Description of Business and Basis of Presentation Description of Business and Basis of Presentation (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of AMC Networks and its majority-owned subsidiaries in which a controlling interest is maintained. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

The Company’s consolidated financial statements for periods prior to the Distribution have been derived from the consolidated financial statements and accounting records of Cablevision and reflect certain assumptions and allocations. The results of operations and cash flows of the Company for those periods could differ from those that might have resulted had the Company been operated autonomously or as an entity independent of Cablevision. The Company’s consolidated financial statements after the Distribution reflect certain revenues and expenses related to transactions with or charges from Cablevision and The Madison Square Garden Company and its subsidiaries (“MSG”) as described in Note 15.

Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Use of Estimates

These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates and judgments inherent in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements include the useful lives and methodologies used to amortize and assess recoverability of program rights, valuation and recoverability of goodwill and long-lived intangible assets and income taxes.

Reclassifications [Policy Text Block]

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications were made to the prior period amounts to conform to the current period presentation.

Discontinued Operations, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Discontinued Operations

The net operating results following the sale of our ownership interests in the Lifeskool and Sportskool video-on-demand services in September and October 2008, respectively, which were recorded under the installment sales method, have been classified as discontinued operations for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011.