Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Deficiency) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]	Parent [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Common Class A [Member] Common Stock [Member]	Common Class B [Member] Common Stock [Member]
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016								624	115
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ (1,644)	$ 142,798	$ 295,409	$ (275,230)	$ (193,798)	$ (30,082)	$ 28,438
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to AMC Networks' stockholders	471,316		471,316			471,316
Net income attributable to non-redeemable noncontrolling interests	524						524
Distribution to noncontrolling member	(3,070)						(3,070)
Settlement of treasury stock	10,454	10,454				10,454
Treasury stock not yet settled and other	(995)	(995)				(995)
Other comprehensive income	79,412				79,412	79,412
Other comprehensive income	82,521						3,109
Share-based compensation expense	53,545	53,545				53,545
Treasury stock acquired	(434,210)			(434,210)		(434,210)
Restricted stock units converted to shares	(14,496)	(14,499)				(14,496)		$ 3
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017								627	115
Ending 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	446,187		446,187			446,187
Net income attributable to non-redeemable noncontrolling interests	2,756						2,756
Distribution to noncontrolling member	(2,847)						(2,847)
Settlement of treasury stock	995	995				995
Noncontrolling interests acquired	1,354						1,354
Treasury stock not yet settled and other	(985)	(985)				(985)
Other comprehensive income	(42,397)				(42,397)	(42,397)
Other comprehensive income	(44,133)						(1,736)
Share-based compensation expense	60,979	60,979				60,979
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	4,317	4,317				4,317
Treasury stock acquired	(283,143)			(283,143)		(283,143)
Restricted stock units converted to shares	(16,836)	(16,842)				(16,836)		$ 6
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018								633	115
Ending 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	380,486		380,486			380,486
Net income attributable to non-redeemable noncontrolling interests	4,911						4,911
Distribution to noncontrolling member	(3,438)						(3,438)
Non-redeemable noncontrolling interests changes	(4,429)						(4,429)
Settlement of treasury stock	985	985				985
Other comprehensive income	(7,517)				(7,517)	(7,517)
Other comprehensive income	(7,365)						152
Share-based compensation expense	64,133	64,133				64,133
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	4,630	4,630				4,630
Treasury stock acquired	(70,598)			(70,598)		(70,598)
Restricted stock units converted to shares	(23,018)	(23,024)				(23,018)		$ 6
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019								639	115
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 691,505	$ 286,491	$ 1,609,428	$ (1,063,181)	$ (167,711)	$ 665,781	$ 25,724