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EQUITY AND LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLANS (Tables)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]  
Share-Based Compensation Expense (Income) for Continuing Operations
The following table presents the share-based compensation expense including expenses related to AMC Networks share-based awards held by Company employees, recognized by the Company as selling, general and administrative expense for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012:
 
Years Ended December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
Stock options (including performance based options)
$
7,573

 
$
17,560

 
$
29,849

Restricted shares
36,411

 
35,155

 
30,797

Share-based compensation related to equity classified awards
43,984

 
52,715

 
60,646

 
 
 
 
 
 
Stock appreciation rights
—

 
—

 
59

Total share-based compensation
$
43,984

 
$
52,715

 
$
60,705
Assumptions Used to Calculate the Fair Value of Stock Option Awards
The following assumptions were used to calculate the fair values of stock option awards granted in the first quarter of 2014, 2013 and 2012:
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
 
 
 
 
 
Risk-free interest rate
2.12
%
 
1.25
%
 
1.14
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Expected life (in years)
6.5

 
6.5

 
5.75

 
 
 
 
 
 
Dividend yield
3.79
%
 
3.86
%
 
3.52
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Volatility
42.80
%
 
42.31
%
 
43.20
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Grant date fair value
$
5.27

 
$
3.96

 
$
4.06
Activity for Stock Options
The following table summarizes activity relating to Company employees who held Cablevision stock options for the year ended December 31, 2014:
 
Shares
Under Option
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Time
Vesting
Options
 
Performance
Based Vesting
Options
 
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price Per
Share
 
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
(in years)
 
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value (a)
Balance, December 31, 2013
4,514,479

 
10,639,125

 
$
13.20

 
7.21
 
$
71,823

Granted
2,000,000

 
—

 
17.64

 
 
 
 

Exercised
(1,416,813
)
 
(3,005,625
)
 
11.74

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, December 31, 2014
5,097,666

 
7,633,500

 
$
14.41

 
7.17
 
$
79,347

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Options exercisable at December 31, 2014
1,097,666

 
7,633,500

 
$
13.76

 
6.48
 
$
60,027

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Options expected to vest in the future
4,000,000

 
—

 
$
15.81

 
8.68
 
$
19,320

 
(a)
The aggregate intrinsic value is calculated as the difference between (i) the exercise price of the underlying award and (ii) the quoted price of CNYG Class A common stock on December 31, 2014 or December 31, 2013, as indicated, and December 31, 2014 in the case of the options exercisable and options expected to vest in the future.
Activity for Restricted Shares
The following table summarizes activity relating to Company employees who held Cablevision restricted shares for the year ended December 31, 2014:
 
Number of Restricted Shares
 
Number of Performance Restricted Shares
 
Weighted Average Fair Value Per Share at Date of Grant
Unvested award balance, December 31, 2013
4,670,513

 
1,534,700

 
$
15.89

Granted
2,164,270

 
737,200

 
17.66

Vested
(652,556
)
 
(236,600
)
 
25.94

Awards forfeited
(867,357
)
 
—

 
15.16

 
 
 
 
 
 
Unvested award balance, December 31, 2014
5,314,870

 
2,035,300

 
15.46