CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 7,868,175	$ 7,648,962
Cost of revenue	5,525,625	4,722,058
Gross profit	2,342,550	2,926,904
Selling, general and adminstrative expenses	8,801,085	3,919,384
Professional fees	2,114,942	1,240,290
Depreciation and amortization	4,423,760	4,282,586
Impairments of long-lived assets	244,861	2,405,008
Loss from operations	(13,242,098)	(8,920,364)
Interest & other income / (expense)
Interest income	10,574	8,113
Interest expense	(1,764)	(553,971)
Stock purchase right	(194,321)	0
Inducement to convert and reduction in conversion price of convertible notes	0	(6,706,141)
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities and modification to certain warrants	0	669,133
Change in fair value of contingent consideration	3,016	(501,127)
Loss on sale of marketable equity securities	0	(14,650)
Loss on investment in unconsolidated entities	(14,371)	(15,240)
Gain on deconsolidation of AdNet	470,041	0
Other	(42,849)	(3,482)
Net loss before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	(13,011,772)	(16,037,729)
Income tax benefit	369,707	517,723
Consolidated net loss (income)	(12,642,065)	(15,520,006)
Plus: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,372,164	2,616,032
Net loss attributable to YOU On Demand shareholders	(11,269,901)	(12,903,974)
Dividends on preferred stock	0	(2,315,309)
Net loss attributable to YOU On Demand common shareholders	$ (11,269,901)	$ (15,219,283)
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (1.15)	$ (5.19)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (1.15)	$ (5.19)
Weighted average shares outstanding
Basic (in shares)	9,759,430	2,930,983
Diluted (in shares)	9,759,430	2,930,983