Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - 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
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
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