Guarantor Subsidiaries (Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2013 concept
Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 17,890		$ 82,656		$ 62,818		$ 152,117
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and other	47,898		49,664		146,156		144,173
Amortization of intangible assets	3,671		3,191		11,366		7,085
Share-based payments expense	3,249		2,774		10,093		11,454
Windfall excess tax benefits related to share-based payments	(35)		(318)		(1,988)		(3,347)
Deferred income taxes	(2,404)		24,813		(17,408)		(12,098)
Impairment expense	0		2,586		0		5,262
Loss (income) from equity method investments, net	11,352		(57,934)		31,261		(41,280)
Amortization of deferred financing fees and debt discount	901		1,158		3,423		5,205
Loss from early extinguishment of debt	55		1		2,018		5,950
Other	(313)		2,831		(1,477)		1,020
Equity in (income) losses of subsidiaries	0		0		0		0
Cash flows from changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net	12,133		2,344		17,464		(306)
Content library	1,314		4,534		48,800		9,446
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	1,044		(20,845)		23,047		(31,456)
Other assets	611		(633)		1,647		269
Accounts payable	(26,011)		(14,722)		(97,006)		(70,180)
Accrued payable to retailers	(21,099)		(9,368)		(27,822)		(9,641)
Other accrued liabilities	(629)		(11,789)		(5,345)		(26,552)
Net cash flows from operating activities	49,627	[1]	60,943	[1]	207,047	[1]	147,121	[1]
Investing Activities:
Purchases of property and equipment	(19,295)		(39,102)		(72,311)		(123,346)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	42		56		1,835		12,888
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired	0		(244,036)		0		(244,036)
Receipt of note receivable principal	0		0		0		95
Cash paid for equity investments	(14,000)		(14,000)		(24,500)		(28,000)
Investments in and advances to affiliates					0		0
Net cash flows used in investing activities	(33,253)	[1]	(287,082)	[1]	(94,976)	[1]	(382,399)	[1]
Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of senior unsecured notes	0		0		295,500		343,769
Proceeds from new borrowing on Credit Facility	130,000		150,000		635,000		150,000
Principal payments on Credit Facility	(86,875)		(54,376)		(621,250)		(60,938)
Financing costs associated with Credit Facility and senior unsecured notes	(824)	[2]	0		(2,906)	[2]	(444)
Settlement and conversion of convertible debt	(33,425)		(30)		(51,149)		(169,664)
Repurchases of common stock	(70,598)	[3]	(23,616)		(545,078)	[3]	(95,004)
Principal payments on capital lease obligations and other debt	(3,516)		(3,373)		(10,597)		(10,824)
Windfall excess tax benefits related to share-based payments	35		318		1,988		3,347
Withholding tax paid on vesting of restricted stock net of proceeds from exercise of stock options	(59)		1,018		(1,084)		7,763
Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities	(65,262)	[1]	69,941	[1]	(299,576)	[1]	168,005	[1]
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	563		1,183		969		(391)
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(48,325)		(155,015)		(186,536)		(67,664)
Cash and cash equivalents:
Beginning of period	233,226		370,245		371,437		282,894		282,894
End of period	184,901		215,230		184,901		215,230		371,437
Number of discontinued concepts									4
Reportable Legal Entities | Outerwall Inc.
Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	17,890		82,656		62,818		152,117
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and other					26,728		22,089
Amortization of intangible assets	358		569		1,430		1,708
Share-based payments expense					8,227		7,206
Windfall excess tax benefits related to share-based payments					(1,988)		(3,347)
Deferred income taxes					5,746		17,698
Impairment expense							5,262	[1]
Loss (income) from equity method investments, net	224		(67,069)		672		(65,050)
Amortization of deferred financing fees and debt discount					3,423		5,205
Loss from early extinguishment of debt					2,018		5,950
Other					(1,149)		1,195
Equity in (income) losses of subsidiaries	(18,098)		(22,906)		(64,906)		(87,623)
Cash flows from changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net					395		(398)
Content library					36		641
Prepaid expenses and other current assets					16,024		(22,600)
Other assets					55		163
Accounts payable					(2,427)		18
Accrued payable to retailers					(11,177)		(7,963)
Other accrued liabilities					(5,049)		(5,366)
Net cash flows from operating activities					40,876	[1]	26,905	[1]
Investing Activities:
Purchases of property and equipment					(24,933)		(46,496)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment					750		12,078
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired							(244,036)
Receipt of note receivable principal							95
Cash paid for equity investments					0		0
Investments in and advances to affiliates					98,892		4,031
Net cash flows used in investing activities					74,709	[1]	(274,328)	[1]
Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of senior unsecured notes					295,500		343,769
Proceeds from new borrowing on Credit Facility					635,000		150,000
Principal payments on Credit Facility					(621,250)		(60,938)
Financing costs associated with Credit Facility and senior unsecured notes					(2,906)		(444)
Settlement and conversion of convertible debt					(51,149)		(169,664)
Repurchases of common stock					(545,078)		(95,004)
Principal payments on capital lease obligations and other debt					(10,263)		(10,300)
Windfall excess tax benefits related to share-based payments					1,988		3,347
Withholding tax paid on vesting of restricted stock net of proceeds from exercise of stock options					(1,084)		7,763
Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities					(299,242)		168,529	[1]
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash					(650)		84
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents					(184,307)		(78,810)
Cash and cash equivalents:
Beginning of period					315,250		242,489		242,489
End of period	130,943		163,679		130,943		163,679
Reportable Legal Entities | Combined Guarantor Subsidiaries
Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	18,098		22,906		64,906		87,623
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and other					113,408		118,440
Amortization of intangible assets	3,313		2,622		9,936		5,377
Share-based payments expense					1,866		4,248
Windfall excess tax benefits related to share-based payments					0		0
Deferred income taxes					(13,965)		(26,759)
Impairment expense							0	[1]
Loss (income) from equity method investments, net	11,128		9,135		30,589		23,770
Amortization of deferred financing fees and debt discount					0		0
Loss from early extinguishment of debt					0		0
Other					(368)		(175)
Equity in (income) losses of subsidiaries	3,137		2,614		5,828		5,957
Cash flows from changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net					16,157		1,916
Content library					48,988		8,455
Prepaid expenses and other current assets					1,026		(8,511)
Other assets					1,546		91
Accounts payable					(94,130)		(69,415)
Accrued payable to retailers					(15,003)		(3,252)
Other accrued liabilities					(331)		(21,857)
Net cash flows from operating activities					170,453	[1]	125,908	[1]
Investing Activities:
Purchases of property and equipment					(41,663)		(64,658)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment					1,085		803
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired							0
Receipt of note receivable principal							0
Cash paid for equity investments					(24,500)		(28,000)
Investments in and advances to affiliates					(101,884)		(19,782)
Net cash flows used in investing activities					(166,962)	[1]	(111,637)	[1]
Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of senior unsecured notes					0		0
Proceeds from new borrowing on Credit Facility					0		0
Principal payments on Credit Facility					0		0
Financing costs associated with Credit Facility and senior unsecured notes					0		0
Settlement and conversion of convertible debt					0		0
Repurchases of common stock					0		0
Principal payments on capital lease obligations and other debt					(3)		(214)
Windfall excess tax benefits related to share-based payments					0		0
Withholding tax paid on vesting of restricted stock net of proceeds from exercise of stock options					0		0
Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities					(3)		(214)	[1]
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash					0		0
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents					3,488		14,057
Cash and cash equivalents:
Beginning of period					9,639		0		0
End of period	13,127		14,057		13,127		14,057
Reportable Legal Entities | Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	(3,137)		(2,614)		(5,828)		(5,957)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and other					6,020		3,644
Amortization of intangible assets	0		0		0		0
Share-based payments expense					0		0
Windfall excess tax benefits related to share-based payments					0		0
Deferred income taxes					(3,105)		(3,037)
Impairment expense							0	[1]
Loss (income) from equity method investments, net	0		0		0		0
Amortization of deferred financing fees and debt discount					0		0
Loss from early extinguishment of debt					0		0
Other					40		0
