Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill) (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	$ 1,485,946
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(168,031)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	1,317,915
Reallocation, net	0
Acquisitions	7,924
Reclassification to discontinued operations	(13,602)
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	(18,755)
Goodwill, ending balance	1,401,823
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(108,341)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	1,293,482
Education [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	1,097,058
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(102,259)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	994,799
Reallocation, net	0
Acquisitions	0
Reclassification to discontinued operations	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	(18,755)
Goodwill, ending balance	1,078,303
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(102,259)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	976,044
Higher Education [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	409,184
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	0
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	409,184
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	(79)
Goodwill, ending balance	409,105
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	0
Goodwill, net, ending balance	409,105
Test Preparation [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	152,187
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(102,259)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	49,928
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	0
Goodwill, ending balance	152,187
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(102,259)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	49,928
Kaplan International [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	535,687
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	0
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	535,687
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	(18,676)
Goodwill, ending balance	517,011
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	0
Goodwill, net, ending balance	517,011
Cable Television [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	85,488
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	0
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	85,488
Reallocation, net	0
Acquisitions	0
Reclassification to discontinued operations	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	0
Goodwill, ending balance	85,488
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	0
Goodwill, net, ending balance	85,488
Newspaper Publishing [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	81,183
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(65,772)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	15,411
Reallocation, net	(1,809)
Acquisitions	0
Reclassification to discontinued operations	(13,602)
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	0
Goodwill, ending balance	0
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	0
Goodwill, net, ending balance	0
Television Broadcasting [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	203,165
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	0
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	203,165
Reallocation, net	0
Acquisitions	0
Reclassification to discontinued operations	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	0
Goodwill, ending balance	203,165
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	0
Goodwill, net, ending balance	203,165
Other Businesses [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	19,052
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	0
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	19,052
Reallocation, net	1,809
Acquisitions	7,924
Reclassification to discontinued operations	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	0
Goodwill, ending balance	34,867
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(6,082)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	$ 28,785