CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIENCY (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Balance		$ (6,295,433)		$ (5,155,434)	$ (6,295,433)	$ (5,155,434)	$ (5,367,658)
Net income attributable to Cablevision Systems Corporation stockholders/CSC Holdings, LLC's sole member	60,629	104,065	113,863	74,160	291,857	360,948	285,572
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest					1,617	1,249	761
Pension and post-retirement plan liability adjustments, net of income taxes					4,399	14,812	(14,735)
Proceeds from exercise of options and issuance of restricted shares					6,471	21,788	16,355
Recognition of equity-based stock compensation arrangements					50,643	60,151	65,311
Treasury stock acquired from forfeiture and acquisition of restricted shares					(35,555)	(22,542)	(16,175)
Treasury stock acquired through share repurchase program					(539,565)	(316,513)
Conversion of CNYG Class B common stock to CNYG Class A common stock						0	0
Deferred tax adjustments relating to distribution of Madison Square Garden					(4,967)
Dividends on CNYG Class A and CNYG Class B common stock					(163,123)	(143,799)	(123,095)
Distribution of Distributed Entity					1,111,159	(1,115,873)
Impact of exchange of notes due to Newsday Holdings LLC/from Cablevision, net of income taxes						496
Adjustments to noncontrolling interests					(1,567)	(716)	(1,770)
Balance	(5,574,064)		(6,295,433)		(5,574,064)	(6,295,433)	(5,155,434)
Common Stock [Member] | CNYG Class A Common Stock [Member]
Balance		2,796		2,741	2,796	2,741	2,672
Net income attributable to Cablevision Systems Corporation stockholders/CSC Holdings, LLC's sole member					0	0	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest					0	0	0
Pension and post-retirement plan liability adjustments, net of income taxes					0	0	0
Proceeds from exercise of options and issuance of restricted shares					22	52	64
Recognition of equity-based stock compensation arrangements					0	0	0
Treasury stock acquired from forfeiture and acquisition of restricted shares					0	0	0
Treasury stock acquired through share repurchase program					0	0
Conversion of CNYG Class B common stock to CNYG Class A common stock						3	5
Deferred tax adjustments relating to distribution of Madison Square Garden					0
Dividends on CNYG Class A and CNYG Class B common stock					0	0	0
Distribution of Distributed Entity					0	0
Impact of exchange of notes due to Newsday Holdings LLC/from Cablevision, net of income taxes						0
Adjustments to noncontrolling interests					0	0	0
Balance	2,818		2,796		2,818	2,796	2,741
Common Stock [Member] | CNYG Class B Common Stock [Member]
Balance		541		544	541	544	549
Net income attributable to Cablevision Systems Corporation stockholders/CSC Holdings, LLC's sole member					0	0	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest					0	0	0
Pension and post-retirement plan liability adjustments, net of income taxes					0	0	0
Proceeds from exercise of options and issuance of restricted shares					0	0	0
Recognition of equity-based stock compensation arrangements					0	0	0
Treasury stock acquired from forfeiture and acquisition of restricted shares					0	0	0
Treasury stock acquired through share repurchase program					0	0
Conversion of CNYG Class B common stock to CNYG Class A common stock						(3)	(5)
Deferred tax adjustments relating to distribution of Madison Square Garden					0
Dividends on CNYG Class A and CNYG Class B common stock					0	0	0
Distribution of Distributed Entity					0	0
Impact of exchange of notes due to Newsday Holdings LLC/from Cablevision, net of income taxes						0
Adjustments to noncontrolling interests					0	0	0
Balance	541		541		541	541	544
Paid-in Capital [Member]
Balance		6,465		89,741	6,465	89,741	132,425
Net income attributable to Cablevision Systems Corporation stockholders/CSC Holdings, LLC's sole member					0	0	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest					0	0	0
Pension and post-retirement plan liability adjustments, net of income taxes					0	0	0
Proceeds from exercise of options and issuance of restricted shares					6,449	21,736	16,291
Recognition of equity-based stock compensation arrangements					50,643	60,151	65,311
Treasury stock acquired from forfeiture and acquisition of restricted shares					12	4	6
Treasury stock acquired through share repurchase program					0	0
Conversion of CNYG Class B common stock to CNYG Class A common stock						0	0
Deferred tax adjustments relating to distribution of Madison Square Garden					(2,425)
Dividends on CNYG Class A and CNYG Class B common stock					(120,612)	(68,048)	(123,095)
