DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS AND ASSETS AND LIABILITIES DISTRIBUTED TO STOCKHOLDERS (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended				6 Months Ended			3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended					6 Months Ended			1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011 CSC Holdings, LLC [Member] AMC Networks Inc. [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 CSC Holdings, LLC [Member] AMC Networks Inc. [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 CSC Holdings, LLC [Member] AMC Networks Inc. [Member] Total Member's Deficiency [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 CSC Holdings, LLC [Member] AMC Networks Inc. [Member] Paid-in Capital [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 CSC Holdings, LLC [Member] AMC Networks Inc. [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 AMC Networks Inc. [Member]		Jun. 30, 2010 AMC Networks Inc. [Member]		Jun. 30, 2011 AMC Networks Inc. [Member]		Jun. 30, 2010 AMC Networks Inc. [Member]		Dec. 31, 2010 AMC Networks Inc. [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 AMC Networks Inc. [Member] Total Member's Deficiency [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 AMC Networks Inc. [Member] Paid-in Capital [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 AMC Networks Inc. [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]	Feb. 09, 2010 Madison Square Garden [Member]		Jun. 30, 2011 CSC Holdings, LLC [Member]	Jun. 30, 2010 CSC Holdings, LLC [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 CSC Holdings, LLC [Member]	Jun. 30, 2010 CSC Holdings, LLC [Member]
Discontinued operations, operating results information [Abstract]
Revenues, net										$ 291,965		$ 260,013		$ 564,868		$ 508,385						$ 131,695
Income before income taxes										54,545		69,508		115,015		126,880						7,090
Income tax expense										(35,953)	[1]	(28,955)	[1]	(61,392)	[1]	(52,738)	[1]					(11,212)	[2]
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	18,592	40,553	53,623	70,020						18,592		40,553		53,623		74,142						(4,122)		18,592	40,553	53,623	70,020
Non-deductibility of certain transaction costs										6,406				6,406								7,368
Recognition of deferred tax gain										3,969				3,969
Cash and cash equivalents						79,960												79,960
Accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other current assets						292,488												292,488
Program rights, net						783,830												783,830
Property and equipment, net and other long-term assets						164,065												164,065
Deferred tax asset						5,307												49,607
Intangible assets						467,955												467,955
Total assets distributed in 2011						1,793,605												1,837,905
Accounts payable and accrued expenses						140,944												140,944
Other current liabilities						29,227												29,227
Program rights obligations						454,955												454,955
Credit facility debt						475,000												475,000
Senior notes						299,552												299,552
Senior subordinated notes						324,071												324,071
Deferred tax liability						23,648												0
Other long-term liabilities						49,550												49,550
Total liabilities distributed in 2011						1,796,947												1,773,299
Net assets (liabilities) distributed in 2011						(3,342)												64,606
Net liabilities distributed to stockholders/member in 2011					$ 1,169,564		$ 1,170,066	$ 0	$ (502)					$ 1,101,616					$ 0	$ 1,102,118	$ (502)

[1] Income tax expense for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2011 includes $6,406 and $3,969 resulting from the non-deductibility of certain transaction costs and the recognition of a deferred tax gain, respectively, associated with the AMC Networks Distribution.

[2] Income tax expense includes $7,368 resulting from the non-deductibility of certain transaction costs associated with the MSG Distribution.