Equity in (income) losses of subsidiaries	0		0		0		0
Cash flows from changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net					912		(1,824)
Content library					(224)		350
Prepaid expenses and other current assets					(87)		(414)
Other assets					46		15
Accounts payable					(449)		(1,137)
Accrued payable to retailers					(1,642)		1,574
Other accrued liabilities					35		740
Net cash flows from operating activities					(4,282)	[1]	(6,046)	[1]
Investing Activities:
Purchases of property and equipment					(5,715)		(12,192)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment					0		7
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired							0
Receipt of note receivable principal							0
Cash paid for equity investments					0		0
Investments in and advances to affiliates					2,992		15,751
Net cash flows used in investing activities					(2,723)	[1]	3,566	[1]
Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of senior unsecured notes					0		0
Proceeds from new borrowing on Credit Facility					0		0
Principal payments on Credit Facility					0		0
Financing costs associated with Credit Facility and senior unsecured notes					0		0
Settlement and conversion of convertible debt					0		0
Repurchases of common stock					0		0
Principal payments on capital lease obligations and other debt					(331)		(310)
Windfall excess tax benefits related to share-based payments					0		0
Withholding tax paid on vesting of restricted stock net of proceeds from exercise of stock options					0		0
Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities					(331)		(310)	[1]
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash					1,619		(475)
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents					(5,717)		(3,265)
Cash and cash equivalents:
Beginning of period					46,548		40,759		40,759
End of period	40,831		37,494		40,831		37,494
Eliminations and Consolidation Reclassifications
Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	(14,961)		(20,292)		(59,078)		(81,666)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and other					0		0
Amortization of intangible assets	0		0		0		0
Share-based payments expense					0		0
Windfall excess tax benefits related to share-based payments					0		0
Deferred income taxes					(6,084)		0
Impairment expense							0	[1]
Loss (income) from equity method investments, net	0		0		0		0
Amortization of deferred financing fees and debt discount					0		0
Loss from early extinguishment of debt					0		0
Other					0		0
Equity in (income) losses of subsidiaries	14,961		20,292		59,078		81,666
Cash flows from changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net					0		0
Content library					0		0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets					6,084		69
Other assets					0		0
Accounts payable					0		354
Accrued payable to retailers					0		0
Other accrued liabilities					0		(69)
Net cash flows from operating activities					0	[1]	354	[1]
Investing Activities:
Purchases of property and equipment					0		0
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment					0		0
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired							0
Receipt of note receivable principal							0
Cash paid for equity investments					0		0
Investments in and advances to affiliates					0		0
Net cash flows used in investing activities					0	[1]	0	[1]
Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of senior unsecured notes					0		0
Proceeds from new borrowing on Credit Facility					0		0
Principal payments on Credit Facility					0		0
Financing costs associated with Credit Facility and senior unsecured notes					0		0
Settlement and conversion of convertible debt					0		0
Repurchases of common stock					0		0
Principal payments on capital lease obligations and other debt					0		0
Windfall excess tax benefits related to share-based payments					0		0
Withholding tax paid on vesting of restricted stock net of proceeds from exercise of stock options					0		0
Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities					0		0	[1]
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash					0		0
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents					0		354
Cash and cash equivalents:
Beginning of period					0		(354)		(354)
End of period	$ 0		$ 0		$ 0		$ 0

[1] During 2013, we discontinued four ventures previously included in our New Ventures operating segment, Orango, Rubi, Crisp Market, and Star Studio. Cash flows from these discontinued operations are not segregated from cash flows from continuing operations in all periods presented because they were not material.

[2] Total financing costs associated with the Credit Facility and senior unsecured notes issued in the second quarter of 2014 were $8.2 million composed of non-cash debt issue costs of $4.5 million recorded as debt discount associated with our issuance of $300.0 million senior unsecured notes due 2021, $1.5 million in deferred financing fees associated with the senior unsecured notes, and $2.2 million in deferred financing fees associated with the refinancing of our credit facility. The cash payments for financing costs associated with the Credit Facility and senior unsecured notes during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 were $0.8 million and $2.9 million, respectively. The remaining accrued balance of the total financing cost as of September 30, 2014 was $0.8 million.

[3] The total cost of repurchases of common stock during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 was $70.6 million and $545.2 million, respectively, which includes $3.8 million in fees and expenses relating to the tender offer recorded as part of the cost of treasury stock in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. The cash payments for the tender offer fees during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 was $0.01 million and $3.7 million, respectively. The remaining accrued balance of the tender offer fees as of September 30, 2014 is $0.1 million.