CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue (including revenue from affiliates of $3,277, $4,188, $9,718 and $11,055 respectively) (See Note 15)	$ 2,574,882	$ 2,433,986	$ 7,569,711	$ 7,359,221
Operating expenses:
Programming and other direct costs (including charges from affiliates of $5,294, $3,621, $12,026 and $7,548, respectively) (See Note 15)	843,909	783,934	2,545,645	2,509,323
Other operating expenses (including charges from affiliates of $3,274, $2,413, $9,149 and $8,515, respectively) (See Note 15)	590,519	558,092	1,760,132	1,683,038
Restructuring and other expense	1,885	40,419	10,958	88,679
Depreciation and amortization (including impairments)	447,958	502,248	1,327,142	1,571,611
Total operating expenses	1,884,271	1,884,693	5,643,877	5,852,651
Operating income	690,611	549,293	1,925,834	1,506,570
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(319,033)	(322,618)	(954,807)	(1,038,854)
Interest income	32	164	123	1,974
Gain (loss) on investments and sale of affiliate interests, net	(46,821)	314,177	151,651	56,301
Gain (loss) on derivative contracts related to change in the value of equity derivative contracts related to Comcast common stock	43,385	(261,597)	(109,020)	26,203
Gain (loss) on interest rate swap contracts, net of a gain of $74,835 recorded in the nine months 2020 period in connection with the early termination of the swap agreements discussed below	5,521	(158)	59,600	(88,725)
Loss on extinguishment of debt and write-off of deferred financing costs	0	(250,489)	(51,712)	(250,489)
Other income, net	2,280	1,685	7,606	3,277
Total other income (expense)	(314,636)	(518,836)	(896,559)	(1,290,313)
Income before income taxes	375,975	30,457	1,029,275	216,257
Income tax expense	(105,226)	(33,186)	(279,053)	(109,047)
Net income (loss)	270,749	(2,729)	750,222	107,210
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(3,896)	(1,966)	(11,573)	(1,499)
Net income (loss) attributable to Altice USA, Inc. stockholders	$ 266,853	$ (4,695)	$ 738,649	$ 105,711
Income (loss) per share:
Basic income (loss) per share	$ 0.59	$ (0.01)	$ 1.61	$ 0.18
Basic weighted average common shares (in thousands)	454,049	571,031	460,023	593,262
Diluted income (loss) per share	$ 0.58	$ (0.01)	$ 1.59	$ 0.18
Diluted weighted average common shares (in thousands)	457,163	571,031	465,349	595,479
Cash dividends declared per common share		$ 0	$ 0	$ 0