DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS AND ASSETS AND LIABILITIES DISTRIBUTED TO STOCKHOLDERS (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended				9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended					9 Months Ended			1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011 CSC Holdings, LLC [Member] AMC Networks Inc. [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 CSC Holdings, LLC [Member] AMC Networks Inc. [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 CSC Holdings, LLC [Member] AMC Networks Inc. [Member] Total Member's Deficiency [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 CSC Holdings, LLC [Member] AMC Networks Inc. [Member] Paid-in Capital [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 CSC Holdings, LLC [Member] AMC Networks Inc. [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 AMC Networks Inc. [Member]		Sep. 30, 2011 AMC Networks Inc. [Member]		Sep. 30, 2010 AMC Networks Inc. [Member]		Dec. 31, 2010 AMC Networks Inc. [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 AMC Networks Inc. [Member] Total Member's Deficiency [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 AMC Networks Inc. [Member] Paid-in Capital [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 AMC Networks Inc. [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]	Feb. 09, 2010 Madison Square Garden [Member]		Sep. 30, 2011 CSC Holdings, LLC [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 CSC Holdings, LLC [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 CSC Holdings, LLC [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 CSC Holdings, LLC [Member]
Discontinued operations, operating results information [Abstract]
Revenues, net of eliminations										$ 264,724		$ 551,480		$ 761,311						$ 131,695
Income before income taxes										74,801		115,015		201,681						7,090
Income tax expense										(31,185)	[1]	(61,392)	[1]	(83,923)	[1]					(11,212)	[2]
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	0	43,616	53,623	113,636						43,616		53,623		117,758						(4,122)		0	43,616	53,623	113,636
Non-deductibility of certain transaction costs												6,406								7,368
Recognition of a deferred tax gain												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					$ 1,177,782		$ 1,178,284	$ 0	$ (502)			$ 1,103,553					$ 0	$ 1,104,055	$ (502)

[1] Income tax expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 includes $6,406 and $3,969, respectively, resulting from the non-deductibility of certain transaction costs and the recognition of a deferred tax gain 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.