Impact of exchange of notes due to Newsday Holdings LLC/from Cablevision, net of income taxes						1,285
Adjustments to noncontrolling interests					(256)	110	(1,197)
Balance	1,051,435		6,465		1,051,435	6,465	89,741
Paid-in Capital [Member] | AMC Networks Inc. [Member]
Distribution of Distributed Entity					1,111,159
Paid-in Capital [Member] | Madison Square Garden [Member]
Distribution of Distributed Entity						(98,514)
Accumulated Deficit [Member]
Balance		(5,494,829)		(4,749,714)	(5,494,829)	(4,749,714)	(5,035,286)
Net income attributable to Cablevision Systems Corporation stockholders/CSC Holdings, LLC's sole member					291,857	360,948	285,572
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest					0	0	0
Pension and post-retirement plan liability adjustments, net of income taxes					0	0	0
Proceeds from exercise of options and issuance of restricted shares					0	0	0
Recognition of equity-based stock compensation arrangements					0	0	0
Treasury stock acquired from forfeiture and acquisition of restricted shares					0	0	0
Treasury stock acquired through share repurchase program					0	0
Conversion of CNYG Class B common stock to CNYG Class A common stock						0	0
Deferred tax adjustments relating to distribution of Madison Square Garden					0
Dividends on CNYG Class A and CNYG Class B common stock					(42,511)	(75,751)	0
Impact of exchange of notes due to Newsday Holdings LLC/from Cablevision, net of income taxes						(789)
Adjustments to noncontrolling interests					0	(541)	0
Balance	(5,245,483)		(5,494,829)		(5,245,483)	(5,494,829)	(4,749,714)
Accumulated Deficit [Member] | AMC Networks Inc. [Member]
Distribution of Distributed Entity					0
Accumulated Deficit [Member] | Madison Square Garden [Member]
Distribution of Distributed Entity						(1,028,982)
Treasury Stock [Member]
Balance		(788,566)		(449,507)	(788,566)	(449,507)	(433,326)
Net income attributable to Cablevision Systems Corporation stockholders/CSC Holdings, LLC's sole member					0	0	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest					0	0	0
Pension and post-retirement plan liability adjustments, net of income taxes					0	0	0
Proceeds from exercise of options and issuance of restricted shares					0	0	0
Recognition of equity-based stock compensation arrangements					0	0	0
Treasury stock acquired from forfeiture and acquisition of restricted shares					(35,567)	(22,546)	(16,181)
Treasury stock acquired through share repurchase program					(539,565)	(316,513)
Conversion of CNYG Class B common stock to CNYG Class A common stock						0	0
Deferred tax adjustments relating to distribution of Madison Square Garden					0
Dividends on CNYG Class A and CNYG Class B common stock					0	0	0
Impact of exchange of notes due to Newsday Holdings LLC/from Cablevision, net of income taxes						0
Adjustments to noncontrolling interests					0	0	0
Balance	(1,363,698)		(788,566)		(1,363,698)	(788,566)	(449,507)
Treasury Stock [Member] | AMC Networks Inc. [Member]
Distribution of Distributed Entity					0
Treasury Stock [Member] | Madison Square Garden [Member]
Distribution of Distributed Entity						0
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Balance		(23,325)		(49,760)	(23,325)	(49,760)	(35,025)
Net income attributable to Cablevision Systems Corporation stockholders/CSC Holdings, LLC's sole member					0	0	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest					0	0	0
Pension and post-retirement plan liability adjustments, net of income taxes					4,399	14,812	(14,735)
Proceeds from exercise of options and issuance of restricted shares					0	0	0
Recognition of equity-based stock compensation arrangements					0	0	0
Treasury stock acquired from forfeiture and acquisition of restricted shares					0	0	0
Treasury stock acquired through share repurchase program					0	0
Conversion of CNYG Class B common stock to CNYG Class A common stock						0	0
Deferred tax adjustments relating to distribution of Madison Square Garden					(2,542)
Dividends on CNYG Class A and CNYG Class B common stock					0	0	0
Impact of exchange of notes due to Newsday Holdings LLC/from Cablevision, net of income taxes						0
Adjustments to noncontrolling interests					0	0	0
Balance	(21,468)		(23,325)		(21,468)	(23,325)	(49,760)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] | AMC Networks Inc. [Member]
Distribution of Distributed Entity					0
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] | Madison Square Garden [Member]
Distribution of Distributed Entity						11,623
Total Stockholders'/Member's Deficiency [Member]
Balance		(6,296,918)		(5,155,955)	(6,296,918)	(5,155,955)	(5,367,991)
Net income attributable to Cablevision Systems Corporation stockholders/CSC Holdings, LLC's sole member					291,857	360,948	285,572
