Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Comprehensive Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income including noncontrolling interests	$ 148,544	$ 90,836	$ 107,626	$ 142,631	$ 19,043	$ 67,469	$ 83,387	$ 120,064	$ 489,637	$ 289,963	$ 381,704
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment									76,023	(45,426)	(55,852)
Unrealized (loss) gain on interest rate swaps									(35)	22	3,365
Unrealized gain on available for sale securities									5,398	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), before income taxes									81,386	(45,404)	(52,487)
Income tax expense									(1,974)	(12,337)	(4,322)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes									79,412	(57,741)	(56,809)
Comprehensive income									569,049	232,222	324,895
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests									(21,430)	(16,491)	(13,123)
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks' stockholders									547,619	215,731	$ 311,772
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income including noncontrolling interests									(761,790)	(487,931)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment									(76,023)	45,426
Unrealized (loss) gain on interest rate swaps									0	0
Unrealized gain on available for sale securities									0
Other comprehensive income (loss), before income taxes									(76,023)	45,426
Income tax expense									0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes									(76,023)	45,426
Comprehensive income									(837,813)	(442,505)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks' stockholders									(837,813)	(442,505)
Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income including noncontrolling interests									471,316	270,510
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment									76,023	(45,426)
Unrealized (loss) gain on interest rate swaps									(35)	22
Unrealized gain on available for sale securities									5,398
Other comprehensive income (loss), before income taxes									81,386	(45,404)
Income tax expense									(1,974)	(12,337)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes									79,412	(57,741)
Comprehensive income									550,728	212,769
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks' stockholders									550,728	212,769
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income including noncontrolling interests									748,430	591,395
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment									0	0
Unrealized (loss) gain on interest rate swaps									0	0
Unrealized gain on available for sale securities									0
Other comprehensive income (loss), before income taxes									0	0
Income tax expense									0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes									0	0
Comprehensive income									748,430	591,395
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks' stockholders									748,430	591,395
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income including noncontrolling interests									31,681	(84,011)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment									76,023	(45,426)
Unrealized (loss) gain on interest rate swaps									0	0
Unrealized gain on available for sale securities									0
Other comprehensive income (loss), before income taxes									76,023	(45,426)
Income tax expense									0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes									76,023	(45,426)
Comprehensive income									107,704	(129,437)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests									(21,430)	(16,491)
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks' stockholders									$ 86,274	$ (145,928)