CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 139,939,000	$ 20,594,000	$ 1,494,764,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	2,263,144,000	2,382,339,000	2,930,571,000
Equity in net loss of affiliates	0	10,849,000	10,040,000
Loss (gain) on investments and sale of affiliate interests, net	(473,406,000)	250,877,000	(237,354,000)
Gain (Loss) on Price Risk Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments	282,713,000	(218,848,000)	236,330,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt and write-off of deferred financing costs	243,806,000	48,804,000	600,240,000
Amortization of deferred financing costs and discounts (premiums) on indebtedness	106,214,000	85,121,000	31,046,000
Settlement loss related to pension plan	1,732,000	1,268,000	1,845,000
Share-based compensation expense related to equity classified awards	99,078,000	59,812,000	57,430,000
Deferred income taxes	14,931,000	(67,603,000)	(2,880,154,000)
Provision for doubtful accounts	91,520,000	71,426,000	74,183,000
Change in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and dispositions:
Accounts receivable, trade	(91,718,000)	(144,079,000)	(89,683,000)
Other receivables	(21,755,000)	4,246,000	(12,835,000)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(100,343,000)	(14,889,000)	(7,426,000)
Amounts due from and due to affiliates	(7,857,000)	11,049,000	(34,326,000)
Accounts payable	(33,107,000)	12,455,000	73,888,000
Accrued liabilities	(44,083,000)	(130,631,000)	(241,701,000)
Deferred revenue	(10,384,000)	72,426,000	12,310,000
Liabilities related to interest rate swap and derivative contracts	30,338,000	53,101,000	(921,000)
Net cash provided by operating activities	2,554,169,000	2,508,317,000	2,018,247,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(1,355,350,000)	(1,153,589,000)	(951,349,000)
Payment for acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(172,269,000)	(10,753,000)	(46,703,000)
Sale of affiliate interest	1,958,000		0
Sale of affiliate interest		3,537,000
Proceeds related to sale of equipment, including costs of disposal	3,909,000	10,779,000	9,743,000
Decrease (increase) in other investments	354,000	9,327,000	(4,773,000)
Settlement of put call options	0	0	(97,410,000)
Additions to other intangible assets	(4,071,000)	(584,000)	(1,707,000)
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,525,469,000)	(1,148,357,000)	(1,092,199,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from credit facility debt, net of discounts	5,040,000,000	3,489,313,000	5,593,675,000
Repayment of credit facility debt	(3,832,062,000)	(2,221,175,000)	(4,411,581,000)
Issuance of senior notes, including premiums	4,054,375,000	2,050,000,000	0
Redemption of senior notes, including premiums and fees	(4,225,786,000)	(2,628,962,000)	(1,729,400,000)
Proceeds from collateralized indebtedness, net	93,000,000	516,513,000	838,794,000
Repayment of collateralized indebtedness and related derivative contracts, net	0	(516,513,000)	(831,059,000)
Dividends to stockholders	0	(1,499,935,000)	(919,317,000)
Proceeds from notes payable	65,854,000	15,955,000	33,733,000
Repayment of notes payable	(102,066,000)	(32,632,000)	0
Principal payments on finance lease obligations	(8,980,000)	(10,228,000)	(15,157,000)
Purchase of shares of Altice USA, Inc. Class A common stock, pursuant to a share repurchase program	(1,686,873,000)	(500,000,000)	0
Additions to deferred financing costs	(23,583,000)	(28,468,000)	(8,600,000)
Other	0	(859,000)	0
Proceeds from stock option exercises	3,209,000	0	0
Contingent payment for acquisition	(500,000)	(30,000,000)	0
Proceeds from IPO, net of fees	0	0	349,071,000
Contributions from stockholders	0	0	1,135,000
Contributions from (distributions to) noncontrolling interests, net	1,000,000	(5,995,000)	335,000
Net cash used in financing activities	(624,412,000)	(1,390,996,000)	(1,099,041,000)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	404,288,000	(31,036,000)	(172,993,000)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(1,166,000)	(26,000)	0
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	403,122,000	(31,062,000)	(172,993,000)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year	299,038,000	330,100,000	503,093,000
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of year	702,160,000	299,038,000	330,100,000
Restructuring Reserve, Settled without Cash	16,826,000	0	0
Non-cash lease expense	$ 46,581,000	$ 0	$ 0