Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Cumulative effects of adoption of accounting standards	Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Earnings	Accumulated Earnings Cumulative effects of adoption of accounting standards	Treasury Stock	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	AMC Networks Stockholders’ Equity	AMC Networks Stockholders’ Equity Cumulative effects of adoption of accounting standards	Noncontrolling Interests	Class A Common Stock Common Stock	Class B Common Stock Common Stock
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 loss 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 loss	(7,120)						(6,950)	(6,950)		(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 loss 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 loss	(906)						(698)	(698)		(208)
Share-based compensation expense	16,725		16,725					16,725
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
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 691,505	$ (1,956)	286,491	1,609,428	$ (1,956)	(1,063,181)	(167,711)	665,781	$ (1,956)	25,724	639	115
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accounting Standards Update [Extensible List]	us-gaap:AccountingStandardsUpdate201613Member
Net income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders	$ 83,628			83,628				83,628
Net loss attributable to non-redeemable noncontrolling interests	(1,085)									(1,085)
Distributions to noncontrolling member	(448)									(448)
Other comprehensive loss	(15,362)						(14,400)	(14,400)		(962)
Share-based compensation expense	30,747		30,747					30,747
Treasury stock acquired	(102,938)					(102,938)		(102,938)
Restricted stock units converted to shares	(8,946)		(8,950)					(8,946)			4
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2020	675,145		308,288	1,691,100		(1,166,119)	(182,111)	651,916		23,229	643	115
Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2020	637,396		282,153	1,676,139		(1,149,138)	(196,364)	613,548		23,848	643	115
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders	14,961			14,961				14,961
Net loss attributable to non-redeemable noncontrolling interests	(818)									(818)
Treasury stock not yet settled	10,988		10,988					10,988
Other comprehensive loss	14,452						14,253	14,253		199
Share-based compensation expense	15,235		15,235					15,235
Treasury stock acquired	(16,981)					(16,981)		(16,981)
Restricted stock units converted to shares	(88)		(88)					(88)			0
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2020	$ 675,145		$ 308,288	$ 1,691,100		$ (1,166,119)	$ (182,111)	$ 651,916		$ 23,229	$ 643	$ 115