SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2010		Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2010
Segment Information [Abstract]
Number of reportable business segments					2
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues, net from continuing operations	$ 1,688,681		$ 1,548,203		$ 3,343,805		$ 3,057,994
Inter-segment revenues	5,755		6,084		11,359		12,041
Adjusted operating cash flow from continuing operations	573,455		560,643		1,128,971		1,065,680
Depreciation and amortization (including impairments) included in continuing operations	(247,605)		(217,987)		(492,788)		(433,190)
Share-based compensation expense included in continuing operations	(13,315)		(13,510)		(25,879)		(24,628)
Restructuring expense included in continuing operations	(94)		(158)		(265)		(161)
Operating income (loss) from continuing operations	312,441	[1]	328,988	[1]	610,039	[1]	607,701	[1]
Capital expenditures	214,284		206,928		345,298		353,045
Operating income from continuing operations before income taxes [Abstract]
Operating income	312,441	[1]	328,988	[1]	610,039	[1]	607,701	[1]
Items excluded from operating income (loss) [Abstract]
Interest expense	(188,492)		(189,109)		(379,649)		(352,744)
Gain (loss) on investments, net	13,312		(31,366)		72,384		10,928
Gain (loss) on equity derivative contracts, net	(2,823)		32,292		(42,881)		(2,741)
Loss on interest rate swap contracts, net	(5,497)		(21,771)		(9,686)		(56,880)
Loss on extinguishment of debt and write-off of deferred financing costs	0		(110,049)		0		(110,049)
Miscellaneous, net	238		240		455		585
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	129,376	[1]	9,436	[1]	250,932	[1]	97,102	[1]
Telecommunications Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues, net from continuing operations	1,578,037		1,437,161		3,137,177		2,843,166
Inter-segment revenues	608		764		1,015		1,257
Adjusted operating cash flow from continuing operations	625,385		614,126		1,239,788		1,172,746
Depreciation and amortization (including impairments) included in continuing operations	(232,560)		(204,358)		(462,440)		(406,914)
Share-based compensation expense included in continuing operations	(9,099)		(9,003)		(17,398)		(16,627)
Restructuring expense included in continuing operations	0		0		0		0
Operating income (loss) from continuing operations	383,726		400,765		759,950		749,205
Capital expenditures	200,378		194,381		325,573		337,415
Operating income from continuing operations before income taxes [Abstract]
Operating income	383,726		400,765		759,950		749,205
Other Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues, net from continuing operations	116,399		117,126		217,987		226,869
Inter-segment revenues	5,147		5,320		10,344		10,784
Adjusted operating cash flow from continuing operations	(51,930)		(53,483)		(110,817)		(107,066)
Depreciation and amortization (including impairments) included in continuing operations	(15,045)		(13,629)		(30,348)		(26,276)
Share-based compensation expense included in continuing operations	(4,216)		(4,507)		(8,481)		(8,001)
Restructuring expense included in continuing operations	(94)		(158)		(265)		(161)
Operating income (loss) from continuing operations	(71,285)		(71,777)		(149,911)		(141,504)
Capital expenditures	13,906		12,547		19,725		15,630
Operating income from continuing operations before income taxes [Abstract]
Operating income	(71,285)		(71,777)		(149,911)		(141,504)
Inter-segment eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues, net from continuing operations	(5,755)		(6,084)		(11,359)		(12,041)
Cablevision Systems Corporation [Member]
Items excluded from operating income (loss) [Abstract]
Interest expense	(45,880)	[1]	(47,640)	[1]	(91,697)	[1]	(88,406)	[1]
Intercompany interest expense	(14,769)		(15,261)		(29,539)		(30,967)
Interest income	2	[1]	111	[1]	10	[1]	121	[1]
Loss on extinguishment of debt and write-off of deferred financing costs	0	[1]	(110,049)	[1]	0	[1]	(110,049)	[1]
CSC Holdings, LLC [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues, net from continuing operations	1,688,681		1,548,203		3,343,805		3,057,994
Depreciation and amortization (including impairments) included in continuing operations	(247,605)		(217,987)		(492,788)		(433,190)
Restructuring expense included in continuing operations	(94)		(158)		(265)		(161)
Operating income (loss) from continuing operations	312,441		328,988		610,039		607,701
Capital expenditures					345,298		353,045
Operating income from continuing operations before income taxes [Abstract]
Operating income	312,441		328,988		610,039		607,701
Items excluded from operating income (loss) [Abstract]
Interest expense	(142,612)		(141,469)		(287,952)		(264,338)
Interest income	195	[1]	100	[1]	260	[1]	181	[1]
Intercompany interest income	14,769	[1]	15,261	[1]	29,539	[1]	30,967	[1]
Gain (loss) on investments, net	13,312		(31,366)		72,384		10,928
Gain (loss) on equity derivative contracts, net	(2,823)		32,292		(42,881)		(2,741)
Loss on interest rate swap contracts, net	(5,497)		(21,771)		(9,686)		(56,880)
Miscellaneous, net	238		240		455		585
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	190,023		182,275		372,158		326,403
Total Reportable Segments [Member]
Operating income from continuing operations before income taxes [Abstract]
Total operating income for reportable segments	383,726	[1]	400,765	[1]	759,950	[1]	749,205	[1]
Other operating loss	$ (71,285)	[1]	$ (71,777)	[1]	$ (149,911)	[1]	$ (141,504)	[1]

[1] Includes costs historically allocated to AMC Networks that were not eliminated as a result of the AMC Networks Distribution.