CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net revenues	$ 772,085		$ 864,782		$ 737,134
Operating expenses:
Operating costs	175,172		182,046		144,313
Cost of programming	377,983		399,774		369,329
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	41,732		52,954		54,415
Amortization of broadcast licenses and other intangibles (Note 4)	46,627		34,881		25,987
Cost of revenues	641,514		669,655		594,044
Selling, general and administrative expenses	96,274		119,587		119,816
Impairment charge (Note 4)	522,490		68,748		397
Operating (loss) / income	(488,193)		6,792		22,877
Interest income	779		2,753		2,238
Interest expense (Note 15)	(127,968)		(161,457)		(133,505)
Foreign currency exchange gain / (loss), net	4,922		(31,124)		(5,030)
Change in fair value of derivatives (Note 12)	49,027		7,281		1,164
Other income	901		1		357
Loss from continuing operations before tax	(560,532)		(175,754)		(111,899)
Credit / (provision) for income taxes	14,139		(3,850)		(5,025)
Loss from continuing operations	(546,393)		(179,604)		(116,924)
Discontinued operations, net of tax (Note 2)	0		0		(3,922)
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations (Note 2)	0		0		217,619
Income from discontinued operations	0		0		213,697
Net (loss) / income	(546,393)		(179,604)		96,773
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	10,713		4,993		3,402
Net (loss) / income attributable to CME Ltd.	(535,680)		(174,611)		100,175
Currency translation adjustment	28,651		(59,430)		(17,586)
Comprehensive (loss) / income	(517,742)		(239,034)		79,187
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	10,617		4,273		2,821
Comprehensive (loss) / income attributable to CME Ltd.	$ (507,125)		$ (234,761)		$ 82,008
Net (loss) / income per share:
Continuing operations - Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (6.96)		$ (2.71)		$ (1.77)
Continuing operations - Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (6.96)		$ (2.71)		$ (1.77)
Discontinued operations – Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00		$ 0.00		$ 3.34
Discontinued operations - Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00		$ 0.00		$ 3.34
Net (loss) / income attributable to CME Ltd. – Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (6.96)		$ (2.71)		$ 1.57
Net (loss) / income attributable to CME Ltd. – Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (6.96)		$ (2.71)		$ 1.57
Weighted average common shares used in computing per share amounts (000’s):
Basic (in shares)	76,919	[1]	64,385	[1]	64,029	[1]
Diluted (in shares)	76,919		64,385		64,029

[1] For the purpose of computing basic earnings per share, the 11,211,449 shares of Class A common stock underlying the Preferred Share are included in the weighted average outstanding shares of common stock - basic, primarily because the holder of the Preferred Share is entitled to receive any dividends payable when dividends are declared by the Board of Directors with respect to any shares of the common stock.