Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Description of Business	Description of Business. RealNetworks, Inc. and subsidiaries is a leading global provider of network-delivered digital media applications and services that make it easy to manage, play, and share digital media. The Company also develops and markets software products and services that enable the creation, distribution, and consumption of digital media, including audio and video. Our Napster music business, which we acquired on January 18, 2019, offers a comprehensive set of digital music products and services designed to provide consumers with broad access to digital music. For more information on Napster, see Note 5 Acquisitions. Inherent in our business are various risks and uncertainties, including a limited history of certain of our product and service offerings. RealNetworks' success will depend on the acceptance of our technology, products and services, and the ability to generate related revenue and cash flow. In this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (10-Q or Report), RealNetworks, Inc. and Subsidiaries is referred to as “RealNetworks”, the “Company”, “we”, “us”, or “our”.
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries in which it has a more than 50% voting interest. Noncontrolling interests primarily represent third-party ownership in the equity of Napster and are reflected separately in the Company’s financial statements. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal, recurring adjustments that, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair presentation of the results of operations for the periods presented. Operating results for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2019 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any subsequent period or for the year ending December 31, 2019. Certain information and disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 (the 10-K).
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Revenue	We generate all of our revenue through contracts with customers. Revenue is either recognized over time as the service is provided, or at a point in time when the product is transferred to the customer, depending on the contract type. Our performance obligations typically have an original duration of one year or less. Napster revenue arrangements include subscription services to the Napster music streaming service sold either directly to end users (direct to consumer) or through partners (business to business), who are generally telecommunications companies, that bundle the subscription with their own services or collect payment for the stand-alone subscriptions from their end customers. Napster also sells subscriptions to third parties to provide access to the Napster platform that is typically embedded in the third party's branded or co-branded service. Such subscriptions are included in the business to business sales channel. For services sold through third parties to end customers, we evaluate the presentation of revenue on a gross or net basis based on whether we control the service provided to the end-user and are the principal (i.e. “gross”), or we arrange for other parties to provide the service to the end-user and are an agent (i.e. “net”). In our Napster business to business revenue stream, we generally operate as a principal in arrangements with end customers as we maintain control over the service prior to being transferred to the end customer. Certain business to business customer arrangements include variable consideration based on usage. We estimate variable consideration as part of the total transaction price that is allocated to performance obligations, or distinct service periods within a performance obligation, on a relative standalone selling price basis. Revenues related to Napster subscription services are recognized ratably over the contract period, typically 30 days. Direct to consumer subscriptions are paid in advance, typically on a monthly basis. Subscription services offered to businesses are invoiced on a monthly basis and the timing of payment generally does not vary significantly from the timing of invoice.
Segments	We manage our business and report revenue and operating income (loss) in four segments: (1) Consumer Media, which includes licensing of our codec technology and our PC-based RealPlayer products, including RealPlayer Plus and related products; (2) Mobile Services, which includes our SaaS services and our integrated RealTimes® platform which is sold to mobile carriers; (3) Games, which includes all our games-related businesses, including sales of mobile games, games licenses, in-game virtual goods, subscription services, and advertising on games and social network sites; and (4) Napster, which includes our on-demand music streaming and music services. RealNetworks allocates to its Consumer Media, Mobile Services and Games reportable segments certain corporate expenses which are directly attributable to supporting these businesses, including but not limited to a portion of finance, legal, human resources and headquarters facilities. Remaining expenses, which are not directly attributable to supporting these businesses, are reported as corporate items. These corporate items also include restructuring charges and stock compensation charges. As stated in Note 5 Acquisitions, Napster is operating as an independent company and includes all their corporate expenses in their segment results, and RealNetworks does not allocate any expenses to the Napster segment. RealNetworks reports four reportable segments based on factors such as how we manage our operations and how the Chief Operating Decision Maker (CODM) reviews results. The CODM reviews financial information presented on both a consolidated basis and on a business segment basis. The accounting policies used to derive segment results are the same as those described in Note 1, Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, in the 10-K.