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	374,308		374,308			374,308
Net income attributable to non-redeemable noncontrolling interests	1,882						1,882
Distributions to noncontrolling member	(984)						(984)
Settlement of treasury stock	996	996				996
Other comprehensive income	(33,945)				(32,679)	(32,679)	(1,266)
Share-based compensation expense	52,006	52,006				52,006
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	4,317	4,317				4,317
Treasury stock acquired	(267,400)			(267,400)		(267,400)
Restricted stock units converted to shares	(15,735)	(15,740)				(15,735)		5
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2018	291,639	232,882	1,157,063	(976,840)	(150,846)	263,006	28,633	632	115
Beginning Balance at Jun. 30, 2018	195,420	215,948	1,045,806	(951,850)	(144,752)	165,899	29,521	632	115
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders	111,257		111,257			111,257
Net income attributable to non-redeemable noncontrolling interests	281						281
Other comprehensive income	(7,263)				(6,094)	(6,094)	(1,169)
Share-based compensation expense	16,934	16,934				16,934
Treasury stock acquired	(24,990)			(24,990)		(24,990)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2018	291,639	232,882	1,157,063	(976,840)	(150,846)	263,006	28,633	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	389,063		389,063			389,063
Net income attributable to non-redeemable noncontrolling interests	2,842						2,842
Distributions to noncontrolling member	(3,439)						(3,439)
Other comprehensive income	(41,339)				(40,083)	(40,083)	(1,256)
Share-based compensation expense	50,465	50,465				50,465
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	4,630	4,630				4,630
Treasury stock acquired	(69,613)	985		(70,598)		(69,613)
Restricted stock units converted to shares	(23,018)	(23,024)				(23,018)		6
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2019	654,799	272,823	1,618,005	(1,063,181)	(200,277)	628,124	26,675	639	115
Beginning Balance at Jun. 30, 2019	568,513	258,150	1,501,082	(1,051,022)	(167,144)	541,820	26,693	639	115
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders	116,923		116,923			116,923
Net income attributable to non-redeemable noncontrolling interests	1,772						1,772
Distributions to noncontrolling member	(705)						(705)
Settlement of treasury stock	832	832				832
Other comprehensive income	(34,218)				(33,133)	(33,133)	(1,085)
Share-based compensation expense	13,841	13,841				13,841
Treasury stock acquired	(12,159)			(12,159)		(12,159)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2019	$ 654,799	$ 272,823	$ 1,618,005	$ (1,063,181)	$ (200,277)	$ 628,124	$ 26,675	$ 639	$ 115