Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES (Details)

v2.4.0.6
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES (Details) (USD $)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Dec. 31, 2012
CTS Arbitration [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Ticketing Fees Consumer Class Action Litigation [Member]
Feb. 28, 2009
Canadian Consumer Class Action Litigation Relating to TicketsNow [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Other Litigation [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Earn Out Arrangements [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Earn Out Arrangements [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Indemnification Agreement [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Indemnification Agreement [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Guarantee Obligations Related to Lease Agreement [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Guaranteed Debt of Third Parties [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Guaranteed Debt of Third Parties [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Non Cancelable Contracts [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Capital Expenditures [Member]
Non-cancelable operating leases [Abstract]                                
2013 $ 118,892,000                              
2014 114,355,000                              
2015 109,639,000                              
2016 107,893,000                              
2017 98,040,000                              
Thereafter 1,415,977,000                              
Total 1,964,796,000                              
Unrecorded unconditional purchase obligation [Abstract]                                
2013                             728,504,000 3,225,000
2014                             139,508,000 25,000
2015                             116,899,000 25,000
2016                             80,446,000 25,000
2017                             38,039,000 25,000
Thereafter                             19,629,000 250,000
Total                             1,123,025,000 3,575,000
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%                              
Commitment amount, inflation factor for the Netherlands 2.10%                              
Minimum rentals to be received in future years under non-cancelable subleases 87,300,000                              
Total rent expense charged to operations 145,200,000 128,700,000 128,000,000                          
Contingent rent expense charged to operations 30,000,000 17,000,000 20,100,000                          
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]                                
Guarantor obligations, balance                   700,000 7,600,000   12,700,000 13,100,000    
Guarantor obligation, maximum exposure (undiscounted)                       23,100,000        
Scheduled future minimum rentals per year, for the next five years                       1,600,000        
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration [Line Items]                                
Amount accrued in other current liabilities               2,500,000 1,500,000              
Amount accrued in other long-term liabilities               4,200,000 6,900,000              
Equity investee, contingent consideration [Abstract]                                
Amount accrued in other long-term liabilities                 3,900,000              
Deferred purchase consideration payments [Abstract]                                
Amount accrued in other current liabilities   7,100,000                            
Amount accrued in other long-term liabilities   2,600,000                            
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                                
Term of CTS Agreement       10 years                        
Accrual for best estimate of probable costs of settlement         $ 35,400,000   $ 40,600,000                  
Number of claims filed           4