Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Comprehensive Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	$ 120,064	$ 126,676
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	15,385	(60,825)
Unrealized gain on interest rate swaps	(1,578)	696
Other comprehensive income (loss), before income taxes	13,807	(60,129)
Income tax (expense) benefit	(1,899)	(2,279)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent	11,908	(62,408)
Comprehensive income	131,972	64,268
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(7,032)	(4,332)
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders	124,940	59,936
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	(245,277)	(280,370)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	2,845	71,692
Unrealized gain on interest rate swaps	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), before income taxes	2,845	71,692
Income tax (expense) benefit	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent	2,845	71,692
Comprehensive income	(242,432)	(208,678)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders	(242,432)	(208,678)
Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	113,444	120,919
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(2,845)	(71,711)
Unrealized gain on interest rate swaps	(1,578)	696
Other comprehensive income (loss), before income taxes	(4,423)	(71,015)
Income tax (expense) benefit	(1,899)	(2,279)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent	(6,322)	(73,294)
Comprehensive income	107,122	47,625
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders	107,122	47,625
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	246,047	275,986
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(2,845)	(71,692)
Unrealized gain on interest rate swaps	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), before income taxes	(2,845)	(71,692)
Income tax (expense) benefit	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent	(2,845)	(71,692)
Comprehensive income	243,202	204,294
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders	243,202	204,294
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	5,850	10,141
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	18,230	10,886
Unrealized gain on interest rate swaps	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), before income taxes	18,230	10,886
Income tax (expense) benefit	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent	18,230	10,886
Comprehensive income	24,080	21,027
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(7,032)	(4,332)
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders	$ 17,048	$ 16,695