Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Comprehensive Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	$ 90,836	$ 67,469	$ 341,092	$ 270,924
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	15,791	(763)	63,475	(3,767)
Unrealized gain on interest rate swaps	(174)	896	(35)	(1,447)
Unrealized gain on available for sale securities	6,596	0	9,534	0
Other comprehensive income, before income taxes	22,213	133	72,974	(5,214)
Income tax expense	(2,363)	(1,363)	(3,495)	(11,574)
Other comprehensive income, net of income taxes	19,850	(1,230)	69,479	(16,788)
Comprehensive income	110,686	66,239	410,571	254,136
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(4,633)	(2,108)	(17,997)	(13,564)
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders	106,053	64,131	392,574	240,572
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	(182,274)	(105,699)	(611,622)	(473,733)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(15,791)	763	(63,475)	3,767
Unrealized gain on interest rate swaps	0	0	0	0
Unrealized gain on available for sale securities	0		0
Other comprehensive income, before income taxes	(15,791)	763	(63,475)	3,767
Income tax expense	0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income, net of income taxes	(15,791)	763	(63,475)	3,767
Comprehensive income	(198,065)	(104,936)	(675,097)	(469,966)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders	(198,065)	(104,936)	(675,097)	(469,966)
Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	87,002	65,393	325,816	256,016
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	15,791	(763)	63,475	(3,767)
Unrealized gain on interest rate swaps	(174)	896	(35)	(1,447)
Unrealized gain on available for sale securities	6,596		9,534
Other comprehensive income, before income taxes	22,213	133	72,974	(5,214)
Income tax expense	(2,363)	(1,363)	(3,495)	(11,574)
Other comprehensive income, net of income taxes	19,850	(1,230)	69,479	(16,788)
Comprehensive income	106,852	64,163	395,295	239,228
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders	106,852	64,163	395,295	239,228
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	171,490	110,101	592,012	498,281
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0	0	0
Unrealized gain on interest rate swaps	0	0	0	0
Unrealized gain on available for sale securities	0		0
Other comprehensive income, before income taxes	0	0	0	0
Income tax expense	0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income, net of income taxes	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income	171,490	110,101	592,012	498,281
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders	171,490	110,101	592,012	498,281
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	14,618	(2,326)	34,886	(9,640)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	15,791	(763)	63,475	(3,767)
Unrealized gain on interest rate swaps	0	0	0	0
Unrealized gain on available for sale securities	0		0
Other comprehensive income, before income taxes	15,791	(763)	63,475	(3,767)
Income tax expense	0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income, net of income taxes	15,791	(763)	63,475	(3,767)
Comprehensive income	30,409	(3,089)	98,361	(13,407)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(4,633)	(2,108)	(17,997)	(13,564)
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders	$ 25,776	$ (5,197)	$ 80,364	$ (26,971)