DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS, RELATED MATTERS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS, RELATED MATTERS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION [Abstract]
Number of reportable business segments	2
Principles of Consolidation [Abstract]
Senior notes, principal outstanding	$ 2,166,966
Senior notes with related party	$ 753,717
Senior notes, interest rate stated percentage (in hundredths)	8.00%
Madison Square Garden [Member]
Distribution of AMC Networks Inc. Common Stock [Abstract]
Number of Distributed Entity's Class A Common Stock shares distributed to Cablevision NY Group Class A Common Stock stockholders (in shares)	1
Number of Cablevision NY Group Class A Common Stock shares held to receive shares of Distributed Entity's Class A Common Stock (in shares)	4
Number of Distributed Entity's Class B Common Stock shares distributed to Cablevision NY Group Class B Common Stock stockholders (in shares)	1
Number of Cablevision NY Group Class B Common Stock shares held to receive shares of Distributed Entity's Class B Common Stock (in shares)	4
AMC Networks Inc. [Member]
Distribution of AMC Networks Inc. Common Stock [Abstract]
Number of Distributed Entity's Class A Common Stock shares distributed to Cablevision NY Group Class A Common Stock stockholders (in shares)	1
Number of Cablevision NY Group Class A Common Stock shares held to receive shares of Distributed Entity's Class A Common Stock (in shares)	4
Number of Distributed Entity's Class B Common Stock shares distributed to Cablevision NY Group Class B Common Stock stockholders (in shares)	1
Number of Cablevision NY Group Class B Common Stock shares held to receive shares of Distributed Entity's Class B Common Stock (in shares)	4