INCOME TAXES	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
INCOME TAXES	INCOME TAXES At the end of each interim period, the Company makes its best estimate of the annual expected effective income tax rate and applies that rate to its ordinary year-to-date earnings or loss. The income tax provision or benefit related to significant, unusual, or extraordinary items, if applicable, that will be separately reported or reported net of their related tax effects are individually computed and recognized in the interim period in which those items occur. In addition, the effect of changes in enacted tax laws or rates, tax status, judgment on the realizability of a beginning-of-the-year deferred tax asset in future years or income tax contingencies is recognized in the interim period in which the change occurs. The computation of the annual expected effective income tax rate at each interim period requires certain estimates and assumptions including, but not limited to, the expected pre-tax income (or loss) for the year, projections of the proportion of income (and/or loss) earned and taxed in foreign jurisdictions, permanent and temporary differences, and the likelihood of the realizability of deferred tax assets generated in the current year. The accounting estimates used to compute the provision or benefit for income taxes may change as new events occur, more experience is acquired, additional information is obtained or our tax environment changes. To the extent that the expected annual effective income tax rate changes during a quarter, the effect of the change on prior quarters is included in income tax provision in the quarter in which the change occurs. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, the Company recorded an income tax provision for continuing operations of $27.6 million and $83.4 million, respectively, which represents effective income tax rates of 37% and 40%, respectively. The effective rate for the three months ended September 30, 2012 is higher than the statutory rate of 35% due primarily to state taxes and interest on reserves for tax contingencies, partially offset by foreign income taxed at lower rates. The effective rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 is higher than the statutory rate of 35% due primarily to an increase in reserves for and interest on reserves for tax contingencies, a valuation allowance on the deferred tax asset created by The Newsweek/Daily Beast Company ("Newsweek Daily Beast") non-cash re-measurement charge related to our acquisition of a controlling interest, and state taxes, partially offset by foreign income taxed at lower rates and a net decrease in the valuation allowance on the beginning of the year deferred tax assets related to investments in unconsolidated affiliates. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company recorded an income tax benefit for continuing operations of $32.0 million and $6.4 million, respectively, despite pre-tax income of $36.0 million and $127.3 million , respectively. The income tax benefit for the three months ended September 30, 2011 is due principally to the reversal of a previously established deferred tax liability of $43.6 million associated with the 2009 gain that was recognized upon the exchange of Match Europe for a 27% interest in Meetic S.A. ("Meetic"). In connection with the acquisition of a controlling interest in Meetic in 2011, the Company concluded that it intends to indefinitely reinvest the earnings of Match's international operations related to Meetic, including the 2009 gain on the sale of Match Europe outside of the United States. This income tax benefit was partially offset by the non-deductible nature of the non-cash re-measurement charge related to Match's 27% equity method investment in Meetic that was recorded upon our acquisition of a controlling interest. The income tax benefit for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 is due principally to the release of a previously established deferred tax liability as described above in the three month discussion, foreign income taxed at lower rates, and the reduction in state tax accruals resulting from income tax provision to tax return reconciliations and expirations of statutes of limitations, partially offset by interest on reserves for tax contingencies, states taxes, and the non-deductible nature of the non-cash re-measurement charge as described above in the three month discussion. At September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, unrecognized tax benefits, including interest, were $485.8 million and $462.8 million, respectively. Unrecognized tax benefits, including interest, at September 30, 2012 increased $23.0 million from December 31, 2011 due principally to a net increase in deductible timing differences and additions for tax positions related to prior years. Of the total unrecognized tax benefits at September 30, 2012, $468.5 million is included in "Income taxes payable," $12.1 million relates to deferred tax assets included in "Deferred income taxes" and $5.2 million is included in "Accrued expenses and other current liabilities" in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. Included in unrecognized tax benefits at September 30, 2012 is $79.8 million relating to tax positions for which the ultimate deductibility is highly certain but for which there is uncertainty about the timing of such deductibility. If unrecognized tax benefits at September 30, 2012 are subsequently recognized, $94.7 million and $226.4 million, net of related deferred tax assets and interest, would reduce income tax expense for continuing operations and discontinued operations, respectively. The Company recognizes interest and, if applicable, penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax provision. Included in income tax provision for continuing operations and discontinued operations for the three months ended September 30, 2012 is a $1.6 million expense and a $0.4 million benefit, respectively, net of related deferred taxes, for interest on unrecognized tax benefits. Included in income tax provision for continuing operations and discontinued operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 is a $3.3 million expense and a $3.8 million benefit, respectively, net of related deferred taxes, for interest on unrecognized tax benefits. At September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company has accrued $112.2 million and $111.2 million, respectively, for the payment of interest. At September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company has accrued $2.8 million and $2.5 million, respectively, for penalties. The Company is routinely under audit by federal, state, local and foreign authorities in the area of income tax. These audits include questioning the timing and the amount of income and deductions and the allocation of income and deductions among various tax jurisdictions. The Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") has substantially completed its audit of the Company's tax returns for the years ended December 31, 2001 through 2006. The settlement of these tax years has not yet been submitted to the Joint Committee of Taxation for approval. The IRS began its audit of the Company's tax returns for the years ended December 31, 2007 through 2009 in July 2011. The statute of limitations for the years 2001 through 2009 has been extended to December 31, 2013. Various state and local jurisdictions are currently under examination, the most significant of which are California, New York and New York City for various tax years beginning with 2005. Income taxes payable include reserves considered sufficient to pay assessments that may result from examination of prior year tax returns. Changes to reserves from period to period and differences between amounts paid, if any, upon resolution of issues raised in audits and amounts previously provided may be material. Differences between the reserves for income tax contingencies and the amounts owed by the Company are recorded in the period they become known. The Company believes that it is reasonably possible that its unrecognized tax benefits could decrease by $68.9 million within twelve months of the current reporting date, of which approximately $13.3 million could decrease income tax provision, primarily due to settlements, expirations of statutes of limitations, and the reversal of deductible temporary differences that will primarily result in a corresponding decrease in net deferred tax assets. An estimate of other changes in unrecognized tax benefits, while potentially significant, cannot be made.

