Amortizable Intangible Assets and Unamortizable Intangible Assets (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Jan. 26, 2013	Apr. 28, 2012	Jan. 28, 2012
Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Useful Life	3 years
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 315,691
Accumulated Amortization	77,328
Total	238,363
Unamortizable intangible assets	314,736
Total intangible assets	553,099	564,054	569,488
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	44,582
Total	227,356
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	18,434
Total	27
Technology
Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	10,710
Accumulated Amortization	3,814
Total	6,896
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	5,402
Total	2,923
Other
Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	6,257
Accumulated Amortization	5,096
Total	$ 1,161
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