Description Of Business And Basis Of Presentation (Details)	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012 network segment
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Reportable business segments	2
Nationally distributed programming networks	4

Number of segments reported by the entity. A reportable segment is a component of an entity for which there is an accounting requirement to report separate financial information on that component in the entity's financial statements.

No definition available.

Name:	amcx_NumberOfReportableSegments
Namespace Prefix:	amcx_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration