Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Comprehensive Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	$ 83,387	$ 87,442	$ 203,452	$ 214,118
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(18,389)	24,119	(3,004)	(36,706)
Unrealized gain on interest rate swaps	(765)	674	(2,343)	1,370
Other comprehensive income (loss), before income taxes	(19,154)	24,793	(5,347)	(35,336)
Income tax (expense) benefit	(8,312)	5,943	(10,211)	3,664
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(27,466)	30,736	(15,558)	(31,672)
Comprehensive income	55,921	118,178	187,894	182,446
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(4,424)	(4,433)	(11,456)	(10,189)
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders	51,497	113,745	176,438	172,257
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	(121,134)	(129,655)	(368,033)	(410,028)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	18,389	(7,572)	3,004	64,120
Unrealized gain on interest rate swaps	0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), before income taxes	18,389	(7,572)	3,004	64,120
Income tax (expense) benefit	0	0	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	18,389	(7,572)	3,004	64,120
Comprehensive income	(102,745)	(137,227)	(365,029)	(345,908)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders	(102,745)	(137,227)	(365,029)	(345,908)
Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	77,175	83,009	190,620	203,929
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(18,389)	7,591	(3,004)	(64,120)
Unrealized gain on interest rate swaps	(765)	674	(2,343)	1,370
Other comprehensive income (loss), before income taxes	(19,154)	8,265	(5,347)	(62,750)
Income tax (expense) benefit	(8,312)	5,943	(10,211)	3,664
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(27,466)	14,208	(15,558)	(59,086)
Comprehensive income	49,709	97,217	175,062	144,843
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders	49,709	97,217	175,062	144,843
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	142,131	126,287	388,178	402,272
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	7,572	0	(64,120)
Unrealized gain on interest rate swaps	0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), before income taxes	0	7,572	0	(64,120)
Income tax (expense) benefit	0	0	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	0	7,572	0	(64,120)
Comprehensive income	142,131	133,859	388,178	338,152
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders	142,131	133,859	388,178	338,152
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	(14,785)	7,801	(7,313)	17,945
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(18,389)	16,528	(3,004)	27,414
Unrealized gain on interest rate swaps	0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), before income taxes	(18,389)	16,528	(3,004)	27,414
Income tax (expense) benefit	0	0	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(18,389)	16,528	(3,004)	27,414
Comprehensive income	(33,174)	24,329	(10,317)	45,359
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(4,424)	(4,433)	(11,456)	(10,189)
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders	$ (37,598)	$ 19,896	$ (21,773)	$ 35,170