CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue (including revenue from affiliates of $70, $545, $1,158 and $1,397, respectively) (See Note 15)	$ 2,438,662	$ 2,417,801	$ 7,286,310	$ 7,111,668
Operating expenses:
Programming and other direct costs (including charges from affiliates of $3,508, $1,671, $7,282 and $6,690 respectively) (See Note 15)	820,896	790,533	2,452,875	2,373,021
Other operating expenses (including charges from affiliates of $1,602, $905, $5,868, and $15,154, respectively) (See Note 15)	568,233	569,070	1,702,124	1,727,842
Restructuring and other expense	12,381	16,587	39,090	29,865
Depreciation and amortization (including impairments)	565,637	536,053	1,695,685	1,827,285
Total operating expenses	1,967,147	1,912,243	5,889,774	5,958,013
Operating income	471,515	505,558	1,396,536	1,153,655
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(388,800)	(389,594)	(1,158,301)	(1,157,395)
Interest income	1,524	1,427	3,948	9,843
Gain (loss) on investments and sale of affiliate interests, net	120,253	111,684	478,124	(182,031)
Gain (loss) on derivative contracts, net	(77,333)	(79,628)	(303,986)	130,883
Loss on interest rate swap contracts	(11,163)	(19,554)	(61,735)	(64,405)
Loss on extinguishment of debt and write-off of deferred financing costs	(503)	0	(159,599)	(41,616)
Other income (expense), net	(226)	(186)	66	(12,473)
Total other income (expense)	(356,248)	(375,851)	(1,201,483)	(1,317,194)
Income (loss) before income taxes	115,267	129,707	195,053	(163,539)
Income tax expense	(37,871)	(95,968)	(56,445)	(29,675)
Net income (loss)	77,396	33,739	138,608	(193,214)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(157)	(1,186)	(1)	(1,039)
Net income (loss) attributable to Altice USA, Inc. stockholders	$ 77,239	$ 32,553	$ 138,607	$ (194,253)
Income (loss) per share:
Basic income (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.12	$ 0.04	$ 0.21	$ (0.26)
Basic weighted average common shares (in shares)	643,797	732,963	668,929	735,685
Diluted income (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.12	$ 0.04	$ 0.21	$ (0.26)
Diluted weighted average common shares (in shares)	646,006	732,963	669,855	735,685
Cash dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0