CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 1,010,932	$ 443,479	$ 139,939
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization (including impairments)	1,787,152	2,083,365	2,263,144
Loss (gain) on investments and sale of affiliate interests, net	88,898	(320,061)	(473,406)
Loss (gain) on derivative contracts, net	(85,911)	178,264	282,713
Loss on extinguishment of debt and write-off of deferred financing costs	51,712	250,489	243,806
Amortization of deferred financing costs and discounts (premiums) on indebtedness	91,226	91,127	106,214
Share-based compensation expense	98,296	125,087	105,538
Deferred income taxes	40,701	75,512	14,931
Decrease in right-of-use asset	43,820	45,995	46,581
Provision for Bad Debt	68,809	65,965	91,520
Other	4,928	34,079	18,558
Change in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and dispositions:
Accounts receivable, trade	(30,379)	(50,747)	(91,718)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	28,343	8,330	(60,854)
Amounts due from and due to affiliates	23,758	3,594	(7,857)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(177,326)	(118,388)	(144,894)
Deferred revenue	(40,929)	(39,977)	(10,384)
Liabilities related to interest rate swap contracts	(149,952)	104,051	30,338
Net cash provided by operating activities	2,854,078	2,980,164	2,554,169
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(1,231,715)	(1,073,955)	(1,355,350)
Payment for acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(340,444)	(149,973)	(172,269)
Other, net	(1,444)	3,502	2,150
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,573,603)	(1,220,426)	(1,525,469)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	4,410,000	8,019,648	9,160,229
Repayment of long-term debt	(4,870,108)	(6,194,804)	(8,159,914)
Proceeds from collateralized indebtedness and related derivative contracts, net	185,105	0	93,000
Repayment of collateralized indebtedness and related derivative contracts, net	(185,105)	0	0
Principal payments on finance lease obligations	(85,949)	(43,083)	(8,980)
Purchase of shares of Altice USA, Inc. Class A common stock, pursuant to a share repurchase program and Tender Offer	(804,928)	(4,816,379)	(1,686,873)
Proceeds from the sale of a noncontrolling interest in Lightpath, net of expenses	0	880,197	0
Other, net	11,539	26,624	21,874
Net cash used in financing activities	(1,362,524)	(2,181,045)	(624,412)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents excluding effect of exchange rate changes	(82,049)	(421,307)	404,288
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(662)	(2,167)	(1,166)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(82,711)	(423,474)	403,122
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year	278,686	702,160	299,038
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of year	$ 195,975	$ 278,686	$ 702,160