CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 43,459	$ 61,679
Accounts receivable, net (Note 6)		178,339	167,427
Program rights, net (Note 5)		86,151	85,972
Other current assets (Note 7)		32,471	43,206
Total current assets		340,420	358,284
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment, net (Note 8)	[1]	109,089	108,522
Program rights, net (Note 5)		179,356	169,073
Goodwill (Note 3)		602,069	622,243
Other intangible assets, net (Note 3)		138,340	151,162
Other non-current assets (Note 7)		21,443	31,133
Total non-current assets		1,050,297	1,082,133
Total assets	[2]	1,390,717	1,440,417
Current liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (Note 9)		160,981	134,705
Current portion of long-term debt and other financing arrangements (Note 4)		1,494	1,155
Other current liabilities (Note 10)		9,089	10,448
Total current liabilities		171,564	146,308
Non-current liabilities
Long-term debt and other financing arrangements (Note 4)		1,002,028	908,521
Other non-current liabilities (Note 10)		68,758	65,749
Total non-current liabilities		1,070,786	974,270
Commitments and contingencies (Note 20)
Temporary Equity [Abstract]
200,000 shares of Series B Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock of $0.08 each (December 31, 2015 - 200,000) (Note 11)		254,899	241,198
CME Ltd. shareholders’ equity (Note 12):
Additional paid-in capital		1,910,244	1,914,050
Accumulated deficit		(1,785,536)	(1,605,245)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(243,988)	(242,409)
Total CME Ltd. shareholders’ (deficit) / equity		(107,804)	77,260
Noncontrolling interests		1,272	1,381
Total (deficit) / equity		(106,532)	78,641
Total liabilities and equity		1,390,717	1,440,417
Series A Preferred Stock [Member]
CME Ltd. shareholders’ equity (Note 12):
One share of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock of $0.08 each (December 31, 2015 – one)		0	0
Class A Common Stock [Member]
CME Ltd. shareholders’ equity (Note 12):
Common stock		11,476	10,864
Class B Common Stock [Member]
CME Ltd. shareholders’ equity (Note 12):
Common stock		$ 0	$ 0

[1] Reflects property, plant and equipment.

[2] Segment assets exclude any intercompany balances.