Name:	amcx_DeferredTaxAssetUncertainTaxPosition
Namespace Prefix:	amcx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Foreign Earnings Expected To Be Repatriated

No definition available.

Name:	amcx_ForeignEarningsExpectedToBeRepatriated
Namespace Prefix:	amcx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of cash and cash equivalent. Cash includes, but is not limited to, currency on hand, demand deposit with financial institution, and account with general characteristic of demand deposit. Cash equivalent includes, but is not limited to, short-term, highly liquid investment that is both readily convertible to known amount of cash and so near maturity that it presents insignificant risk of change in value because of change in interest rate.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(1))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480566/210-10-S99-1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147483467/210-10-45-1

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 4
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482740/230-10-45-4

Name:	us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of cash and cash equivalent, held in foreign currency. Cash includes, but is not limited to, currency on hand, demand deposit with financial institution, and account with general characteristic of demand deposit. Cash equivalent includes, but is not limited to, short-term, highly liquid investment that is both readily convertible to known amount of cash and so near maturity that it presents insignificant risk of change in value because of change in interest rate.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 830
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 12
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479168/946-830-55-12

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 210
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 21
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477796/946-210-45-21

Name:	us-gaap_CashHeldInForeignCurrency
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible operating loss carryforwards.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482685/740-10-50-6

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible state and local operating loss carryforwards.

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsStateAndLocal
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of foreign earnings repatriated from subsidiaries outside the country of domicile.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_ForeignEarningsRepatriated
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of increase (decrease) from measurement period adjustment of asset representing future economic benefit arising from other asset acquired in business combination or from joint venture formation or both, that is not individually identified and separately recognized.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (g)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482573/350-20-50-1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479581/805-30-50-4

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4A
-Subparagraph (c)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479907/805-20-50-4A

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479328/805-10-50-5

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 25
-Paragraph 16
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479405/805-10-25-16

Name:	us-gaap_GoodwillPurchaseAccountingAdjustments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Amount, after income tax refund received, of cash paid to federal (national) tax jurisdiction for tax on income.

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxPaidFederalAfterRefundReceived
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Amount, after income tax refund received, of cash paid to foreign tax jurisdiction for tax on income.

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxPaidForeignAfterRefundReceived
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Amount, after income tax refund received, of cash paid to state and local tax jurisdictions for tax on income.

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxPaidStateAndLocalAfterRefundReceived
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Amount, after refund, of cash paid to foreign, federal, state, and local jurisdictions as income tax.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2A
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482913/230-10-50-2A

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 23
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482685/740-10-50-23

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 22
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482685/740-10-50-22

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482913/230-10-50-2

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaidNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Amount recognized for uncertainty in income taxes classified as noncurrent.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(24))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480566/210-10-S99-1

Name:	us-gaap_LiabilityForUncertainTaxPositionsNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of operating loss carryforward, before tax effects, available to reduce future taxable income under enacted tax laws.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482685/740-10-50-3

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwardsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The portion of the valuation allowance pertaining to the deferred tax asset representing potential future taxable deductions from net operating loss carryforwards for which it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will not be realized.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482685/740-10-50-2

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwardsValuationAllowance
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

The amount of the tax credit carryforward, before tax effects, available to reduce future taxable income under enacted tax laws.

Name:	us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of valuation allowance pertaining to the deferred tax asset representing potential future taxable deductions from tax credit carryforwards for which it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will not be realized.

Name:	us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardValuationAllowance
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of interest expense accrued for an underpayment of income taxes.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (c)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482685/740-10-50-15

Name:	us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsInterestOnIncomeTaxesAccrued
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of interest expense for an underpayment of income taxes.

Name:	us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsInterestOnIncomeTaxesExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of increase (decrease) in the valuation allowance for a specified deferred tax asset.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482685/740-10-50-2

Name:	us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Name:	us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis=us-gaap_InvestmentCreditMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis=us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=amcx_RLJEntertainmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis=country_CA
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis=country_US
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: