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	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 loss	(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 loss	(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
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	$ 145,268			145,268				145,268
Net income attributable to non-redeemable noncontrolling interests	700									700
Distributions to noncontrolling member	(1,011)									(1,011)
Other comprehensive loss	6,584						7,254	7,254		(670)
Share-based compensation expense	43,141		43,141					43,141
Treasury stock acquired	(102,938)					(102,938)		(102,938)
Restricted stock units converted to shares	(8,947)		(8,951)					(8,947)			4
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2020	772,346		320,681	1,752,740		(1,166,119)	(160,457)	747,603		24,743	643	115
Beginning Balance at Jun. 30, 2020	675,145		308,288	1,691,100		(1,166,119)	(182,111)	651,916		23,229	643	115
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to AMC Networks’ stockholders	61,640			61,640				61,640
Net income attributable to non-redeemable noncontrolling interests	1,785									1,785
Distributions to noncontrolling member	(563)									(563)
Other comprehensive loss	21,946						21,654	21,654		292
Share-based compensation expense	12,393		12,393					12,393
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2020	$ 772,346		$ 320,681	$ 1,752,740		$ (1,166,119)	$ (160,457)	$ 747,603		$ 24,743	$ 643	$ 115