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest					0	0	0
Pension and post-retirement plan liability adjustments, net of income taxes					4,399	14,812	(14,735)
Proceeds from exercise of options and issuance of restricted shares					6,471	21,788	16,355
Recognition of equity-based stock compensation arrangements					50,643	60,151	65,311
Treasury stock acquired from forfeiture and acquisition of restricted shares					(35,555)	(22,542)	(16,175)
Treasury stock acquired through share repurchase program					(539,565)	(316,513)
Conversion of CNYG Class B common stock to CNYG Class A common stock						0	0
Deferred tax adjustments relating to distribution of Madison Square Garden					(4,967)
Dividends on CNYG Class A and CNYG Class B common stock					(163,123)	(143,799)	(123,095)
Impact of exchange of notes due to Newsday Holdings LLC/from Cablevision, net of income taxes						496
Adjustments to noncontrolling interests					(256)	(431)	(1,197)
Balance	(5,575,855)		(6,296,918)		(5,575,855)	(6,296,918)	(5,155,955)
Total Stockholders'/Member's Deficiency [Member] | AMC Networks Inc. [Member]
Distribution of Distributed Entity					1,111,159
Total Stockholders'/Member's Deficiency [Member] | Madison Square Garden [Member]
Distribution of Distributed Entity						(1,115,873)
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Balance		1,485		521	1,485	521	333
Net income attributable to Cablevision Systems Corporation stockholders/CSC Holdings, LLC's sole member					0	0	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest					1,617	1,249	761
Pension and post-retirement plan liability adjustments, net of income taxes					0	0	0
Proceeds from exercise of options and issuance of restricted shares					0	0	0
Recognition of equity-based stock compensation arrangements					0	0	0
Treasury stock acquired from forfeiture and acquisition of restricted shares					0	0	0
Treasury stock acquired through share repurchase program					0	0
Conversion of CNYG Class B common stock to CNYG Class A common stock						0	0
Deferred tax adjustments relating to distribution of Madison Square Garden					0
Dividends on CNYG Class A and CNYG Class B common stock					0	0	0
Impact of exchange of notes due to Newsday Holdings LLC/from Cablevision, net of income taxes						0
Adjustments to noncontrolling interests					(1,311)	(285)	(573)
Balance	1,791		1,485		1,791	1,485	521
Noncontrolling Interest [Member] | AMC Networks Inc. [Member]
Distribution of Distributed Entity					0
Noncontrolling Interest [Member] | Madison Square Garden [Member]
Distribution of Distributed Entity						0
CSC Holdings, LLC [Member]
Balance		(4,148,760)		(3,089,631)	(4,148,760)	(3,089,631)	(3,603,449)
Net income attributable to Cablevision Systems Corporation stockholders/CSC Holdings, LLC's sole member	96,734	140,057	152,115	110,835	426,277	574,277	391,223
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest					1,617	1,249	761
Pension and post-retirement plan liability adjustments, net of income taxes					4,399	14,812	(14,735)
Recognition of equity-based stock compensation arrangements					50,643	60,151	64,660
Excess tax benefit on share-based awards					11,196
Deferred tax adjustments relating to distribution of Madison Square Garden					(4,967)
Distributions to Cablevision					(929,947)	(556,272)	(790,082)
Contributions from Cablevision							871,597
Accretion of discount on note due from Cablevision						(3,131)	(7,836)
Distribution of Distributed Entity					1,177,957	(1,115,873)
Impact of exchange of notes due to Newsday Holdings LLC/from Cablevision, net of income taxes						(33,626)
Adjustments to noncontrolling interests					(1,567)	(716)	(1,770)
Change in legal structure							0
Balance	(3,413,152)		(4,148,760)		(3,413,152)	(4,148,760)	(3,089,631)
CSC Holdings, LLC [Member] | Common Stock [Member]
Balance		0		0	0	0	128
Net income attributable to Cablevision Systems Corporation stockholders/CSC Holdings, LLC's sole member					0	0	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest					0	0	0
Pension and post-retirement plan liability adjustments, net of income taxes					0	0	0
Recognition of equity-based stock compensation arrangements					0	0	0
Excess tax benefit on share-based awards					0
Deferred tax adjustments relating to distribution of Madison Square Garden					0
Distributions to Cablevision					0	0	0
Contributions from Cablevision							16
Accretion of discount on note due from Cablevision						0	0
Impact of exchange of notes due to Newsday Holdings LLC/from Cablevision, net of income taxes						0
Adjustments to noncontrolling interests					0	0	0
