Equity Plans

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]

Equity Plans

Equity Plans

In March 2019, AMC Networks granted 498,320 restricted stock units ("RSUs") and 390,566 performance restricted stock units ("PRSUs") to certain executive officers and employees under the AMC Networks Inc. 2016 Employee Stock Plan. The RSUs vest ratably over a three-year period and the vesting criteria for 165,194 RSUs include the achievement of certain performance targets by the Company. The PRSUs vest on the third anniversary of the grant date.

The target number of PRSUs granted represents the right to receive a corresponding number of shares, subject to adjustment based on the performance of the Company against target performance criteria for a three-year period. The number of shares issuable at the end of the applicable measurement period ranges from 0% to 200% of the target PRSU award.

During the three months ended March 31, 2019, 518,583 RSUs and 349,761 PRSUs of AMC Networks Class A Common Stock previously issued to employees of the Company vested. On the vesting date, 217,265 RSUs and 150,771 PRSUs were surrendered to the Company to cover the required statutory tax withholding obligations and 301,318 RSU and 198,990 PRSU new shares of AMC Networks Class A Common Stock were issued. The units surrendered to satisfy the employees' statutory minimum tax withholding obligations for the applicable income and other employment tax had an aggregate value of $23.0 million, which has been reflected as a financing activity in the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2019.

Share-based compensation expense included in selling, general and administrative expense, for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and March 31, 2018 was $19.9 million, and $15.3 million, respectively.

As of March 31, 2019, there was $120.1 million of total unrecognized share-based compensation cost related to outstanding unvested share-based awards. The unrecognized compensation cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average remaining period of approximately 2.5 years.