Condensed Consolidating Financial Statement Information (Details 1) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012
Mar. 31, 2012
Jun. 30, 2011
Mar. 31, 2011
Jun. 30, 2012
Jun. 30, 2011
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income            
Revenue $ 122,125   $ 98,449   $ 247,145 $ 197,527
Cost of revenue (excludes depreciation and amortization) 37,609   35,310   77,887 73,275
Gross margin 84,516   63,139   169,258 124,252
Operating expenses:            
Sales 4,015   3,018   7,954 5,958
Marketing 31,551   19,604   62,801 35,702
Product development 4,146   3,652   8,570 7,122
General and administrative 9,185   7,259   19,167 14,988
Legal settlements 3       65  
Acquisition, offering and related expenses and related party fees 682   38,222   879 39,695
Restructuring Charges       238 0   238
Depreciation and amortization 12,587   10,820   24,356 21,666
Total operating expenses 62,169   82,813   123,792 125,369
Income (loss) from operations 22,347   (19,674)   45,466 (1,117)
Interest expense, net (6,830)   (9,524)   (13,310) (18,920)
(Loss) earnings on equity investments, net of tax      0        
Loss on early extinguishment of senior secured notes     (16,629)     (16,629)
Income (loss) before income taxes 15,517   (45,827)   32,156 (36,666)
Income tax expense (759)   (6,166)   5,729 (2,067)
Net income (loss) 16,276   (39,661)   26,427 (34,599)
Comprehensive income (loss) 16,307   (39,679)   26,610 (34,410)
Bankrate [Member]
            
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income            
Revenue 89,109   62,075   178,433 121,150
Cost of revenue (excludes depreciation and amortization) 35,878   29,325   73,616 57,574
Gross margin 53,231   32,750   104,817 63,576
Operating expenses:            
Sales 2,151   1,590   4,374 3,120
Marketing 20,014   9,147   39,410 15,930
Product development 2,217   1,561   4,574 3,170
General and administrative 6,273   4,363   13,220 8,244
Legal settlements 3       65  
Acquisition, offering and related expenses and related party fees 682   38,222   879 39,695
Restructuring Charges     0       
Depreciation and amortization 7,727   6,036   14,670 12,080
Total operating expenses 39,067   60,919   77,192 82,239
Income (loss) from operations 14,164   (28,169)   27,625 (18,663)
Interest expense, net (671)   (36)   (666) (3)
(Loss) earnings on equity investments, net of tax 40   (10,907)   1,745 (11,154)
Loss on early extinguishment of senior secured notes     0       
Income (loss) before income taxes 13,533   (39,112)   28,704 (29,820)
Income tax expense (2,743)   549   2,277 4,779
Net income (loss) 16,276   (39,661)   26,427 (34,599)
Comprehensive income (loss) 16,307   (39,661)   26,610 (34,599)
Guarantor Subsidiary [Member]
            
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income            
Revenue 54,377   46,308   111,846 93,894
Cost of revenue (excludes depreciation and amortization) 25,003   17,793   51,136 37,347
Gross margin 29,374   28,515   60,710 56,547
Operating expenses:            
Sales 1,857   1,486   3,573 2,824
Marketing 9,807   8,767   20,124 16,204
Product development 1,926   2,006   3,990 3,941
General and administrative 2,581   2,677   5,279 6,043
Legal settlements              
Acquisition, offering and related expenses and related party fees      0        
Restructuring Charges     238     238
Depreciation and amortization 4,674   4,587   9,314 9,587
Total operating expenses 20,845   19,761   42,280 38,837
Income (loss) from operations 8,529   8,754   18,430 17,710
Interest expense, net (5,992)   (9,316)   (12,311) (18,580)
(Loss) earnings on equity investments, net of tax (280)   (245)   (554) (55)
Loss on early extinguishment of senior secured notes     (16,629)     (16,629)
Income (loss) before income taxes 2,257   (17,436)   5,565 (17,554)
Income tax expense 1,984   (6,715)   3,343 (6,846)
Net income (loss) 273   (10,721)   2,222 (10,708)
Comprehensive income (loss) (16)   (10,721)   2,256 (10,708)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiary [Member]
            
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income            
Revenue 1,915   1,961   3,742 4,169
Cost of revenue (excludes depreciation and amortization) 4   13   11 40
Gross margin 1,911   1,948   3,731 4,129
Operating expenses:            
Sales 7   14   7 14
Marketing 1,730   1,664   3,267 3,568
Product development 3   3   6 11
General and administrative 331   329   668 701
Legal settlements              
Acquisition, offering and related expenses and related party fees      0        
Restructuring Charges     0       
Depreciation and amortization 186   197   372 (1)
Total operating expenses 2,257   2,207   4,320 4,293
Income (loss) from operations (346)   (259)   (589) (164)
Interest expense, net (167)   (172)   (333) (337)
(Loss) earnings on equity investments, net of tax      0        
Loss on early extinguishment of senior secured notes     0       
Income (loss) before income taxes (513)   (431)   (922) (501)
Income tax expense 0   0   109   
Net income (loss) (513)   (431)   (1,031) (501)
Comprehensive income (loss) (482)   (431)   (848) (501)
Eliminations [Member]
            
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income            
Revenue (23,276)   (11,895)   (46,876) (21,686)
Cost of revenue (excludes depreciation and amortization) (23,276)   (11,895)   (46,876) (21,686)
Gross margin      0        
Operating expenses:            
Sales      0        
Marketing      0        
Product development      0        
General and administrative      0        
Legal settlements              
Acquisition, offering and related expenses and related party fees      0        
Restructuring Charges     0       
Depreciation and amortization      0        
Total operating expenses      0        
Income (loss) from operations      0        
Interest expense, net      0        
(Loss) earnings on equity investments, net of tax 240   11,152   (1,191) 11,209
Loss on early extinguishment of senior secured notes     0       
Income (loss) before income taxes 240   11,152   (1,191) 11,209
Income tax expense 0   0        
Net income (loss) 240   11,152   (1,191) 11,209
Comprehensive income (loss) $ 498   $ 11,134   $ (1,408) $ 11,398