Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues, net	$ 772,299	$ 761,385	$ 1,556,520	$ 1,502,208
Operating expenses
Technical and operating (excluding depreciation and amortization)	385,623	376,809	725,771	697,174
Selling, general and administrative	173,364	171,376	345,876	337,825
Depreciation and amortization	25,893	21,669	49,949	42,023
Restructuring and other related charges	17,162	0	19,804	0
Total operating expenses	602,042	569,854	1,141,400	1,077,022
Operating income	170,257	191,531	415,120	425,186
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(39,716)	(39,265)	(79,361)	(77,470)
Interest income	4,745	5,332	8,945	10,351
Miscellaneous, net	(2,697)	(14,719)	(15,482)	2,227
Total other income (expense)	(37,668)	(48,652)	(85,898)	(64,892)
Income from operations before income taxes	132,589	142,879	329,222	360,294
Income tax benefit (expense)	1,396	(32,547)	(45,080)	(89,426)
Net income including noncontrolling interests	133,985	110,332	284,142	270,868
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(5,242)	(4,151)	(12,002)	(7,817)
Net income attributable to AMC Networks' stockholders	$ 128,743	$ 106,181	$ 272,140	$ 263,051
Net income per share attributable to AMC Networks' stockholders:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 2.28	$ 1.84	$ 4.81	$ 4.43
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 2.25	$ 1.82	$ 4.73	$ 4.38
Weighted average common shares
Basic (in shares)	56,590	57,758	56,589	59,354
Diluted (in shares)	57,335	58,387	57,529	60,044