Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS, Merger with Ticketmaster, Consideration Transferred (Details)

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BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS, Merger with Ticketmaster, Consideration Transferred (Details) (USD $)
1 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Dec. 31, 2009
Dec. 31, 2011
Ticketing [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
Ticketing [Member]
Dec. 31, 2009
Ticketing [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Artist Nation [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
Artist Nation [Member]
Dec. 31, 2009
Artist Nation [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
eCommerce [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
eCommerce [Member]
Dec. 31, 2009
eCommerce [Member]
Jan. 25, 2010
Ticketmaster [Member]
Jan. 25, 2010
Ticketmaster [Member]
Ticketing [Member]
Jan. 25, 2010
Ticketmaster [Member]
Artist Nation [Member]
Jan. 25, 2010
Ticketmaster [Member]
eCommerce [Member]
Description of transaction [Abstract]                                
Final Exchange Ratio per share                         1.4743728      
Voting power of Ticketmaster stockholders after merger (in hundredths)                         50.01%      
Description of acquired entity                         Ticketmaster provided ticketing software and services, ticket resale services, marketing and distribution through www.ticketmaster.com, numerous retail outlets and worldwide call centers in 19 global markets.      
Identifiable assets acquired, liabilities assumed and noncontrolling interests [Abstract]                                
Fair value of consideration transferred                         $ 930,130,000      
Plus: Fair value of noncontrolling interests                         147,443,000      
Less: Recognized amounts of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed                                
Cash and cash equivalents                         575,579,000      
Accounts receivable                         137,600,000      
Prepaid expenses                         48,174,000      
Other current assets                         32,170,000      
Asset held for sale (Paciolan)                         30,000,000      
Property, plant and equipment                         64,839,000      
Intangible assets                         937,980,000      
Investments in nonconsolidated affiliates                         24,630,000      
Other long-term assets                         42,163,000      
Accounts payable, client accounts                         (393,807,000)      
Accounts payable                         (23,741,000)      
Accrued expenses                         (134,642,000)      
Deferred revenue                         (26,210,000)      
Other current liabilities                         (21,815,000)      
Long-term debt                         (837,329,000)      
Long-term deferred income taxes                         (252,735,000)      
Other long-term liabilities                         (109,784,000)      
Goodwill 1,257,644,000 1,226,416,000 204,672,000 577,131,000 557,856,000 0 262,158,000 267,992,000 0 224,562,000 214,927,000 0 984,501,000 506,500,000 263,100,000 214,900,000
Goodwill expected to be deductible for tax purposes                         $ 41,400,000