DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended				3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended					3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended				3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013 Bresnan Cable [Member] Cable [Member]		Sep. 30, 2014 Bresnan Cable [Member] Cable [Member]		Sep. 30, 2013 Bresnan Cable [Member] Cable [Member]		Sep. 30, 2014 Clearview Cinemas [Member] Other [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Clearview Cinemas [Member] Other [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Clearview Cinemas [Member] Other [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Clearview Cinemas [Member] Other [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Clearview Cinemas [Member] Other [Member]		Sep. 30, 2013 Litigation Settlement [Member]		Sep. 30, 2013 Cablevision Systems Corporation [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Cablevision Systems Corporation [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Cablevision Systems Corporation [Member] Bresnan Cable [Member] Cable [Member]		Sep. 30, 2013 Cablevision Systems Corporation [Member] Bresnan Cable [Member] Cable [Member]		Sep. 30, 2013 Cablevision Systems Corporation [Member] Clearview Cinemas [Member] Other [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Cablevision Systems Corporation [Member] Clearview Cinemas [Member] Other [Member]		Sep. 30, 2013 Cablevision Systems Corporation [Member] Litigation Settlement [Member]		Sep. 30, 2014 CSC Holdings, LLC [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 CSC Holdings, LLC [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 CSC Holdings, LLC [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 CSC Holdings, LLC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 CSC Holdings, LLC [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 CSC Holdings, LLC [Member] Bresnan Cable [Member] Cable [Member]		Sep. 30, 2013 CSC Holdings, LLC [Member] Bresnan Cable [Member] Cable [Member]		Sep. 30, 2013 CSC Holdings, LLC [Member] Clearview Cinemas [Member] Other [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 CSC Holdings, LLC [Member] Clearview Cinemas [Member] Other [Member]		Sep. 30, 2013 CSC Holdings, LLC [Member] Litigation Settlement [Member]
Operating Results of Discontinued Operations [Abstract]
Revenues, net		$ 0	$ 0	$ 289,630		$ 0	[1]	$ 0	[2]	$ 262,323	[1]	$ 0	$ 0		$ 0	$ 27,307	[3],[4]	$ 0	[5]
Income (loss) before income taxes		410,415	5,318	575,061		411,867	[1]	5,932	[2]	441,917	[1]	(137)	(1,452)		(614)	(40,543)	[3],[4]	173,687	[5]
Income tax benefit (expense)		(175,129)	(2,321)	(241,545)		(175,703)	[1]	(2,574)	[2]	(188,038)	[1]	58	574		253	16,545	[3],[4]	(70,052)	[5]
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	(79)	235,286	2,997	333,516		236,164	[1]	3,358	[2]	253,879	[1]	(79)	(878)		(361)	(23,998)	[3],[4]	103,635	[5]												(79)	235,682	2,997	332,909		236,560	[1]	254,275	[1]	(878)	(23,998)	[3],[4]	102,632	[5]
Income tax expense (benefit) recognized at Cablevision, not applicable to CSC Holdings																				396	(607)	396	[1]	396	[1]	0	0	[3],[4]	(1,003)	[5]
Pretax gain (loss) recognized in connection with sale						410,000				410,000						(18,900)
Impairment loss relating to the Company's Clearview business														10,347
Goodwill, net of accumulated impairment losses	$ 264,690		$ 264,690		$ 264,690									$ 0																	$ 264,690		$ 264,690		$ 264,690

[1] Includes the pretax gain recognized in connection with the Bresnan Sale of approximately $410,000.

[2] Represents primarily a gain recognized upon the settlement of a contingency related to Montana property taxes.

[3] Includes the pretax loss recognized in connection with the Clearview Sale of approximately $18,900.

[4] As a result of the Company's annual impairment test in the first quarter of 2013, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $10,347, relating to goodwill of the Company's Clearview business which reduced the carrying value to zero. The Company determined the fair value of the Clearview business, which was a single reporting unit, assuming highest and best use, based on either an income or market approach on a theater by theater basis.

[5] Represents primarily the proceeds from the final allocation of the DISH Network, LLC litigation settlement.