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Income Taxes (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2010
Dec. 31, 2009
Dec. 31, 2008
Income Taxes [Abstract]   
Minimum percentage of owned subsidiaries included in consolidated federal income tax return (in hundredths)80.00%80.00%80.00%
Current expense (benefit) [Abstract]   
Federal$ (2,716)$ 7,639$ 6,124
State and other17,1348,7987,819
Total current expense14,41816,43713,943
Deferred expense (benefit) [Abstract]   
Federal120,23471,832(129,290)
State(24,552)23,918(2,822)
Total deferred expense (benefit)95,68295,750(132,113)
Tax expense relating to uncertain tax positions, including accrued interest3,6679904,251
Income tax expense (benefit)113,767113,177(113,918)
Reconciliation of the statutory federal income tax to the effective income tax [Abstract]   
Federal tax expense (benefit) at statutory federal rate112,53182,953(130,092)
State income taxes, net of federal benefit11,78419,5778,716
Changes in the valuation allowance(2,428)(1,427)6,602
Change in the state rate used to determine deferred taxes, net of federal benefit5,842(6,764)(11,274)
Tax expense relating to uncertain tax positions, including accrued interest, net of deferred tax benefits1,202(105)1,417
Non-deductible officers' compensation3,9897,2645,934
Other non-deductible expenses3,2463,3401,329
Increase in certain state and city net operating loss carry forwards pursuant to the finalization of an examination with a taxing authority(18,951)00
Elimination of state carry forwards pursuant to LLC conversions09,0950
Research credit(1,800)(1,200)(811)
Loss (gain) attributable to noncontrolling interests(227)962,837
Other(1,421)3481,424
Income tax expense (benefit)113,767113,177(113,918)
Deferred Tax Asset (Liability), Current [Abstract]   
NOLs and tax credit carry forwards96,570477,441 
Compensation and benefit plans43,07433,396 
Allowance for doubtful accounts6,2604,445 
Other liabilities8,62619,944 
Deferred tax asset154,530535,226 
Valuation allowance(2,217)(10,194) 
Net deferred tax asset, current152,313525,032 
Investments(48,668)(7,612) 
Deferred tax liability, current(48,668)(7,612) 
Net deferred tax asset, current103,645517,420 
Deferred Tax Asset (Liability), Noncurrent [Abstract]   
NOLs and tax credit carry forwards513,31941,657 
Compensation and benefit plans57,92980,097 
Investments4,5650 
Partnership investments(161,501)(184,438) 
Other8,48313,636 
Deferred tax asset745,797319,828 
Valuation allowance(11,224)(5,962) 
Net deferred tax asset, noncurrent734,573313,866 
Fixed assets and intangibles(620,987)(361,949) 
Investments0(20,504) 
Other assets(14,299)(16,789) 
Deferred tax liability, noncurrent(635,286)(399,242) 
Net deferred tax asset (liability), noncurrent99,287(85,376) 
Total net deferred tax asset202,932432,044 
Operating Loss and Tax Credit Carryforwards [Abstract]   
Consolidated federal net operating loss carryforwards1,561,663  
Operating loss carryforwards, expiration dates2021 through 2026  
NOL for which a deferred tax asset has been recorded1,354,592  
NOL for which a deferred tax asset has not been recorded207,071  
Excess tax deduction resulting from exercise and issuance of certain share-based awards over aggregate compensation expense for such awards for the current period30,162  
Excess tax deduction resulting from exercise and issuance of certain share-based awards over aggregate compensation expense for such awards on a cumulative basis195,156  
Federal alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards which do not expire22,061  
Increase in NOL due to change in tax accounting method for certain installation costs with regard to Optimum Online and Optimum Voice businesses270,000  
Reduction in income tax basis of certain fixed assets270,000  
Reconciliation of unrecognized tax benefits associated with uncertain tax positions, excluding associated deferred tax benefits and accrued interest [Roll Forward]   
Balance, beginning of period62,404  
Increases related to prior year tax positions3,971  
Decreases related to prior year tax positions(2,008)  
Increases related to current year tax positions619  
Settlements(3,979)  
Lapse of statute of limitations(909)  
Balance, end of period60,09862,404 
Decrease in income tax expense if all uncertain tax positions were sustained56,203  
Interest expense included in income tax expense attributable to continuing operations1,210385331
Accrued interest on uncertain tax positions included in other accrued expenses1,306  
CSC Holdings [Member]
   
