Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income including noncontrolling interests	$ 256,988	$ 407,716	$ 463,967
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	33,562	(6,272)	(41,716)
Unrealized loss on interest rate swaps	(437)	(1,609)	(356)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	0	0	(370)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before income taxes	33,125
Income tax benefit	114
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes	33,239	(7,365)	(44,133)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), before income taxes	32,647	(7,881)	(42,442)
Income tax benefit	114	364	45
Other comprehensive income	32,761	(7,517)	(42,397)
Comprehensive income	290,227	400,199	421,570
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(17,487)	(27,078)	(16,044)
Comprehensive income attributable to AMC Networks' stockholders	$ 272,740	$ 373,121	$ 405,526