Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Comprehensive Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	$ 107,626	$ 83,387	$ 250,256	$ 203,452
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	37,820	(18,389)	47,684	(3,004)
Unrealized gain on interest rate swaps	(180)	(765)	139	(2,343)
Unrealized (loss) gain on available for sale securities	(1,083)	0	2,938	0
Other comprehensive income, before income taxes	36,557	(19,154)	50,761	(5,347)
Income tax benefit (expense)	465	(8,312)	(1,132)	(10,211)
Other comprehensive income, net of income taxes	37,022	(27,466)	49,629	(15,558)
Comprehensive income	144,648	55,921	299,885	187,894
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(6,559)	(4,424)	(13,364)	(11,456)
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders	138,089	51,497	286,521	176,438
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	(190,429)	(121,134)	(429,348)	(368,033)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(37,820)	18,389	(47,684)	3,004
Unrealized gain on interest rate swaps	0	0	0	0
Unrealized (loss) gain on available for sale securities	0		0
Other comprehensive income, before income taxes	(37,820)	18,389	(47,684)	3,004
Income tax benefit (expense)	0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income, net of income taxes	(37,820)	18,389	(47,684)	3,004
Comprehensive income	(228,249)	(102,745)	(477,032)	(365,029)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders	(228,249)	(102,745)	(477,032)	(365,029)
Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	102,598	77,175	238,814	190,620
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	37,820	(18,389)	47,684	(3,004)
Unrealized gain on interest rate swaps	(180)	(765)	139	(2,343)
Unrealized (loss) gain on available for sale securities	(1,083)		2,938
Other comprehensive income, before income taxes	36,557	(19,154)	50,761	(5,347)
Income tax benefit (expense)	465	(8,312)	(1,132)	(10,211)
Other comprehensive income, net of income taxes	37,022	(27,466)	49,629	(15,558)
Comprehensive income	139,620	49,709	288,443	175,062
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders	139,620	49,709	288,443	175,062
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	184,748	142,131	420,522	388,178
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0	0	0
Unrealized gain on interest rate swaps	0	0	0	0
Unrealized (loss) gain on available for sale securities	0		0
Other comprehensive income, before income taxes	0	0	0	0
Income tax benefit (expense)	0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income, net of income taxes	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income	184,748	142,131	420,522	388,178
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders	184,748	142,131	420,522	388,178
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	10,709	(14,785)	20,268	(7,313)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	37,820	(18,389)	47,684	(3,004)
Unrealized gain on interest rate swaps	0	0	0	0
Unrealized (loss) gain on available for sale securities	0		0
Other comprehensive income, before income taxes	37,820	(18,389)	47,684	(3,004)
Income tax benefit (expense)	0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income, net of income taxes	37,820	(18,389)	47,684	(3,004)
Comprehensive income	48,529	(33,174)	67,952	(10,317)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(6,559)	(4,424)	(13,364)	(11,456)
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders	$ 41,970	$ (37,598)	$ 54,588	$ (21,773)