Commitments, Contingencies And Guarantees	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Commitments, Contingencies And Guarantees [Abstract]
Commitments, Contingencies And Guarantees	NOTE 6 – COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND GUARANTEES The Company and its subsidiaries are currently involved in certain legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business and, as required, the Company has accrued its estimate of the probable costs for resolution of those claims for which the occurrence of loss is probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. These estimates have been developed in consultation with counsel and are based upon an analysis of potential results, assuming a combination of litigation and settlement strategies. It is possible, however, that future results of operations for any particular period could be materially affected by changes in the Company's assumptions or the effectiveness of its strategies related to these proceedings. Although the Company is involved in a variety of legal proceedings in the ordinary course of business, a large portion of the Company's litigation arises in the following contexts: commercial disputes; defamation matters; employment and benefits related claims; governmental fines; intellectual property claims; and tax disputes. Brazil Litigation On or about July 12, 2006 and April 12, 2007, two of the Company's operating businesses (L&C Outdoor Ltda. ("L&C") and Publicidad Klimes São Paulo Ltda. ("Klimes"), respectively) in the São Paulo, Brazil market received notices of infraction from the state taxing authority, seeking to impose a value added tax ("VAT") on such businesses, retroactively for the period from December 31, 2001 through January 31, 2006. The taxing authority contends that these businesses fall within the definition of "communication services" and as such are subject to the VAT. L&C and Klimes have filed separate petitions to challenge the imposition of this tax. L&C's challenge in the administrative courts was unsuccessful at the first level, but successful at the second administrative level. The state taxing authority filed an appeal to the third and final administrative level, which required consideration by a full panel of 16 administrative law judges. On September 27, 2010, L&C received an unfavorable ruling at this final administrative level, which concluded that the VAT applied. On December 15, 2011, a Special Chamber of the administrative court considered the reasonableness of the amount of the penalty assessed against L&C and significantly reduced the penalty. With the reduction, the amounts allegedly owed by L&C are approximately $8.8 million in taxes, approximately $4.4 million in penalties and approximately $20.1 million in interest (as of March 31, 2012 at an exchange rate of 0.547). On January 27, 2012, L&C filed a writ of mandamus in the 8th lower public treasury court in São Paulo, State of São Paulo, appealing the administrative court's decision that the VAT applies. In April 2012, the court granted that writ and held that the VAT does not apply. Klimes' challenge was unsuccessful at the first level of the administrative courts, and denied at the second administrative level on or about September 24, 2009. On January 5, 2011, the administrative law judges at the third administrative level published a ruling that the VAT applies but significantly reduced the penalty assessed by the taxing authority. With the penalty reduction, the amounts allegedly owed by Klimes are approximately $9.9 million in taxes, approximately $4.9 million in penalties and approximately $22.1 million in interest (as of March 31, 2012 at an exchange rate of 0.547). In late February 2011, Klimes filed a writ of mandamus in the 13th lower public treasury court in São Paulo, State of São Paulo, appealing the administrative court's decision that the VAT applies. On March 16, 2012, the court denied Klimes' writ of mandamus. Klimes filed a motion for reconsideration, which the court denied on March 29, 2012, and a second motion for reconsideration, which the court denied on April 19, 2012. On August 8, 2011, Brazil's National Council of Fiscal Policy (CONFAZ) published a convenio authorizing sixteen states, including the State of São Paulo, to issue an amnesty that would reduce the principal amount of VAT allegedly owed and reduce or waive related interest and penalties. The State of São Paulo ratified the amnesty in late August 2011. Klimes and L&C believe that the State of São Paulo will publish an amnesty decree that mirrors the convenio. If the state publishes such a decree, Klimes and L&C intend to accept it by making the required payments. The Company recorded legal expense of $18.5 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2012, which represents its best estimate of the probable costs for resolution of the Klimes and L&C claims as well as other litigation matters in Brazil. Guarantees As of March 31, 2012, Clear Channel had outstanding surety bonds and commercial standby letters of credit of $48.7 million and $138.6 million, respectively, of which $67.5 million of letters of credit were cash secured. Letters of credit in the amount of $9.1 million are collateral in support of surety bonds and these amounts would only be drawn under the letter of credit in the event the associated surety bonds were funded and Clear Channel did not honor its reimbursement obligation to the issuers. These letters of credit and surety bonds relate to various operational matters including insurance, bid, and performance bonds as well as other items. As of March 31, 2012, Clear Channel had outstanding bank guarantees of $62.3 million related to international subsidiaries, of which $4.5 million were backed by cash collateral.

