Related Party Transactions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Related Party Transactions	Related Party Transactions Members of the Dolan Family, for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including trusts for the benefit of the Dolan Family, collectively beneficially own all of the Company’s outstanding Class B Common Stock and own less than 2% of the Company’s outstanding Class A Common Stock. Such shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, collectively, represent approximately 66% of the aggregate voting power of the Company’s outstanding common stock. Members of the Dolan Family are also the controlling stockholders of both Cablevision and MSG. In connection with the Distribution, the Company entered into various agreements with Cablevision, such as a distribution agreement, a tax disaffiliation agreement, a transition services agreement, an employee matters agreement and certain related party arrangements. These agreements govern certain of the Company’s relationships with Cablevision subsequent to the Distribution and provide for the allocation of employee benefits, taxes and certain other liabilities and obligations attributable to periods prior to the Distribution. These agreements also include arrangements with respect to transition services and a number of on-going commercial relationships. The distribution agreement includes an agreement that the Company and Cablevision agree to provide each other with indemnities with respect to liabilities arising out of the businesses Cablevision transferred to the Company. The Company provides services to and receives services from Cablevision and MSG. Until the Distribution date, the consolidated financial statements of the Company reflect the application of certain cost allocation policies of Cablevision. Management believes that these allocations were made on a reasonable basis. However, it is not practicable to determine whether the charged amounts represent amounts that might have been incurred on a stand-alone basis, including as a separate independent publicly owned company, as there are no company-specific or comparable industry benchmarks with which to make such estimates. Further, as many of these transactions are conducted between subsidiaries under common control of the Dolan Family, amounts charged for these services may not represent amounts that might have been received or incurred if the transactions were based upon arm’s-length negotiations. Through the Distribution date, the Company paid Cablevision a management fee pursuant to a consulting agreement between Cablevision and certain of the Company’s subsidiaries. The consulting agreement was terminated on the Distribution date and the Company did not replace it. Revenues, net The Company records revenues, net from subsidiaries of Cablevision and MSG. In addition, AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology has entered into agreements with MSG to provide various transponder, technical and support services through 2020. Revenues, net from related parties amounted to $32,195, $31,885, and $29,203 for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Technical and Operating The Company and its related parties routinely enter into transactions with each other in the ordinary course of business. Such transactions include various studio production services the Company provides to MSG for which the charges are reflected as a reduction of the related expenses. In addition, certain related parties provide various digital media and administrative support functions which primarily include salaries and facilities costs charged to the Company. Furthermore, through December 31, 2011, employees of the Company participated in health and welfare plans sponsored by Cablevision. Health and welfare benefit costs have generally been charged by Cablevision based upon the proportionate number of participants in the plans. Amounts charged to the Company, included in technical and operating expenses, pursuant to transactions with its related parties amounted to $620, $5,040 and $3,971 for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Selling, General and Administrative Amounts charged (credited) to the Company, included in selling, general and administrative expenses, pursuant to the transition services agreement and for other transactions, including management fees allocated by Cablevision for periods through the Distribution date, with its related parties amounted to $(206), $57,004 and $100,230 for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Amounts charged to the Company for the year ended December 31, 2012 are net of shared legal fees charged to Cablevision associated with the DISH Network Contract Dispute (see Note 11). Through the Distribution date, general and administrative costs, including costs of maintaining corporate headquarters, facilities and common support functions (such as executive management, human resources, legal, finance, tax, accounting, audit, treasury, risk management, strategic planning, information technology, etc.), have been charged to the Company by Cablevision. Additionally, the Company charges MSG for a portion of the Company’s leased facilities utilized by MSG which such cost reimbursements are recorded as a reduction to selling, general and administrative expenses. Subsequent to the Distribution date, amounts charged by Cablevision represent charges pursuant to a transition services agreement. See also Transition Services Agreement discussion below. Through the Distribution date, the Company paid Cablevision a management fee pursuant to a consulting agreement between Cablevision and certain of the Company’s subsidiaries. The consulting agreement was terminated on the Distribution date and the Company did not replace it. Transition Services Agreement In connection with the Distribution, Cablevision and AMC Networks entered into a Transition Services Agreement under which, in exchange for the fees specified in such agreement, Cablevision agreed to provide transition services with regard to such areas as accounting, information systems, risk management and employee services, compensation and benefits. Under the Transition Services Agreement, AMC Networks also provides certain services to Cablevision and MSG on behalf of Cablevision. Under the Transition Services Agreement, AMC Networks provides transition services to Cablevision and MSG with regard to its information technology systems that AMC Networks, Cablevision and MSG may share. AMC Networks and Cablevision, as parties receiving services under the agreement, have agreed to indemnify the party providing services for losses incurred by such party that arise out of or are otherwise in connection with the provision by such party of services under the agreement, except to the extent that such losses result from the providing party’s gross negligence, willful misconduct or breach of its obligations under the agreement. Similarly, each party providing services under the agreement has agreed to indemnify the party receiving services for losses incurred by such party that arise out of or are otherwise in connection with the indemnifying party’s provision of services under the agreement if such losses result from the providing party’s gross negligence, willful misconduct or breach of its obligations under the agreement. Share-based Compensation and Long-Term Incentive Plans Expense Cablevision charged the Company through the Distribution date its proportionate share of expenses or benefits related to Cablevision’s employee stock plans and Cablevision’s long-term incentive plans. Such amounts are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of income. The long-term incentive plans are funded by the Company and aggregate liabilities of $18,137 (which includes $3,475 attributable to the Company’s 2011 long-term incentive plan) related to these plans are included in accrued employee related costs and other liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2011. As the obligations related to stock option and restricted share awards under the Cablevision stock plans are satisfied by Cablevision, the allocation to the Company of its proportionate share of the related expenses through June 30, 2011 is reflected as capital contributions in the consolidated financial statements. Treatment of Cablevision Long-Term Incentive Plan Awards After the Distribution In 2011, 2010 and 2009, Cablevision granted three-year performance awards to certain executive officers and other members of the Company’s management under Cablevision’s 2006 Cash Incentive Plan. The 2009 awards were paid in March 2012. The Cablevision performance metrics in the awards granted in 2010 to certain executive officers and other employees of the Company were replaced with Company performance metrics. The awards granted to certain executive officers and other employees of the Company in March 2011 under the Cablevision 2006 Cash Incentive Plan were replaced in July 2011 by awards granted under the Company’s 2011 Cash Incentive Plan, and the Cablevision performance metrics related to those awards were replaced with Company performance metrics. Amounts applicable to employees of the Company are and will continue to be reflected as liabilities, based on achievement of certain performance criteria as noted above, in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets until settled. RMH Promissory Note with Madison Square Garden As of December 31, 2009, Madison Square Garden, L.P., a subsidiary of MSG, a related party of Cablevision, had extended advances aggregating $190,000 to RMH. On January 28, 2010, in connection with the distribution of MSG from Cablevision, the advances were replaced with a promissory note from RMH to Madison Square Garden, L.P. having a principal amount of $190,000, an interest rate of 3.25% and a maturity date of June 30, 2010. In March 2010, the $190,000 of indebtedness was repaid by the Company to MSG, including $914 of interest accrued from January 28, 2010 through the date of repayment, which was funded by a capital contribution from Cablevision.

