Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income including noncontrolling interests	$ 76,439	$ 116,660	$ 110,332	$ 160,536	$ 148,544	$ 90,836	$ 107,626	$ 142,631	$ 463,967	$ 489,637	$ 289,963
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment									(41,716)	76,023	(45,426)
Unrealized (loss) gain on interest rate swaps									(356)	(35)	22
Unrealized gain on available for sale securities									0	5,398	0
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss									(370)	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), before income taxes									(42,442)	81,386	(45,404)
Income tax expense									45	(1,974)	(12,337)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes									(42,397)	79,412	(57,741)
Comprehensive income									421,570	569,049	232,222
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests									(16,044)	(21,430)	(16,491)
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks' stockholders									$ 405,526	$ 547,619	$ 215,731