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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES (Details) (USD $)
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12 Months Ended | ||
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Dec. 31, 2011
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Dec. 31, 2010
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Dec. 31, 2009
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| Non-cancelable operating leases [Abstract] | |||
| 2012 | $ 110,085,000 | ||
| 2013 | 101,420,000 | ||
| 2014 | 94,980,000 | ||
| 2015 | 89,155,000 | ||
| 2016 | 85,891,000 | ||
| Thereafter | 1,219,062,000 | ||
| Total | 1,700,593,000 | ||
| Commitments, additional disclosures [Abstract] | |||
| Commitment amount, inflation factor for North America (in hundredths) | 2.50% | ||
| Commitment amount, inflation factor for United Kingdom (in hundredths) | 3.10% | ||
| Minimum rentals to be received in future years under non-cancelable subleases | 79,900,000 | ||
| Total rent expense charged to operations | 128,700,000 | 128,000,000 | 101,700,000 |
| Contingent rent expense charged to operations | 17,000,000 | 20,100,000 | 20,200,000 |
| Deferred purchase consideration payments [Abstract] | |||
| Amount accrued in other current liabilities | 7,100,000 | 13,600,000 | |
| Amount accrued in other long-term liabilities | 2,600,000 | 18,100,000 | |
| Loss Contingencies [Line Items] | |||
| Accrual for best estimate of probable costs of settlement | 44,000,000 | ||
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CTS Arbitration [Member]
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| Loss Contingencies [Line Items] | |||
| Term of CTS Agreement (in years) | 10Y | ||
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Live Concert Antitrust Litigation [Member]
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| Loss Contingencies [Line Items] | |||
| Number of claims filed | 22 | ||
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Ticketing Fees Consumer Class Action Litigation [Member]
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| Loss Contingencies [Line Items] | |||
| Accrual for best estimate of probable costs of settlement | 35,800,000 | ||
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Canadian Consumer Class Action Litigation Relating to TicketsNow [Member]
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| Loss Contingencies [Line Items] | |||
| Number of claims filed | 5 | ||
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United States Consumer Class Action Litigation Relating to TicketsNow [Member]
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| Loss Contingencies [Line Items] | |||
| Number of claims filed | 11 | ||
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Earn Out Arrangements [Member]
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| Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration [Line Items] | |||
| Amount accrued in other current liabilities | 1,500,000 | 1,200,000 | |
| Amount accrued in other long-term liabilities | 6,900,000 | 14,800,000 | |
| Deferred purchase consideration payments [Abstract] | |||
| Amount accrued in other long-term liabilities | 3,900,000 | 1,900,000 | |
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Indemnification Agreement [Member]
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| Guarantor Obligations [Line Items] | |||
| Guarantor obligations, origin and purpose | In connection with asset and business disposals, the Company generally provides indemnifications to the buyers including claims resulting from employment matters, commercial claims and governmental actions that may be taken against the assets or businesses sold. | In connection with asset and business disposals, the Company generally provides indemnifications to the buyers including claims resulting from employment matters, commercial claims and governmental actions that may be taken against the assets or businesses sold. | |
| Guarantor obligations, balance | 7,600,000 | 7,500,000 | |
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Guaranteed Debt of Third Parties [Member]
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| Guarantor Obligations [Line Items] | |||
| Guarantor obligations, origin and purpose | primarily related to maximum credit limits on employee and tour-related credit cards and bank lines of credit of a nonconsolidated affiliate and a third-party promoter | primarily related to maximum credit limits on employee and tour-related credit cards and bank lines of credit of a nonconsolidated affiliate and a third-party promoter | |
| Guarantor obligation, maximum exposure (undiscounted) | 13,100,000 | 3,200,000 | |
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Guarantee Obligations Related to Lease Agreement [Member]
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| Guarantor Obligations [Line Items] | |||
| Guarantor obligations, origin and purpose | During 2006, in connection with the Company's acquisition of Historic Theatre Group, the Company guaranteed obligations related to a lease agreement. In the event of default, the Company could be liable for obligations | ||
| Guarantor obligation, maximum exposure (undiscounted) | 24,700,000 | ||
| Scheduled future minimum rentals per year, for the next five years | 1,600,000 | ||
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Non-Cancelable Contracts [Member]
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| Unrecorded unconditional purchase obligation [Abstract] | |||
| 2012 | 414,252,000 | ||
| 2013 | 234,992,000 | ||
| 2014 | 158,106,000 | ||
| 2015 | 35,007,000 | ||
| 2016 | 58,055,000 | ||
| Thereafter | 71,317,000 | ||
| Total | 971,729,000 | ||
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Capital Expenditures [Member]
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| Unrecorded unconditional purchase obligation [Abstract] | |||
| 2012 | 269,000 | ||
| 2013 | 25,000 | ||
| 2014 | 25,000 | ||
| 2015 | 25,000 | ||
| 2016 | 25,000 | ||
| Thereafter | 25,000 | ||
| Total | $ 394,000 | ||
| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
The inflation factor used for North America to estimate commitment amounts for non-cancelable operating leases and non-cancelable contracts which stipulate an increase in the commitment amount based on an inflationary index. No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
The inflation factor used for the United Kingdom to estimate commitment amounts for non-cancelable operating leases and non-cancelable contracts which stipulate an increase in the commitment amount based on an inflationary index. No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Details
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Details
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