Related Party Transactions

Members of the Dolan Family, for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including trusts for the benefit of the Dolan Family, collectively beneficially own all of the Company’s outstanding Class B Common Stock and own less than 2% of the Company’s outstanding Class A Common Stock. Such shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, collectively, represent approximately 66% of the aggregate voting power of the Company’s outstanding common stock. Members of the Dolan Family are also the controlling stockholders of both Cablevision and MSG.

In connection with the Distribution, the Company entered into various agreements with Cablevision, such as a distribution agreement, a tax disaffiliation agreement, a transition services agreement, an employee matters agreement and certain related party arrangements. These agreements govern certain of the Company’s relationships with Cablevision subsequent to the Distribution and provide for the allocation of employee benefits, taxes and certain other liabilities and obligations attributable to periods prior to the Distribution. These agreements also include arrangements with respect to transition services and a number of on-going commercial relationships. The distribution agreement includes an agreement that the Company and Cablevision agree to provide each other with indemnities with respect to liabilities arising out of the businesses Cablevision transferred to the Company.

The Company provides services to and receives services from Cablevision and MSG. Until the Distribution date, the consolidated financial statements of the Company reflect the application of certain cost allocation policies of Cablevision. Management believes that these allocations were made on a reasonable basis. However, it is not practicable to determine whether the charged amounts represent amounts that might have been incurred on a stand-alone basis, including as a separate independent publicly owned company, as there are no company-specific or comparable industry benchmarks with which to make such estimates. Further, as many of these transactions are conducted between subsidiaries under common control of the Dolan Family, amounts charged for these services may not represent amounts that might have been received or incurred if the transactions were based upon arm’s-length negotiations. Through the Distribution date, the Company paid Cablevision a management fee pursuant to a consulting agreement between Cablevision and certain of the Company’s subsidiaries. The consulting agreement was terminated on the Distribution date and the Company did not replace it.

Revenues, net

The Company records revenues, net from subsidiaries of Cablevision and MSG. In addition, AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology has entered into agreements with MSG to provide various transponder, technical and support services through 2020. Revenues, net from related parties amounted to $32,195, $31,885, and $29,203 for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Technical and Operating

The Company and its related parties routinely enter into transactions with each other in the ordinary course of business. Such transactions include various studio production services the Company provides to MSG for which the charges are reflected as a reduction of the related expenses. In addition, certain related parties provide various digital media and administrative support functions which primarily include salaries and facilities costs charged to the Company. Furthermore, through December 31, 2011, employees of the Company participated in health and welfare plans sponsored by Cablevision. Health and welfare benefit costs have generally been charged by Cablevision based upon the proportionate number of participants in the plans.

