Equity And Long-Term Incentive Plans (Activity for Stock) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012 Y	Dec. 31, 2011 Y
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding [Roll Forward]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement By Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 10.59	$ 10.74
Share-based Compensation Arrangement By Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises In Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 13.43
Share-based Compensation Arrangement By Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	2.05	3.08
Share-based Compensation Arrangement By Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Intrinsic Value	$ 5,123	$ 3,732
Share-based Compensation Arrangement By Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 10.59
Share-based Compensation Arrangement By Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	2.05
Share-based Compensation Arrangement By Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Intrinsic Value	5,123
Time Vesting Options [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding [Roll Forward]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Number, Beginning Balance	136,541
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period	(7,390)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Number, Ending Balance	129,151
Share-based Compensation Arrangement By Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Number	129,151
Share-based Compensation Arrangement By Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested And Expected To Vest, Outstanding, Number	0
Performance Vesting Options [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding [Roll Forward]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Number, Beginning Balance	2,500
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period	0
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Number, Ending Balance	2,500
Share-based Compensation Arrangement By Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Number	2,500
Share-based Compensation Arrangement By Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested And Expected To Vest, Outstanding, Number	0
Cablevision and MSG Employees [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding [Roll Forward]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement By Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 16.57	$ 12.02
Share-based Compensation Arrangement By Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises In Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 10.11
Share-based Compensation Arrangement By Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	3.42	3.29
Share-based Compensation Arrangement By Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Intrinsic Value	11,918	31,253
Share-based Compensation Arrangement By Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 15.05
Share-based Compensation Arrangement By Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	3.00
Share-based Compensation Arrangement By Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Intrinsic Value	10,748
Share-based Compensation Arrangement By Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested And Expected To Vest, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 26.11
Share-based Compensation Arrangement By Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested And Expected To Vest, Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	6.06
Share-based Compensation Arrangement By Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested And Expected To Vest, Outstanding, Aggregate Intrinsic Value	$ 1,170
Cablevision and MSG Employees [Member] \| Time Vesting Options [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding [Roll Forward]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Number, Beginning Balance	1,144,465
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period	(818,089)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Number, Ending Balance	326,376
Share-based Compensation Arrangement By Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Number	276,376
Share-based Compensation Arrangement By Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested And Expected To Vest, Outstanding, Number	50,000
Cablevision and MSG Employees [Member] \| Performance Vesting Options [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding [Roll Forward]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Number, Beginning Balance	78,400
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period	(42,800)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Number, Ending Balance	35,600
Share-based Compensation Arrangement By Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Number	35,600
Share-based Compensation Arrangement By Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested And Expected To Vest, Outstanding, Number	0

The total dollar difference between fair values of the underlying shares reserved for issuance and exercise prices of vested portions of options outstanding and currently exercisable under the option plan as of the balance sheet date.

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The number of shares into which fully or partially vested stock options outstanding as of the balance sheet date can be currently converted under the option plan.

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The weighted-average price as of the balance sheet date at which grantees can acquire the shares reserved for issuance on vested portions of options outstanding and currently exercisable under the stock option plan.

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The weighted average price at which option holders acquired shares when converting their stock options into shares under the plan during the reporting period.

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The total dollar difference between fair values of the underlying shares reserved for issuance and exercise prices pertaining to options outstanding under the plan as of the balance sheet date.

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The number of shares reserved for issuance under stock option agreements awarded under the plan that validly exist and are outstanding as of the balance sheet date, including vested options.

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The weighted average price as of the beginning of the year at which grantees can acquire the shares reserved for issuance under the stock option plan.

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The weighted average period between the balance sheet date and expiration for all awards outstanding under the plan, which may be expressed in a decimal value for number of years.

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As of the balance sheet date, the total dollar difference between fair values of the underlying shares reserved for issuance and exercise prices of fully vested and expected to vest options outstanding.

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As of the balance sheet date, the number of shares into which fully vested and expected to vest stock options outstanding can be converted under the option plan.

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As of the balance sheet date, the weighted-average exercise price for outstanding stock options that are fully vested or expected to vest.

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Number of share options (or share units) exercised during the current period.

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