Income Taxes [Abstract]   
Minimum percentage of owned subsidiaries included in consolidated federal income tax return (in hundredths)80.00%80.00%80.00%
Current expense (benefit) [Abstract]   
Federal6,19011,1749,236
State and other17,1348,7987,819
Total current expense23,32419,97217,055
Deferred expense (benefit) [Abstract]   
Federal226,188125,182(82,972)
State(2,293)38,1117,393
Total deferred expense (benefit)223,895163,293(75,580)
Tax expense relating to uncertain tax positions, including accrued interest3,6679904,251
Income tax expense (benefit)250,886184,255(54,273)
CSC Holdings payable due to Cablevision representing the estimated federal income tax liability of CSC Holdings as determined on a stand-alone basis as if CSC Holdings filed separate federal consolidated income tax returns10,091  
Reconciliation of the statutory federal income tax to the effective income tax [Abstract]   
Federal tax expense (benefit) at statutory federal rate235,187144,808(77,090)
State income taxes, net of federal benefit30,26329,77715,450
Changes in the valuation allowance(2,428)(1,427)6,602
Change in the state rate used to determine deferred taxes, net of federal benefit2,925(8,510)(11,366)
Tax expense relating to uncertain tax positions, including accrued interest, net of deferred tax benefits1,202(105)1,417
Non-deductible officers' compensation3,9897,2645,934
Other non-deductible expenses3,2463,3401,329
Increase in certain state and city net operating loss carry forwards pursuant to the finalization of an examination with a taxing authority(18,951)00
Elimination of state carry forwards pursuant to LLC conversions09,0950
Research credit(1,800)(1,200)(811)
Loss (gain) attributable to noncontrolling interests(227)962,837
Other(2,520)1,1171,425
Income tax expense (benefit)250,886184,255(54,273)
Deferred Tax Asset (Liability), Current [Abstract]   
NOLs and tax credit carry forwards152,163270,594 
Compensation and benefit plans43,07433,396 
Allowance for doubtful accounts6,2604,445 
Other liabilities8,62619,944 
Deferred tax asset210,123328,379 
Valuation allowance(5,968)(10,127) 
Net deferred tax asset, current204,155318,252 
Investments(48,668)(7,612) 
Deferred tax liability, current(48,668)(7,612) 
Net deferred tax asset, current155,487310,640 
Deferred Tax Asset (Liability), Noncurrent [Abstract]   
NOLs and tax credit carry forwards41,6340 
Compensation and benefit plans57,92980,897 
Investments4,5650 
Partnership investments(161,501)(13,636) 
Other8,48313,636 
Deferred tax asset274,112278,171 
Valuation allowance(7,473)(6,029) 
Net deferred tax asset, noncurrent266,639272,142 
Fixed assets and intangibles(620,987)(361,949) 
Investments0(20,504) 
Other assets(14,299)(16,790) 
Deferred tax liability, noncurrent(635,286)(399,243) 
Net deferred tax asset (liability), noncurrent(368,647)(127,101) 
Total net deferred tax asset(213,160)183,539 
Operating Loss and Tax Credit Carryforwards [Abstract]   
Consolidated federal net operating loss carryforwards377,956  
Operating loss carryforwards, expiration dates2024 and 2026  
NOL for which a deferred tax asset has been recorded231,349  
NOL for which a deferred tax asset has not been recorded146,607  
Excess tax deduction resulting from exercise and issuance of certain share-based awards over aggregate compensation expense for such awards for the current period30,162  
Excess tax deduction resulting from exercise and issuance of certain share-based awards over aggregate compensation expense for such awards on a cumulative basis134,692  
Federal alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards which do not expire$ 41,261  
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member]
   
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]   
Income tax examination, year(s) under examination2006-2008  
State of New York [Member]
   
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]   
Income tax examination, year(s) under examination2006-2008