Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Earnings	Treasury Stock	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	AMC Networks Stockholders’ Equity	Noncontrolling Interests	Class A Common Stock Common Stock	Class B Common Stock Common Stock
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017								627	115
Beginning 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	156,870		156,870			156,870
Net income attributable to non-redeemable noncontrolling interests	469						469
Settlement of treasury stock	995	995				995
Treasury stock not yet settled	(9,980)	(9,980)				(9,980)
Other comprehensive income	18,805				18,804	18,804
Other comprehensive income	19,701						897
Share-based compensation expense	15,319	15,319				15,319
Treasury stock acquired	(83,637)			(83,637)		(83,637)
Restricted stock units converted to shares	(15,355)	(15,359)				(15,355)		$ 4
Ending Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2018								631	115
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2018	261,111	182,278	936,379	(793,077)	(95,582)	230,744	30,367
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018								633	115
Beginning 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]
Net income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders	143,397		143,397			143,397
Net income attributable to non-redeemable noncontrolling interests	942						942
Distributions to noncontrolling member	(361)						(361)
Settlement of treasury stock	985	985				985
Other comprehensive income	(6,252)				(6,252)	(6,252)
Other comprehensive income	(6,214)						38
Share-based compensation expense	19,899	19,899				19,899
Treasury stock acquired	(991)			(991)		(991)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	4,630	4,630				4,630
Restricted stock units converted to shares	(22,958)	(22,959)				(22,958)		$ 1
Ending Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019								634	115
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2019	$ 484,537	$ 242,322	$ 1,372,339	$ (993,574)	$ (166,446)	$ 455,390	$ 29,147