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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 hVnefj+g6722NLWY5fja1w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000925645-08-000017.txt : 20081218
<SEC-HEADER>0000925645-08-000017.hdr.sgml : 20081218
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081218130833
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000925645-08-000017
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081216
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081218
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081218

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GARIN MICHAEL N
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001264402

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-24796
		FILM NUMBER:		081256992

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		33 MAIDEN LANE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10038

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEDIA ENTERPRISES LTD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000925645
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TELEVISION BROADCASTING STATIONS [4833]
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CME DEVELOPMENT CORP
		STREET 2:		ALDWYCH HOUSE 81 ALDWYCH
		CITY:			LONDON
		STATE:			X0
		ZIP:			WC2B 4HN
		BUSINESS PHONE:		011442074305430

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CLARENDON HOUSE
		STREET 2:		HAMILTON HM CX
		CITY:			BERMUDA
		STATE:			D0
		ZIP:			HM 11
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-12-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000925645</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEDIA ENTERPRISES LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CETV</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001264402</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GARIN MICHAEL N</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>33 MAIDEN LANE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10038</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option: Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>22.64</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-12-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-01-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-01-31</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock; par value $0.08</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The options may be terminated earlier in accordance with the Separation Agreement between Michael Garin and CME Development Corporation dated December 14, 2008, as filed with the SEC in our Form 8-K dated December 16, 2008.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Michael Garin</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-12-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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