RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013		Mar. 31, 2012
Revenues and Charges (Credits) Related to Services Provided to or Received from Related Parties [Abstract]
Revenues, net	$ 1,144		$ 1,957
Operating expenses (credits) [Abstract]
Technical expenses, net of credits	46,130		45,357
Selling, general and administrative expenses (credits) [Abstract]
Selling, general and administrative expense, subtotal	806		74
AMC Networks Inc. and Madison Square Garden [Member]
Revenues and Charges (Credits) Related to Services Provided to or Received from Related Parties [Abstract]
Revenues, net	1,144		1,957
Operating expenses (credits) [Abstract]
Technical expenses, net of credits	46,130	[1]	45,357	[1]
Selling, general and administrative expenses (credits) [Abstract]
Corporate general and administrative expense allocations	(1,145)		(1,599)
Other	1,951		1,673
Selling, general and administrative expense, subtotal	806		74
Operating expenses, net	46,936		45,431
Net charges	$ 45,792		$ 43,474

[1] Technical expenses include primarily costs incurred by the Company for the carriage of the MSG networks and Fuse program services, as well as for AMC, WE tv, IFC and Sundance Channel on the Company's cable systems. The Company also purchases certain programming signal transmission and production services from AMC Networks.