EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
(Loss) / income from continuing operations before income from investment in subsidiaries		$ (19,823)	$ (21,510)	$ (201,766)	$ (103,422)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		196	253	387	817
Preferred share accretion paid in kind		(2,364)	(4,391)	(11,314)	(12,796)
Income Loss From Continuing Operations Available to Common Shareholders, Net of Noncontrolling Interest, Basic		(21,991)	(25,648)	(212,693)	(115,401)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		0	(265)	0	(869)
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic		(21,991)	(25,913)	(212,693)	(116,270)
Net loss attributable to CME Ltd. available to common shareholders - Diluted		$ (21,991)	$ (25,913)	$ (212,693)	$ (116,270)
Weighted average outstanding shares of common stock - basic (in shares)	[1]	153,494,000	147,054,000	149,898,000	146,803,000
Dilutive effect of employee stock options and RSUs (in shares)		0	0	0	0
Weighted average outstanding shares of common stock - diluted (in shares)		153,494,000	147,054,000	149,898,000	146,803,000
Net loss per share:
Continuing operations attributable to CME Ltd. - Basic		$ (0.14)	$ (0.17)	$ (1.42)	$ (0.79)
Continuing operations attributable to CME Ltd. - Diluted		(0.14)	(0.17)	(1.42)	(0.79)
Discontinued operations attributable to CME Ltd. - Basic		0.00	(0.01)	0.00	0.00
Discontinued operations attributable to CME Ltd. - Diluted		0.00	(0.01)	0.00	0.00
Net loss attributable to CME Ltd. – Basic		(0.14)	(0.18)	(1.42)	(0.79)
Net loss attributable to CME Ltd. – Diluted		$ (0.14)	$ (0.18)	$ (1.42)	$ (0.79)
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share				107,665,348
Series B Preferred Stock [Member]
Other Preferred Stock Dividends and Adjustments		$ 0	$ 0
Dilutive Securities, Effect on Basic Earnings Per Share				$ 0	$ 0
Common Class A [Member] | T W Investor [Member]
Incremental Common Shares Attributable to Dilutive Effect of Conversion of Preferred Stock		11,211,449	11,211,449	11,211,449	11,211,449

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