Change in legal structure							(144)
Balance	0		0		0	0	0
CSC Holdings, LLC [Member] | Common Stock [Member] | AMC Networks Inc. [Member]
Distribution of Distributed Entity					0
CSC Holdings, LLC [Member] | Common Stock [Member] | Madison Square Garden [Member]
Distribution of Distributed Entity						0
CSC Holdings, LLC [Member] | Paid-in Capital [Member]
Balance		0		0	0	0	839,135
Net income attributable to Cablevision Systems Corporation stockholders/CSC Holdings, LLC's sole member					0	0	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest					0	0	0
Pension and post-retirement plan liability adjustments, net of income taxes					0	0	0
Recognition of equity-based stock compensation arrangements					0	0	64,660
Excess tax benefit on share-based awards					0
Deferred tax adjustments relating to distribution of Madison Square Garden					0
Distributions to Cablevision					0	0	(790,082)
Contributions from Cablevision							871,581
Accretion of discount on note due from Cablevision						0	0
Impact of exchange of notes due to Newsday Holdings LLC/from Cablevision, net of income taxes						0
Adjustments to noncontrolling interests					0	0	(1,197)
Change in legal structure							(984,097)
Balance	0		0		0	0	0
CSC Holdings, LLC [Member] | Paid-in Capital [Member] | AMC Networks Inc. [Member]
Distribution of Distributed Entity					0
CSC Holdings, LLC [Member] | Paid-in Capital [Member] | Madison Square Garden [Member]
Distribution of Distributed Entity						0
CSC Holdings, LLC [Member] | Accumulated Deficit [Member]
Balance		(3,375,506)		(3,363,682)	(3,375,506)	(3,363,682)	(3,754,905)
Net income attributable to Cablevision Systems Corporation stockholders/CSC Holdings, LLC's sole member					426,277	574,277	391,223
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest					0	0	0
Pension and post-retirement plan liability adjustments, net of income taxes					0	0	0
Recognition of equity-based stock compensation arrangements					0	0	0
Excess tax benefit on share-based awards					0
Deferred tax adjustments relating to distribution of Madison Square Garden					0
Distributions to Cablevision					(543,180)	(450,115)	0
Contributions from Cablevision							0
Accretion of discount on note due from Cablevision						0	0
Impact of exchange of notes due to Newsday Holdings LLC/from Cablevision, net of income taxes						(209)
Adjustments to noncontrolling interests					0	(908)	0
Change in legal structure							0
Balance	(3,492,409)		(3,375,506)		(3,492,409)	(3,375,506)	(3,363,682)
CSC Holdings, LLC [Member] | Accumulated Deficit [Member] | AMC Networks Inc. [Member]
Distribution of Distributed Entity					0
CSC Holdings, LLC [Member] | Accumulated Deficit [Member] | Madison Square Garden [Member]
Distribution of Distributed Entity						(134,869)
CSC Holdings, LLC [Member] | Senior Notes Due From Cablevision [Member]
Balance		(753,717)		(660,951)	(753,717)	(660,951)	(653,115)
Net income attributable to Cablevision Systems Corporation stockholders/CSC Holdings, LLC's sole member					0	0	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest					0	0	0
Pension and post-retirement plan liability adjustments, net of income taxes					0	0	0
Recognition of equity-based stock compensation arrangements					0	0	0
Excess tax benefit on share-based awards					0
Deferred tax adjustments relating to distribution of Madison Square Garden					0
Distributions to Cablevision					0	0	0
Contributions from Cablevision							0
Accretion of discount on note due from Cablevision						(3,131)	(7,836)
Impact of exchange of notes due to Newsday Holdings LLC/from Cablevision, net of income taxes						(89,635)
Adjustments to noncontrolling interests					0	0	0
Change in legal structure							0
Balance	(753,717)		(753,717)		(753,717)	(753,717)	(660,951)
CSC Holdings, LLC [Member] | Senior Notes Due From Cablevision [Member] | AMC Networks Inc. [Member]
Distribution of Distributed Entity					0
CSC Holdings, LLC [Member] | Senior Notes Due From Cablevision [Member] | Madison Square Garden [Member]
Distribution of Distributed Entity						0
CSC Holdings, LLC [Member] | Other Member's Equity [Member]
Balance		2,303		984,241	2,303	984,241	0
Net income attributable to Cablevision Systems Corporation stockholders/CSC Holdings, LLC's sole member					0	0	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest					0	0	0
Pension and post-retirement plan liability adjustments, net of income taxes					0	0	0
Recognition of equity-based stock compensation arrangements					50,643	60,151	0
Excess tax benefit on share-based awards					11,196
Deferred tax adjustments relating to distribution of Madison Square Garden					(2,425)