Amounts charged to the Company, included in technical and operating expenses, pursuant to transactions with its related parties amounted to $620, $5,040 and $3,971 for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Selling, General and Administrative

Amounts charged (credited) to the Company, included in selling, general and administrative expenses, pursuant to the transition services agreement and for other transactions, including management fees allocated by Cablevision for periods through the Distribution date, with its related parties amounted to $(206), $57,004 and $100,230 for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Amounts charged to the Company for the year ended December 31, 2012 are net of shared legal fees charged to Cablevision associated with the DISH Network Contract Dispute (see Note 11).

Through the Distribution date, general and administrative costs, including costs of maintaining corporate headquarters, facilities and common support functions (such as executive management, human resources, legal, finance, tax, accounting, audit, treasury, risk management, strategic planning, information technology, etc.), have been charged to the Company by Cablevision. Additionally, the Company charges MSG for a portion of the Company’s leased facilities utilized by MSG which such cost reimbursements are recorded as a reduction to selling, general and administrative expenses. Subsequent to the Distribution date, amounts charged by Cablevision represent charges pursuant to a transition services agreement. See also Transition Services Agreement discussion below.

Through the Distribution date, the Company paid Cablevision a management fee pursuant to a consulting agreement between Cablevision and certain of the Company’s subsidiaries. The consulting agreement was terminated on the Distribution date and the Company did not replace it.

Transition Services Agreement

In connection with the Distribution, Cablevision and AMC Networks entered into a Transition Services Agreement under which, in exchange for the fees specified in such agreement, Cablevision agreed to provide transition services with regard to such areas as accounting, information systems, risk management and employee services, compensation and benefits. Under the Transition Services Agreement, AMC Networks also provides certain services to Cablevision and MSG on behalf of Cablevision.

Under the Transition Services Agreement, AMC Networks provides transition services to Cablevision and MSG with regard to its information technology systems that AMC Networks, Cablevision and MSG may share. AMC Networks and Cablevision, as parties receiving services under the agreement, have agreed to indemnify the party providing services for losses incurred by such party that arise out of or are otherwise in connection with the provision by such party of services under the agreement, except to the extent that such losses result from the providing party’s gross negligence, willful misconduct or breach of its obligations under the agreement. Similarly, each party providing services under the agreement has agreed to indemnify the party receiving services for losses incurred by such party that arise out of or are otherwise in connection with the indemnifying party’s provision of services under the agreement if such losses result from the providing party’s gross negligence, willful misconduct or breach of its obligations under the agreement.

Share-based Compensation and Long-Term Incentive Plans Expense

Cablevision charged the Company through the Distribution date its proportionate share of expenses or benefits related to Cablevision’s employee stock plans and Cablevision’s long-term incentive plans. Such amounts are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of income. The long-term incentive plans are funded by the Company and aggregate liabilities of $18,137 (which includes $3,475 attributable to the Company’s 2011 long-term incentive plan) related to these plans are included in accrued employee related costs and other liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2011. As the obligations related to stock option and restricted share awards under the Cablevision stock plans are satisfied by Cablevision, the allocation to the Company of its proportionate share of the related expenses through June 30, 2011 is reflected as capital contributions in the consolidated financial statements.

Treatment of Cablevision Long-Term Incentive Plan Awards After the Distribution

In 2011, 2010 and 2009, Cablevision granted three-year performance awards to certain executive officers and other members of the Company’s management under Cablevision’s 2006 Cash Incentive Plan. The 2009 awards were paid in March 2012. The Cablevision performance metrics in the awards granted in 2010 to certain executive officers and other employees of the Company were replaced with Company performance metrics. The awards granted to certain executive officers and other employees of the Company in March 2011 under the Cablevision 2006 Cash Incentive Plan were replaced in July 2011 by awards granted under the Company’s 2011 Cash Incentive Plan, and the Cablevision performance metrics related to those awards were replaced with Company performance metrics. Amounts applicable to employees of the Company are and will continue to be reflected as liabilities, based on achievement of certain performance criteria as noted above, in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets until settled.

RMH Promissory Note with Madison Square Garden

As of December 31, 2009, Madison Square Garden, L.P., a subsidiary of MSG, a related party of Cablevision, had extended advances aggregating $190,000 to RMH. On January 28, 2010, in connection with the distribution of MSG from Cablevision, the advances were replaced with a promissory note from RMH to Madison Square Garden, L.P. having a principal amount of $190,000, an interest rate of 3.25% and a maturity date of June 30, 2010. In March 2010, the $190,000 of indebtedness was repaid by the Company to MSG, including $914 of interest accrued from January 28, 2010 through the date of repayment, which was funded by a capital contribution from Cablevision.