Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Comprehensive Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income including noncontrolling interests	$ 19,043	$ 67,469	$ 83,387	$ 120,064	$ 90,686	$ 76,900	$ 87,442	$ 126,676	$ 289,963	$ 381,704	$ 264,425
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment									(45,426)	(55,852)	(74,758)
Unrealized gain on interest rate swaps									22	3,365	4,320
Other comprehensive loss, before income taxes									(45,404)	(52,487)	(70,438)
Income tax expense									(12,337)	(4,322)	(4,315)
Other comprehensive loss, net of income taxes									(57,741)	(56,809)	(74,753)
Comprehensive income									232,222	324,895	189,672
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests									(16,491)	(13,123)	(1,304)
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders									215,731	311,772	$ 188,368
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income including noncontrolling interests									(487,931)	(700,429)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment									45,426	73,695
Unrealized gain on interest rate swaps									0	0
Other comprehensive loss, before income taxes									45,426	73,695
Income tax expense									0	0
Other comprehensive loss, net of income taxes									45,426	73,695
Comprehensive income									(442,505)	(626,734)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders									(442,505)	(626,734)
Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income including noncontrolling interests									270,510	366,788
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment									(45,426)	(73,695)
Unrealized gain on interest rate swaps									22	3,365
Other comprehensive loss, before income taxes									(45,404)	(70,330)
Income tax expense									(12,337)	(4,322)
Other comprehensive loss, net of income taxes									(57,741)	(74,652)
Comprehensive income									212,769	292,136
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders									212,769	292,136
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income including noncontrolling interests									591,395	715,807
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment									0	(73,695)
Unrealized gain on interest rate swaps									0	0
Other comprehensive loss, before income taxes									0	(73,695)
Income tax expense									0	0
Other comprehensive loss, net of income taxes									0	(73,695)
Comprehensive income									591,395	642,112
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders									591,395	642,112
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income including noncontrolling interests									(84,011)	(462)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment									(45,426)	17,843
Unrealized gain on interest rate swaps									0	0
Other comprehensive loss, before income taxes									(45,426)	17,843
Income tax expense									0	0
Other comprehensive loss, net of income taxes									(45,426)	17,843
Comprehensive income									(129,437)	17,381
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests									(16,491)	(13,123)
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders									$ (145,928)	$ 4,258