Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Comprehensive Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	$ 67,469	$ 76,900	$ 270,924	$ 291,018
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(763)	(3,086)	(3,767)	(39,792)
Unrealized gain on interest rate swaps	896	528	(1,447)	1,898
Other comprehensive income (loss), before income taxes	133	(2,558)	(5,214)	(37,894)
Income tax expense	(1,363)	(4,532)	(11,574)	(868)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(1,230)	(7,090)	(16,788)	(38,762)
Comprehensive income	66,239	69,810	254,136	252,256
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2,108)	(4,130)	(13,564)	(14,319)
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders	64,131	65,680	240,572	237,937
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	(105,699)	(94,842)	(473,733)	(504,870)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	763	5,121	3,767	69,241
Unrealized gain on interest rate swaps	0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), before income taxes	763	5,121	3,767	69,241
Income tax expense	0	0	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	763	5,121	3,767	69,241
Comprehensive income	(104,936)	(89,721)	(469,966)	(435,629)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders	(104,936)	(89,721)	(469,966)	(435,629)
Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	65,393	72,770	256,016	276,699
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(763)	(5,121)	(3,767)	(69,241)
Unrealized gain on interest rate swaps	896	528	(1,447)	1,898
Other comprehensive income (loss), before income taxes	133	(4,593)	(5,214)	(67,343)
Income tax expense	(1,363)	(4,532)	(11,574)	(868)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(1,230)	(9,125)	(16,788)	(68,211)
Comprehensive income	64,163	63,645	239,228	208,488
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders	64,163	63,645	239,228	208,488
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	110,101	119,870	498,281	522,142
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	(5,121)	0	(69,241)
Unrealized gain on interest rate swaps	0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), before income taxes	0	(5,121)	0	(69,241)
Income tax expense	0	0	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	0	(5,121)	0	(69,241)
Comprehensive income	110,101	114,749	498,281	452,901
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders	110,101	114,749	498,281	452,901
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	(2,326)	(20,898)	(9,640)	(2,953)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(763)	2,035	(3,767)	29,449
Unrealized gain on interest rate swaps	0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), before income taxes	(763)	2,035	(3,767)	29,449
Income tax expense	0	0	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(763)	2,035	(3,767)	29,449
Comprehensive income	(3,089)	(18,863)	(13,407)	26,496
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2,108)	(4,130)	(13,564)	(14,319)
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders	$ (5,197)	$ (22,993)	$ (26,971)	$ 12,177