EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Income / (loss) from continuing operations		$ 36,715	$ (1,945)	$ 25,265	$ (5,982)		$ (11,769)	$ (139,148)	$ (34,878)	$ 54,053	$ (164,425)	$ (86,176)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests										(341)	(306)	(671)
Less: preferred share accretion paid in kind (Note 12)										(9,694)	(13,701)	(17,272)
Less: income allocated to Series B Preferred Shares										(18,213)	0	0
Income / (loss) from continuing operations available to common shareholders, net of noncontrolling interest										26,487	(177,820)	(102,777)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax (Note 3)		$ 4,121	$ (5,988)	$ 2,533	$ (5,292)		$ (8,054)	$ (2,101)	$ (5,816)	(4,626)	(16,172)	(29,396)
Net income / (loss) attributable to CME Ltd. available to common shareholders — basic										21,861	(193,992)	(132,173)
Dilutive effect of Series B Preferred Shares										5,713	0	0
Net income / (loss) attributable to CME Ltd. available to common shareholders — diluted										$ 27,574	$ (193,992)	$ (132,173)
Weighted average outstanding shares of common stock — basic (1)	[1]									155,846,000	151,017,000	146,866,000
Dilutive effect of common stock warrants, employee stock options and RSUs										80,558,000	0	0
Weighted average outstanding shares of common stock — diluted										236,404,000	151,017,000	146,866,000
Net loss per share:
Continuing operations — basic		$ 0.13	$ (0.03)	$ 0.09	$ (0.05)	$ 0.07	$ (0.09)	$ (0.96)	$ (0.27)	$ 0.17	$ (1.18)	$ (0.70)
Continuing operations — diluted		0.10	(0.03)	0.07	(0.05)	0.06	(0.09)	(0.96)	(0.27)	0.15	(1.18)	(0.70)
Discontinued operations — basic		0.02	(0.04)	0.01	(0.04)	0.00	(0.05)	(0.02)	(0.04)	(0.03)	(0.10)	(0.20)
Discontinued operations — diluted		0.01	(0.04)	0.00	(0.04)	0.00	(0.05)	(0.02)	(0.04)	(0.03)	(0.10)	(0.20)
Net income / (loss) attributable to CME Ltd. — basic		$ 0.15	$ (0.07)	$ 0.10	$ (0.09)	0.07	$ (0.14)	$ (0.98)	$ (0.31)	0.14	(1.28)	(0.90)
Net income / (loss) attributable to CME Ltd. — diluted						$ 0.06				$ 0.12	$ (1.28)	$ (0.90)
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

[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 the common stock.