Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Comprehensive Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	$ 133,985	$ 110,332	$ 284,142	$ 270,868
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	553	(45,759)	(5,210)	(26,955)
Unrealized loss on interest rate swaps	(1,625)	0	(2,263)	0
Other comprehensive loss, before income taxes	(1,072)	(45,759)	(7,473)	(26,955)
Income tax expense	374	0	523	0
Other comprehensive loss, net of income taxes	(698)	(45,759)	(6,950)	(26,955)
Comprehensive income	133,287	64,573	277,192	243,913
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(5,033)	(2,173)	(11,831)	(6,736)
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks' stockholders	128,254	62,400	265,361	237,177
Eliminations
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	(177,974)	(168,041)	(394,907)	(433,021)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(553)	(45,759)	5,210	(26,955)
Other comprehensive loss, before income taxes	(553)		5,210
Other comprehensive loss, net of income taxes	(553)	(45,759)	5,210	(26,955)
Comprehensive income	(178,527)	(213,800)	(389,697)	(459,976)
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks' stockholders	(178,527)	(213,800)	(389,697)	(459,976)
Parent Company
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	128,743	106,181	272,140	263,051
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	553	(45,759)	(5,210)	(26,955)
Unrealized loss on interest rate swaps	(1,625)		(2,263)
Other comprehensive loss, before income taxes	(1,072)		(7,473)
Income tax expense	374		523
Other comprehensive loss, net of income taxes	(698)	(45,759)	(6,950)	(26,955)
Comprehensive income	128,045	60,422	265,190	236,096
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks' stockholders	128,045	60,422	265,190	236,096
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	162,140	172,233	386,384	419,715
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Comprehensive income	162,140	172,233	386,384	419,715
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks' stockholders	162,140	172,233	386,384	419,715
Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	21,076	(41)	20,525	21,123
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	553	45,759	(5,210)	26,955
Other comprehensive loss, before income taxes	553		(5,210)
Other comprehensive loss, net of income taxes	553	45,759	(5,210)	26,955
Comprehensive income	21,629	45,718	15,315	48,078
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(5,033)	(2,173)	(11,831)	(6,736)
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks' stockholders	$ 16,596	$ 43,545	$ 3,484	$ 41,342