Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Deficiency) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Treasury Stock	AOCI Attributable to Parent	Parent	Noncontrolling Interest	Common Class A [Member] Common Stock	Common Class B [Member] Common Stock
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015								621	115
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ (8,638)	$ 123,157	$ 24,880	$ (51,993)	$ (136,057)	$ (39,277)	$ 30,639
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to AMC Networks' stockholders	270,510		270,510			270,510
Non-redeemable noncontrolling interests changes	(97)						(97)
Net income attributable to non-redeemable noncontrolling interests	2,784						2,784
Treasury stock not yet settled and other	(10,435)	(10,454)	19			(10,435)
Other comprehensive income	(57,741)				(57,741)	(57,741)
Other comprehensive income	(60,703)						(2,962)
Share-based compensation expense	38,897	38,897				38,897
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	1,228	1,227				1,228		$ 1
Restricted stock units converted to shares	(10,822)	(10,824)				(10,822)		$ 2
Excess tax benefits on share-based awards	795	795				795
Distribution to noncontrolling member	(1,926)						(1,926)
Treasury stock acquired	(223,237)			(223,237)		(223,237)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016								624	115
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	(1,644)	142,798	295,409	(275,230)	(193,798)	(30,082)	28,438
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to AMC Networks' stockholders	471,316		471,316			471,316
Net income attributable to non-redeemable noncontrolling interests	524						524
Treasury stock not yet settled and other	(995)	(995)				(995)
Other comprehensive income	79,412				79,412	79,412
Other comprehensive income	82,521						3,109
Share-based compensation expense	53,545	53,545				53,545
Restricted stock units converted to shares	(14,496)	(14,499)				(14,496)		$ 3
Distribution to noncontrolling member	(3,070)						(3,070)
Settlement of treasury stock	10,454	10,454				10,454
Treasury stock acquired	(434,210)			(434,210)		(434,210)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017								627	115
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	163,945	191,303	766,725	(709,440)	(114,386)	134,944	29,001
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to AMC Networks' stockholders	446,187		446,187			446,187
Net income attributable to non-redeemable noncontrolling interests	2,756						2,756
Noncontrolling interests acquired	1,354						1,354
Treasury stock not yet settled and other	(986)	(986)				(986)
Other comprehensive income	(42,397)				(42,397)	(42,397)
Other comprehensive income	(44,133)						(1,736)
Share-based compensation expense	60,979	60,979				60,979
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	4,317	4,317				4,317
Restricted stock units converted to shares	(16,836)	(16,842)				(16,836)		$ 6
Distribution to noncontrolling member	(2,847)						(2,847)
Settlement of treasury stock	996	996				996
Treasury stock acquired	(283,143)			(283,143)		(283,143)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018								633	115
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	345,208	$ 239,767	1,228,942	$ (992,583)	(160,194)	316,680	$ 28,528
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cumulative effects of adoption of accounting standards	$ 12,619		$ 16,030		$ (3,411)	$ 12,619