Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ 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 at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 163,945	$ 191,303	$ 766,725	$ (709,440)	$ (114,386)	$ 134,944	$ 29,001	$ 627	$ 115
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders	263,051		263,051			263,051
Net income attributable to non-redeemable noncontrolling interests	1,601						1,601
Distributions to noncontrolling member	0						0
Treasury stock not yet settled	0	0				0
Settlement of treasury stock	996	996				996
Other comprehensive income	(26,955)				(26,955)	(26,955)
Other comprehensive income	(28,036)						(1,081)
Share-based compensation expense	35,072	35,072				35,072
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	4,317	4,317				4,317
Treasury stock acquired	(242,410)			242,410		(242,410)
Restricted stock units converted to shares	(15,735)	(15,740)				(15,735)		5
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2018	195,420	215,948	1,045,806	(951,850)	(144,752)	165,899	29,521	632	115
Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2018	261,110	182,278	936,379	(793,078)	(95,582)	230,743	30,367	631	115
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders	106,181		106,181			106,181
Net income attributable to non-redeemable noncontrolling interests	1,132						1,132
Treasury stock not yet settled	9,980	9,980				9,980
Settlement of treasury stock	1	1				1
Other comprehensive income	(45,759)				(45,759)	(45,759)
Other comprehensive income	(47,737)						(1,978)
Share-based compensation expense	19,753	19,753				19,753
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	4,317	4,317				4,317
Treasury stock acquired	(158,772)			158,772		(158,772)
Restricted stock units converted to shares	(380)	(381)				(380)		1
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2018	195,420	215,948	1,045,806	(951,850)	(144,752)	165,899	29,521	632	115
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	345,208	239,767	1,228,942	(992,583)	(160,194)	316,680	28,528	633	115
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders	272,140		272,140			272,140
Net income attributable to non-redeemable noncontrolling interests	1,070						1,070
Distributions to noncontrolling member	(2,735)						(2,735)
Treasury stock not yet settled	(832)	(832)				(832)
Other comprehensive income	(6,950)				(6,950)	(6,950)
Other comprehensive income	(7,120)						(170)
Share-based compensation expense	36,624	36,624				36,624
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	4,630	4,630				4,630
Treasury stock acquired	(57,453)	(986)		(58,439)		(57,453)
Restricted stock units converted to shares	(23,019)	(23,025)				(23,019)		6
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2019	568,513	258,150	1,501,082	(1,051,022)	(167,144)	541,820	26,693	639	115
Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2019	484,537	242,322	1,372,339	(993,574)	(166,446)	455,390	29,147	634	115
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders	128,743		128,743			128,743
Net income attributable to non-redeemable noncontrolling interests	128						128
Distributions to noncontrolling member	(2,374)						(2,374)
Treasury stock not yet settled	(832)	(832)				(832)
Other comprehensive income	(698)				(698)	(698)
Other comprehensive income	(906)						(208)
Share-based compensation expense	16,725	16,725				16,725
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	0	0				0
Treasury stock acquired	(57,448)			(57,448)		(57,448)
Restricted stock units converted to shares	(60)	(65)				(60)		5
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2019	$ 568,513	$ 258,150	$ 1,501,082	$ (1,051,022)	$ (167,144)	$ 541,820	$ 26,693	$ 639	$ 115