INCOME TAXES (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Components of (loss) / income from continuing operations before income taxes [Table Text Block]

The Netherlands and non-Netherlands components of loss from continuing operations before income taxes are:

	For the Years Ending December 31,
	2011			2010			2009
Domestic	$	(6,470	)	$	(77,267	)	$	130,185
Foreign	(169,284		)	(34,632		)	(196,431		)
Total	$	(175,754	)	$	(111,899	)	$	(66,246	)

Total Tax Charge [Table Text Block]

Total tax charge for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 was allocated as follows:

	For the Years Ending December 31,
	2011		2010		2009
Income tax expense from continuing operations	$	3,850	$	5,025	$	4,737
Income tax expense / (credit) from discontinued operations	—		30		(7,938		)
Total tax expense	$	3,850	$	5,055	$	(3,201	)

Components of the provision for income taxes from continuing operations [Table Text Block]

The Netherlands and non-Netherlands components of the provision for income taxes from continuing operations consist of:

	For the Years Ending December 31,
	2011			2010			2009
Current income tax expense:
Domestic	$	321		$	549		$	371
Foreign	10,377			12,310			18,276
	10,698			12,859			18,647
Deferred tax benefit:
Domestic	(5		)	—			(2		)
Foreign	(6,843		)	(7,834		)	(13,908		)
	(6,848		)	(7,834		)	(13,910		)
Provision for income taxes	$	3,850		$	5,025		$	4,737

Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Table Text Block]

The following is a reconciliation of income taxes, calculated at statutory Netherlands rates, to the income tax provision included in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009:

	For the Years Ending December 31,
	2011			2010			2009
Income taxes at Netherlands rates (2011 - 25%, 2010 and 2009 - 25.5%)	$	(43,927	)	$	(28,521	)	$	(16,877	)
Jurisdictional differences in tax rates	22,092			416			25,064
Tax effect of goodwill impairment	7,105			—			—
Unrecognized tax benefits	4,490			2,444			12,343
Losses expired	2,344			672			296
Tax charge from internal restructuring	9,229			—			—
Change in valuation allowance	2,637			30,427			(16,349		)
Other	(120		)	(413		)	260
Provision for income taxes	$	3,850		$	5,025		$	4,737

Significant components included in deferred income taxes [Table Text Block]

The following table shows the significant components included in deferred income taxes as at December 31, 2011 and 2010:

	December 31, 2011			December 31, 2010
Assets:
Tax benefit of loss carry-forwards and other tax credits	$	96,691		$	90,532
Programming rights	8,161			10,322
Property, plant and equipment	2,557			3,132
Accrued expenses	5,485			4,975
Other	11,038			9,864
Gross deferred tax assets	123,932			118,825
Valuation allowance	(92,738		)	(90,553		)
Net deferred tax assets	31,194			28,272
Liabilities:
Broadcast licenses, trademarks and customer relationships	$	(71,459	)	$	(78,751	)
Property, plant and equipment	(8,571		)	(11,304		)
Programming rights	(10,370		)	(8,742		)
Temporary difference due to timing	(8,435		)	(7,558		)
Total deferred tax liabilities	(98,835		)	(106,355		)
Net deferred income tax liability	$	(67,641	)	$	(78,083	)

Deferred tax recognized on Consolidated Balance Sheet [Table Text Block]

Deferred tax is recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as follows:

	December 31, 2011			December 31, 2010
Net current deferred tax assets	$	3,893		$	3,835
Net non-current deferred tax assets	4,232			1,378
	8,125			5,213
Net current deferred tax liabilities	(1,094		)	(672		)
Net non-current deferred tax liabilities	(74,672		)	(82,624		)
	(75,766		)	(83,296		)
Net deferred income tax liability	$	(67,641	)	$	(78,083	)

Valuation Allowance [Table Text Block]

During 2011, we had the following movements on valuation allowances:

Balance at December 31, 2010	$	90,553
Created during the period	15,042
Utilized	(12,405		)
Foreign exchange	(452		)
Balance at December 31,2011	$	92,738

Operating Loss Carryforwards [Table Text Block]

As of December 31, 2011 we have operating loss carry-forwards that will expire in the following periods:

Year:	2012		2013		2014		2015		2016 - 27		Indefinite
Austria	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	9,931
Bulgaria	19		19		3,297		31,100		1,420		—
Croatia	23,027		13,036		11,177		7,507		3,389		—
Czech Republic	737		673		—		2,489		1,228		—
Hungary	—		—		—		—		—		308
Moldova	—		32		1		—		—		—
Netherlands	—		5,411		10,743		3,940		238,133		—
Romania	—		410		7,117		8,037		39,840		—
Slovakia	—		—		—		—		12,110		—
Slovenia	—		—		—		—		—		11,267
United Kingdom	—		—		—		—		—		3,134
United States	—		—		—		—		5,288		—
Total	$	23,783	$	19,581	$	32,335	$	53,073	$	301,408	$	24,640

Reconciliation of unrecognized tax benefits [Table Text Block]

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:

Balance at December 31,2008	$	4,270
Increases for tax positions taken during a prior period	95
Increases for tax positions taken during the current period	12,843
Decreases resulting form the expiry of the statute of limitations	(595		)
Other	23
Balance at December 31,2009	16,636
Increases for tax positions taken during a prior period	(428		)
Increases for tax positions taken during the current period	2,872
Settlements with tax authorities	(252		)
Other	(170		)
Balance at December 31,2010	18,658
Increases for tax positions taken during a prior period	88
Increases for tax positions taken during the current period	4,402
Other	(18		)
Balance at December 31,2011	$	23,130

Schedule Of Income Tax Examinations By Tax Jurisdiction [Table Text Block]

Our subsidiaries file income tax returns in The Netherlands and various other tax jurisdictions including the United States. As at December 31, 2011, analyzed by major tax jurisdictions, our subsidiaries are generally no longer subject to income tax examinations for years before:

Country	Year
Bulgaria	2008
Croatia	2007
Czech Republic	2008
Netherlands	2007
Romania	2006
Slovak Republic	2006
Slovenia	2006
United Kingdom	2010
United States	2009