Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues, net (including revenues, net from related parties of $5,578, $6,168 and $15,873, respectively)	$ 2,971,929	$ 2,805,691	$ 2,755,654
Operating Expenses
Technical and operating (excluding depreciation and amortization)	1,445,949	1,341,076	1,279,984
Selling, general and administrative (including charges from related parties of $1,647, $1,524 and $3,086, respectively)	657,457	613,342	636,028
Depreciation and amortization	91,281	94,638	84,778
Impairment and related charges	4,486	28,148	67,805
Restructuring expense	45,847	6,128	29,503
Total operating expenses	2,245,020	2,083,332	2,098,098
Operating income	726,909	722,359	657,556
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(154,993)	(134,001)	(123,632)
Interest income	19,180	14,704	5,064
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	(3,004)	(50,639)
Miscellaneous, net	29,177	40,320	(33,524)
Total other income (expense)	(106,636)	(81,981)	(202,731)
Income from operations before income taxes	620,273	640,378	454,825
Income tax expense	(156,306)	(150,741)	(164,862)
Net income including noncontrolling interests	463,967	489,637	289,963
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(17,780)	(18,321)	(19,453)
Net income attributable to AMC Networks' stockholders	$ 446,187	$ 471,316	$ 270,510
Basic net income (loss) per share
Basic	$ 7.68	$ 7.26	$ 3.77
Diluted net income (loss) per share
Diluted	$ 7.57	$ 7.18	$ 3.74
Weighted average common shares
Basic	58,066	64,905	71,746
Diluted	58,947	65,625	72,410