INCOME TAXES

At the end of each interim period, the Company makes its best estimate of the annual expected effective income tax rate and applies that rate to its ordinary year-to-date earnings or loss. The income tax provision or benefit related to significant, unusual, or extraordinary items, if applicable, that will be separately reported or reported net of their related tax effects are individually computed and recognized in the interim period in which those items occur. In addition, the effect of changes in enacted tax laws or rates, tax status, judgment on the realizability of a beginning-of-the-year deferred tax asset in future years or income tax contingencies is recognized in the interim period in which the change occurs.

The computation of the annual expected effective income tax rate at each interim period requires certain estimates and assumptions including, but not limited to, the expected pre-tax income (or loss) for the year, projections of the proportion of income (and/or loss) earned and taxed in foreign jurisdictions, permanent and temporary differences, and the likelihood of the realizability of deferred tax assets generated in the current year. The accounting estimates used to compute the provision or benefit for income taxes may change as new events occur, more experience is acquired, additional information is obtained or our tax environment changes. To the extent that the expected annual effective income tax rate changes during a quarter, the effect of the change on prior quarters is included in income tax provision in the quarter in which the change occurs.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, the Company recorded an income tax provision for continuing operations of $27.6 million and $83.4 million, respectively, which represents effective income tax rates of 37% and 40%, respectively. The effective rate for the three months ended September 30, 2012 is higher than the statutory rate of 35% due primarily to state taxes and interest on reserves for tax contingencies, partially offset by foreign income taxed at lower rates. The effective rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 is higher than the statutory rate of 35% due primarily to an increase in reserves for and interest on reserves for tax contingencies, a valuation allowance on the deferred tax asset created by The Newsweek/Daily Beast Company ("Newsweek Daily Beast") non-cash re-measurement charge related to our acquisition of a controlling interest, and state taxes, partially offset by foreign income taxed at lower rates and a net decrease in the valuation allowance on the beginning of the year deferred tax assets related to investments in unconsolidated affiliates.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company recorded an income tax benefit for continuing operations of $32.0 million and $6.4 million, respectively, despite pre-tax income of $36.0 million and $127.3 million , respectively. The income tax benefit for the three months ended September 30, 2011 is due principally to the reversal of a previously established deferred tax liability of $43.6 million associated with the 2009 gain that was recognized upon the exchange of Match Europe for a 27% interest in Meetic S.A. ("Meetic"). In connection with the acquisition of a controlling interest in Meetic in 2011, the Company concluded that it intends to indefinitely reinvest the earnings of Match's international operations related to Meetic, including the 2009 gain on the sale of Match Europe outside of the United States. This income tax benefit was partially offset by the non-deductible nature of the non-cash re-measurement charge related to Match's 27% equity method investment in Meetic that was recorded upon our acquisition of a controlling interest. The income tax benefit for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 is due principally to the release of a previously established deferred tax liability as described above in the three month discussion, foreign income taxed at lower rates, and the reduction in state tax accruals resulting from income tax provision to tax return reconciliations and expirations of statutes of limitations, partially offset by interest on reserves for tax contingencies, states taxes, and the non-deductible nature of the non-cash re-measurement charge as described above in the three month discussion.