Current portion of deferred purchase consideration, which represents payment obligations that have been accrued in connection with certain acquisition agreements for purchase consideration due at a future date. No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
Noncurrent portion of deferred purchase consideration, which represents payment obligations that have been accrued in connection with certain acquisition agreements for purchase consideration due at a future date. No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
The scheduled future minimum rentals for the lease agreement, per year, for the next five years. No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
Represents the term of an agreement between the company and a third party. No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
Current portion of the fair value as of the acquisition date of potential payments under the contingent consideration arrangement, including cash and shares as applicable. No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
Noncurrent portion of the fair value as of the acquisition date of potential payments under the contingent consideration arrangement, including cash and shares as applicable. No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Details
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
The current carrying amount of the liability for the freestanding or embedded guarantor's obligations under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Details
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
Maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees before reduction for potential recoveries under recourse or collateralization provisions. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
Describes how and under what circumstances or in connection with which transaction the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees was given and the objective of the guarantee. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Details
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
Reflects the estimated amount of loss from the specified contingency as of the balance sheet date. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
The total amount of pending claims pertaining to a loss contingency accrual as of the balance sheet date. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
The total of future contractually required payments on leases defined as operating. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Details
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
For leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable letter-terms in excess of one year, required rental payments due within one year of the balance sheet date relating to leases defined as operating. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
Contractually required future rental payments receivable on noncancelable subleasing arrangements. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
For leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable letter-terms in excess of one year, required rental payments due within the fifth year of the balance sheet date relating to leases defined as operating. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
For leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable letter-terms in excess of one year, required rental payments due within the fourth year of the balance sheet date relating to leases defined as operating. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
For leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable letter-terms in excess of one year, required rental payments due within the third year of the balance sheet date relating to leases defined as operating. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
For leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable letter-terms in excess of one year, required rental payments due within the second year of the balance sheet date relating to leases defined as operating. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
For leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable letter-terms in excess of one year, required rental payments due after the fifth year from the balance sheet date on leases defined as operating. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
The increases or decreases in lease payments that result from changes occurring after the inception of the lease in the factors (other than the passage of time) on which lease payments are based, except that any escalation of minimum lease payments relating to increases in construction or acquisition cost of the leased property or for increases in some measure of cost or value during the construction or preconstruction period, are excluded from contingent rentals. Contingent rentals also may include amounts for which the triggering events have not yet occurred or the specified targets for which have not yet been achieved (such as sales based percentage rent), but which events are considered probable of occurring or which specified targets are considered probable of being achieved. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
Rental expense for the reporting period incurred under operating leases, including minimum and any contingent rent expense, net of related sublease income. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Details
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
The remaining amount of the fixed and determinable portion of an unrecorded unconditional purchase obligation to be paid in more than four and within five years from the balance sheet date. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
The remaining amount of the fixed and determinable portion of an unrecorded unconditional purchase obligation to be paid within one year of the balance sheet date. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
The remaining amount of the fixed and determinable portion of an unrecorded unconditional purchase obligation to be paid in more than three and within four years from the balance sheet date. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
The remaining amount of the fixed and determinable portion of an unrecorded unconditional purchase obligation to be paid in more than one and within two years from the balance sheet date. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
The remaining amount of the fixed and determinable portion of an unrecorded unconditional purchase obligation to be paid in more than two and within three years from the balance sheet date. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
The amount of the fixed and determinable portion of an unrecorded unconditional purchase obligation as of the balance sheet date. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
The remaining amount of the fixed and determinable portion of an unrecorded unconditional purchase obligation to be paid after five years from the balance sheet date. No definition available.
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