Distributions to Cablevision					(386,767)	(106,157)	0
Contributions from Cablevision							0
Accretion of discount on note due from Cablevision						0	0
Impact of exchange of notes due to Newsday Holdings LLC/from Cablevision, net of income taxes						56,218
Adjustments to noncontrolling interests					(256)	477	0
Change in legal structure							984,241
Balance	852,651		2,303		852,651	2,303	984,241
CSC Holdings, LLC [Member] | Other Member's Equity [Member] | AMC Networks Inc. [Member]
Distribution of Distributed Entity					1,177,957
CSC Holdings, LLC [Member] | Other Member's Equity [Member] | Madison Square Garden [Member]
Distribution of Distributed Entity						(992,627)
CSC Holdings, LLC [Member] | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Balance		(23,325)		(49,760)	(23,325)	(49,760)	(35,025)
Net income attributable to Cablevision Systems Corporation stockholders/CSC Holdings, LLC's sole member					0	0	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest					0	0	0
Pension and post-retirement plan liability adjustments, net of income taxes					4,399	14,812	(14,735)
Recognition of equity-based stock compensation arrangements					0	0	0
Excess tax benefit on share-based awards					0
Deferred tax adjustments relating to distribution of Madison Square Garden					(2,542)
Distributions to Cablevision					0	0	0
Contributions from Cablevision							0
Accretion of discount on note due from Cablevision						0	0
Impact of exchange of notes due to Newsday Holdings LLC/from Cablevision, net of income taxes						0
Adjustments to noncontrolling interests					0	0	0
Change in legal structure							0
Balance	(21,468)		(23,325)		(21,468)	(23,325)	(49,760)
CSC Holdings, LLC [Member] | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] | AMC Networks Inc. [Member]
Distribution of Distributed Entity					0
CSC Holdings, LLC [Member] | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] | Madison Square Garden [Member]
Distribution of Distributed Entity						11,623
CSC Holdings, LLC [Member] | Total Stockholders'/Member's Deficiency [Member]
Balance		(4,150,245)		(3,090,152)	(4,150,245)	(3,090,152)	(3,603,782)
Net income attributable to Cablevision Systems Corporation stockholders/CSC Holdings, LLC's sole member					426,277	574,277	391,223
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest					0	0	0
Pension and post-retirement plan liability adjustments, net of income taxes					4,399	14,812	(14,735)
Recognition of equity-based stock compensation arrangements					50,643	60,151	64,660
Excess tax benefit on share-based awards					11,196
Deferred tax adjustments relating to distribution of Madison Square Garden					(4,967)
Distributions to Cablevision					(929,947)	(556,272)	(790,082)
Contributions from Cablevision							871,597
Accretion of discount on note due from Cablevision						(3,131)	(7,836)
Impact of exchange of notes due to Newsday Holdings LLC/from Cablevision, net of income taxes						(33,626)
Adjustments to noncontrolling interests					(256)	(431)	(1,197)
Change in legal structure							0
Balance	(3,414,943)		(4,150,245)		(3,414,943)	(4,150,245)	(3,090,152)
CSC Holdings, LLC [Member] | Total Stockholders'/Member's Deficiency [Member] | AMC Networks Inc. [Member]
Distribution of Distributed Entity					1,177,957
CSC Holdings, LLC [Member] | Total Stockholders'/Member's Deficiency [Member] | Madison Square Garden [Member]
Distribution of Distributed Entity						(1,115,873)
CSC Holdings, LLC [Member] | Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Balance		1,485		521	1,485	521	333
Net income attributable to Cablevision Systems Corporation stockholders/CSC Holdings, LLC's sole member					0	0	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest					1,617	1,249	761
Pension and post-retirement plan liability adjustments, net of income taxes					0	0	0
Recognition of equity-based stock compensation arrangements					0	0	0
Excess tax benefit on share-based awards					0
Deferred tax adjustments relating to distribution of Madison Square Garden					0
Distributions to Cablevision					0	0	0
Contributions from Cablevision							0
Accretion of discount on note due from Cablevision						0	0
Impact of exchange of notes due to Newsday Holdings LLC/from Cablevision, net of income taxes						0
Adjustments to noncontrolling interests					(1,311)	(285)	(573)
Change in legal structure							0
Balance	1,791		1,485		1,791	1,485	521
CSC Holdings, LLC [Member] | Noncontrolling Interest [Member] | AMC Networks Inc. [Member]
Distribution of Distributed Entity					0
CSC Holdings, LLC [Member] | Noncontrolling Interest [Member] | Madison Square Garden [Member]
Distribution of Distributed Entity						$ 0