NOTE 6 – COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND GUARANTEES

The Company and its subsidiaries are currently involved in certain legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business and, as required, the Company has accrued its estimate of the probable costs for resolution of those claims for which the occurrence of loss is probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. These estimates have been developed in consultation with counsel and are based upon an analysis of potential results, assuming a combination of litigation and settlement strategies. It is possible, however, that future results of operations for any particular period could be materially affected by changes in the Company's assumptions or the effectiveness of its strategies related to these proceedings.

Although the Company is involved in a variety of legal proceedings in the ordinary course of business, a large portion of the Company's litigation arises in the following contexts: commercial disputes; defamation matters; employment and benefits related claims; governmental fines; intellectual property claims; and tax disputes.

Brazil Litigation

On or about July 12, 2006 and April 12, 2007, two of the Company's operating businesses (L&C Outdoor Ltda. ("L&C") and Publicidad Klimes São Paulo Ltda. ("Klimes"), respectively) in the São Paulo, Brazil market received notices of infraction from the state taxing authority, seeking to impose a value added tax ("VAT") on such businesses, retroactively for the period from December 31, 2001 through January 31, 2006. The taxing authority contends that these businesses fall within the definition of "communication services" and as such are subject to the VAT. L&C and Klimes have filed separate petitions to challenge the imposition of this tax.

L&C's challenge in the administrative courts was unsuccessful at the first level, but successful at the second administrative level. The state taxing authority filed an appeal to the third and final administrative level, which required consideration by a full panel of 16 administrative law judges. On September 27, 2010, L&C received an unfavorable ruling at this final administrative level, which concluded that the VAT applied. On December 15, 2011, a Special Chamber of the administrative court considered the reasonableness of the amount of the penalty assessed against L&C and significantly reduced the penalty. With the reduction, the amounts allegedly owed by L&C are approximately $8.8 million in taxes, approximately $4.4 million in penalties and approximately $20.1 million in interest (as of March 31, 2012 at an exchange rate of 0.547). On January 27, 2012, L&C filed a writ of mandamus in the 8th lower public treasury court in São Paulo, State of São Paulo, appealing the administrative court's decision that the VAT applies. In April 2012, the court granted that writ and held that the VAT does not apply.

Klimes' challenge was unsuccessful at the first level of the administrative courts, and denied at the second administrative level on or about September 24, 2009. On January 5, 2011, the administrative law judges at the third administrative level published a ruling that the VAT applies but significantly reduced the penalty assessed by the taxing authority. With the penalty reduction, the amounts allegedly owed by Klimes are approximately $9.9 million in taxes, approximately $4.9 million in penalties and approximately $22.1 million in interest (as of March 31, 2012 at an exchange rate of 0.547). In late February 2011, Klimes filed a writ of mandamus in the 13th lower public treasury court in São Paulo, State of São Paulo, appealing the administrative court's decision that the VAT applies. On March 16, 2012, the court denied Klimes' writ of mandamus. Klimes filed a motion for reconsideration, which the court denied on March 29, 2012, and a second motion for reconsideration, which the court denied on April 19, 2012.

On August 8, 2011, Brazil's National Council of Fiscal Policy (CONFAZ) published a convenio authorizing sixteen states, including the State of São Paulo, to issue an amnesty that would reduce the principal amount of VAT allegedly owed and reduce or waive related interest and penalties. The State of São Paulo ratified the amnesty in late August 2011. Klimes and L&C believe that the State of São Paulo will publish an amnesty decree that mirrors the convenio. If the state publishes such a decree, Klimes and L&C intend to accept it by making the required payments.

The Company recorded legal expense of $18.5 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2012, which represents its best estimate of the probable costs for resolution of the Klimes and L&C claims as well as other litigation matters in Brazil.

Guarantees

As of March 31, 2012, Clear Channel had outstanding surety bonds and commercial standby letters of credit of $48.7 million and $138.6 million, respectively, of which $67.5 million of letters of credit were cash secured. Letters of credit in the amount of $9.1 million are collateral in support of surety bonds and these amounts would only be drawn under the letter of credit in the event the associated surety bonds were funded and Clear Channel did not honor its reimbursement obligation to the issuers. These letters of credit and surety bonds relate to various operational matters including insurance, bid, and performance bonds as well as other items.

As of March 31, 2012, Clear Channel had outstanding bank guarantees of $62.3 million related to international subsidiaries, of which $4.5 million were backed by cash collateral.