years
Customer Relationships and Other Acquired Intangible Assets | Maximum
Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Useful Life	25 years
Author Contracts
Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Useful Life	10 years
Gross Carrying Amount	18,461
Accumulated Amortization	(17,511)
Total	950
Technology
Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	9,950
Accumulated Amortization	(2,856)
Total	7,094
Technology | Minimum
Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Useful Life	3 years
Technology | Maximum
Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Useful Life	10 years
Distribution Contracts
Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Useful Life	10 years
Gross Carrying Amount	8,325
Accumulated Amortization	(5,089)
Total	3,236
Other
Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	6,188
Accumulated Amortization	(4,806)
Total	$ 1,382
Other | Minimum
Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Useful Life	3 years
Other | Maximum
Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Useful Life	10 years