Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Comprehensive Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	$ 76,900	$ 53,103	$ 291,018	$ 182,788
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(3,086)	(52,181)	(39,792)	(42,129)
Unrealized gain on interest rate swaps	528	1,571	1,898	3,528
Other comprehensive loss, before income taxes	(2,558)	(50,610)	(37,894)	(38,601)
Income tax (expense) benefit	(4,532)	(569)	(868)	(1,291)
Other comprehensive loss, net of income taxes	(7,090)	(51,179)	(38,762)	(39,892)
Comprehensive income	69,810	1,924	252,256	142,896
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(4,130)	2,467	(14,319)	1,957
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders	65,680	4,391	237,937	144,853
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	(94,842)	(150,065)	(504,870)	(395,011)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	5,121	61,207	69,241	45,833
Unrealized gain on interest rate swaps	0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive loss, before income taxes	5,121	61,207	69,241	45,833
Income tax (expense) benefit	0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive loss, net of income taxes	5,121	61,207	69,241	45,833
Comprehensive income	(89,721)	(88,858)	(435,629)	(349,178)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders	(89,721)	(88,858)	(435,629)	(349,178)
Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	72,770	53,160	276,699	183,182
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(5,121)	(57,503)	(69,241)	(42,129)
Unrealized gain on interest rate swaps	528	1,571	1,898	3,528
Other comprehensive loss, before income taxes	(4,593)	(55,932)	(67,343)	(38,601)
Income tax (expense) benefit	(4,532)	(569)	(868)	(1,291)
Other comprehensive loss, net of income taxes	(9,125)	(56,501)	(68,211)	(39,892)
Comprehensive income	63,645	(3,341)	208,488	143,290
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders	63,645	(3,341)	208,488	143,290
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	119,870	151,152	522,142	389,174
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(5,121)	(61,207)	(69,241)	(45,833)
Unrealized gain on interest rate swaps	0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive loss, before income taxes	(5,121)	(61,207)	(69,241)	(45,833)
Income tax (expense) benefit	0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive loss, net of income taxes	(5,121)	(61,207)	(69,241)	(45,833)
Comprehensive income	114,749	89,945	452,901	343,341
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	451	0	1,305
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders	114,749	90,396	452,901	344,646
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	(20,898)	(1,144)	(2,953)	5,443
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	2,035	5,322	29,449	0
Unrealized gain on interest rate swaps	0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive loss, before income taxes	2,035	5,322	29,449	0
Income tax (expense) benefit	0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive loss, net of income taxes	2,035	5,322	29,449	0
Comprehensive income	(18,863)	4,178	26,496	5,443
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(4,130)	2,016	(14,319)	652
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders	$ (22,993)	$ 6,194	$ 12,177	$ 6,095