FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Level II [Member] | Carrying Amount [Member]
Debt Instruments [Abstract]
Senior notes and debentures	$ 2,891,901		$ 2,891,536
Total debt instruments	9,984,782		9,970,957
Level II [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Debt Instruments [Abstract]
Senior notes and debentures	3,193,575		3,198,170
Total debt instruments	10,672,318		10,645,845
Level II [Member] | CSC Holdings, LLC [Member] | Carrying Amount [Member]
CSC Holdings Notes Receivable [Abstract]
Cablevision senior notes held by Newsday Holdings LLC	753,717	[1]	753,717	[1]
Debt Instruments [Abstract]
Credit facility debt	3,882,221	[2]	3,914,001	[2]
Collateralized indebtedness	600,375		556,152
Senior notes and debentures	2,598,555		2,596,683
Notes payable	11,730		12,585
Total debt instruments	7,092,881		7,079,421
Level II [Member] | CSC Holdings, LLC [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member]
CSC Holdings Notes Receivable [Abstract]
Cablevision senior notes held by Newsday Holdings LLC	846,128	[1]	842,184	[1]
Debt Instruments [Abstract]
Credit facility debt	3,882,221	[2]	3,914,001	[2]
Collateralized indebtedness	589,504		540,831
Senior notes and debentures	2,995,288		2,980,258
Notes payable	11,730		12,585
Total debt instruments	7,478,743		7,447,675
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Money market funds	175,567		250,699
Investment securities	138		122
Investment securities pledged as collateral	902,274		802,834
Prepaid forward contracts	4,002		3,143
Liabilities under derivative contracts [Abstract]
Prepaid forward contracts	188,415		148,263
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis [Member] | Level I [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Money market funds	175,567		250,699
Investment securities	138		122
Investment securities pledged as collateral	902,274		802,834
Prepaid forward contracts	0		0
Liabilities under derivative contracts [Abstract]
Prepaid forward contracts	0		0
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis [Member] | Level II [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Money market funds	0		0
Investment securities	0		0
Investment securities pledged as collateral	0		0
Prepaid forward contracts	4,002		3,143
Liabilities under derivative contracts [Abstract]
Prepaid forward contracts	188,415		148,263
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis [Member] | Level III [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Money market funds	0		0
Investment securities	0		0
Investment securities pledged as collateral	0		0
Prepaid forward contracts	0		0
Liabilities under derivative contracts [Abstract]
Prepaid forward contracts	$ 0		$ 0

[1] These notes are eliminated at the consolidated Cablevision level.

[2] The carrying value of the Company's credit facility debt, the substantial portion of which bears interest at variable rates, approximates its fair value.