At September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, unrecognized tax benefits, including interest, were $485.8 million and $462.8 million, respectively. Unrecognized tax benefits, including interest, at September 30, 2012 increased $23.0 million from December 31, 2011 due principally to a net increase in deductible timing differences and additions for tax positions related to prior years. Of the total unrecognized tax benefits at September 30, 2012, $468.5 million is included in "Income taxes payable," $12.1 million relates to deferred tax assets included in "Deferred income taxes" and $5.2 million is included in "Accrued expenses and other current liabilities" in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. Included in unrecognized tax benefits at September 30, 2012 is $79.8 million relating to tax positions for which the ultimate deductibility is highly certain but for which there is uncertainty about the timing of such deductibility. If unrecognized tax benefits at September 30, 2012 are subsequently recognized, $94.7 million and $226.4 million, net of related deferred tax assets and interest, would reduce income tax expense for continuing operations and discontinued operations, respectively.

The Company recognizes interest and, if applicable, penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax provision. Included in income tax provision for continuing operations and discontinued operations for the three months ended September 30, 2012 is a $1.6 million expense and a $0.4 million benefit, respectively, net of related deferred taxes, for interest on unrecognized tax benefits. Included in income tax provision for continuing operations and discontinued operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 is a $3.3 million expense and a $3.8 million benefit, respectively, net of related deferred taxes, for interest on unrecognized tax benefits. At September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company has accrued $112.2 million and $111.2 million, respectively, for the payment of interest. At September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company has accrued $2.8 million and $2.5 million, respectively, for penalties.

The Company is routinely under audit by federal, state, local and foreign authorities in the area of income tax. These audits include questioning the timing and the amount of income and deductions and the allocation of income and deductions among various tax jurisdictions. The Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") has substantially completed its audit of the Company's tax returns for the years ended December 31, 2001 through 2006. The settlement of these tax years has not yet been submitted to the Joint Committee of Taxation for approval. The IRS began its audit of the Company's tax returns for the years ended December 31, 2007 through 2009 in July 2011. The statute of limitations for the years 2001 through 2009 has been extended to December 31, 2013. Various state and local jurisdictions are currently under examination, the most significant of which are California, New York and New York City for various tax years beginning with 2005. Income taxes payable include reserves considered sufficient to pay assessments that may result from examination of prior year tax returns. Changes to reserves from period to period and differences between amounts paid, if any, upon resolution of issues raised in audits and amounts previously provided may be material. Differences between the reserves for income tax contingencies and the amounts owed by the Company are recorded in the period they become known. The Company believes that it is reasonably possible that its unrecognized tax benefits could decrease by $68.9 million within twelve months of the current reporting date, of which approximately $13.3 million could decrease income tax provision, primarily due to settlements, expirations of statutes of limitations, and the reversal of deductible temporary differences that will primarily result in a corresponding decrease in net deferred tax assets. An estimate of other changes in unrecognized tax benefits, while potentially significant, cannot be made.