DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, Operating Results of Discontinued Operations (Details) - USD ($)		3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Operating Results of Discontinued Operations [Abstract]
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes		$ (1,633,000)	$ (406,000)	$ 0	$ (10,502,000)	$ (175,000)	$ (79,000)	$ 3,510,000	$ (434,000)		$ (12,541,000)	$ 2,822,000	$ 338,316,000
Impairment loss relating to goodwill											0	0	0
Goodwill, net of accumulated impairment losses		262,345,000				264,690,000					262,345,000	264,690,000
Bresnan Cable
Operating Results of Discontinued Operations [Abstract]
Pretax gain (loss) recognized in connection with sale													408,000,000
CSC Holdings, LLC
Operating Results of Discontinued Operations [Abstract]
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes		(1,633,000)	$ (406,000)	$ 0	$ (10,502,000)	(175,000)	$ (79,000)	$ 3,510,000	$ (434,000)		(12,541,000)	2,822,000	330,711,000
Goodwill, net of accumulated impairment losses		$ 262,345,000				$ 264,690,000					262,345,000	264,690,000
Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale
Operating Results of Discontinued Operations [Abstract]
Revenues, net													289,630,000
Income (loss) before income taxes											(21,272,000)	5,028,000	571,123,000
Income tax benefit (expense)	[1]												(232,807,000)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes											(12,541,000)	$ 2,822,000	338,316,000
Income tax benefit recognized at Cablevision, not applicable to CSC Holdings													(7,605,000)
Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale | Compensation Related Claims
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Discontinued operations, legal matter expense											21,000,000
Discontinued operations legal matter, aggregate expense, including statutory interest, net of taxes											$ 12,380,000
Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale | Litigation Settlement
Operating Results of Discontinued Operations [Abstract]
Revenues, net	[2]												0
Income (loss) before income taxes	[2]												173,690,000
Income tax benefit (expense)	[1],[2]												(70,054,000)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	[2]												103,636,000
Income tax benefit recognized at Cablevision, not applicable to CSC Holdings	[2]												(1,003,000)
Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale | Bresnan Cable
Operating Results of Discontinued Operations [Abstract]
Revenues, net	[3]												262,323,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	[3]												439,870,000
Income tax benefit (expense)	[1],[3]												(180,178,000)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	[3]												259,692,000
Income tax benefit recognized at Cablevision, not applicable to CSC Holdings	[3]												(6,602,000)
Pretax gain (loss) recognized in connection with sale													408,000,000
Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale | Clearview Cinemas
Operating Results of Discontinued Operations [Abstract]
Revenues, net	[4],[5]												27,307,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	[4],[5]												(42,437,000)
Income tax benefit (expense)	[1],[4],[5]												17,425,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	[4],[5]												(25,012,000)
Income tax benefit recognized at Cablevision, not applicable to CSC Holdings	[4],[5]												0
Pretax gain (loss) recognized in connection with sale													(19,300,000)
Impairment loss relating to goodwill										$ 10,347,000
Goodwill, net of accumulated impairment losses										$ 0
Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale | CSC Holdings, LLC
Operating Results of Discontinued Operations [Abstract]
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes													330,711,000
Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale | CSC Holdings, LLC | Litigation Settlement
Operating Results of Discontinued Operations [Abstract]
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	[2]												102,633,000
Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale | CSC Holdings, LLC | Bresnan Cable
Operating Results of Discontinued Operations [Abstract]
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	[3]												253,090,000
Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale | CSC Holdings, LLC | Clearview Cinemas
Operating Results of Discontinued Operations [Abstract]
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	[4],[5]												$ (25,012,000)

[1] Includes tax benefit of $7,605 resulting from a decrease in the valuation allowance for certain state net operating loss carry forwards.

[2] Represents primarily the proceeds from the final allocation of the DISH Network, LLC litigation settlement. See discussion below for additional information.

[3] Includes the pretax gain recognized in connection with the Bresnan Sale of approximately $408,000.

[4] As a result of the Company's annual impairment test in the first quarter of 2013, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $10,347, relating to goodwill of the Company's Clearview business which reduced the carrying value to zero. The Company determined the fair value of the Clearview business, which was a single reporting unit, assuming highest and best use, based on either an income or market approach on a theater by theater basis.

[5] Includes the pretax loss recognized in connection with the Clearview Sale of approximately $19,300.