Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Comprehensive Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	$ 110,332	$ 107,626	$ 270,868	$ 250,256
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	7,780	37,820	26,585	47,684
Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate swaps	0	(180)	0	139
Unrealized gain (loss) on available for sale securities	0	(1,083)	0	2,938
Other comprehensive income, before income taxes	7,780	36,557	26,585	50,761
Income tax expense	0	465	0	(1,132)
Other comprehensive income, net of income taxes	7,780	37,022	26,585	49,629
Comprehensive income	118,112	144,648	297,453	299,885
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2,173)	(6,559)	(6,736)	(13,364)
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks' stockholders	115,939	138,089	290,717	286,521
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	(168,041)	(190,429)	(433,021)	(429,348)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(7,780)	(37,820)	(26,585)	(47,684)
Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate swaps		0		0
Unrealized gain (loss) on available for sale securities		0		0
Other comprehensive income, before income taxes		(37,820)		(47,684)
Income tax expense		0		0
Other comprehensive income, net of income taxes	(7,780)	(37,820)	(26,585)	(47,684)
Comprehensive income	(175,821)	(228,249)	(459,606)	(477,032)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks' stockholders	(175,821)	(228,249)	(459,606)	(477,032)
Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	106,181	102,598	263,051	238,814
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	7,780	37,820	26,585	47,684
Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate swaps		(180)		139
Unrealized gain (loss) on available for sale securities		(1,083)		2,938
Other comprehensive income, before income taxes		36,557		50,761
Income tax expense		465		(1,132)
Other comprehensive income, net of income taxes	7,780	37,022	26,585	49,629
Comprehensive income	113,961	139,620	289,636	288,443
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks' stockholders	113,961	139,620	289,636	288,443
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	172,233	184,748	419,715	420,522
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0	0	0
Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate swaps		0		0
Unrealized gain (loss) on available for sale securities		0		0
Other comprehensive income, before income taxes		0		0
Income tax expense		0		0
Other comprehensive income, net of income taxes	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income	172,233	184,748	419,715	420,522
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks' stockholders	172,233	184,748	419,715	420,522
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	(41)	10,709	21,123	20,268
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	7,780	37,820	26,585	47,684
Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate swaps		0		0
Unrealized gain (loss) on available for sale securities		0		0
Other comprehensive income, before income taxes		37,820		47,684
Income tax expense		0		0
Other comprehensive income, net of income taxes	7,780	37,820	26,585	47,684
Comprehensive income	7,739	48,529	47,708	67,952
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2,173)	(6,559)	(6,736)	(13,364)
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks' stockholders	$ 5,566	$ 41,970	$ 40,972	$ 54,588