CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Current Assets:
Accounts receivable, trade allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 18,827	$ 17,786
Property, plant and equipment, accumulated depreciation	9,068,547	8,564,884
Amortizable intangible assets, accumulated amortization	100,541	60,028
Deferred financing and other costs, accumulated amortization	84,437	72,642
Stockholders'/Member's Deficiency:
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares)	50,000,000	50,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)	0	0
CSC Holdings, LLC [Member]
Current Assets:
Accounts receivable, trade allowance for doubtful accounts	18,827	17,786
Property, plant and equipment, accumulated depreciation	9,068,547	8,564,884
Amortizable intangible assets, accumulated amortization	100,541	60,028
Deferred financing and other costs, accumulated amortization	$ 76,960	$ 68,358
Stockholders'/Member's Deficiency:
Other member's equity, membership units issued (in shares)	14,432,750	14,432,750
Other member's equity, membership units outstanding (in shares)	14,432,750	14,432,750
CNYG Class A Common Stock [Member]
Stockholders'/Member's Deficiency:
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	800,000,000	800,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	281,798,876	279,582,204
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	225,315,392	241,055,283
Treasury stock (in shares)	56,483,484	38,526,921
CNYG Class B Common Stock [Member]
Stockholders'/Member's Deficiency:
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	320,000,000	320,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	54,137,673	54,148,223
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	54,137,673	54,148,223
RMG Class A Common Stock [Member]
Stockholders'/Member's Deficiency:
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	600,000,000	600,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	0	0
RMG Class B Common Stock [Member]
Stockholders'/Member's Deficiency:
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	160,000,000	160,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	0	0