<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-03-08</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001053112</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CABLEVISION SYSTEMS CORP /NY</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CVC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000933025</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DOLAN-SWEENEY DEBORAH A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>340 CROSSWAYS PARK DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WOODBURY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>11797</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Member of 13(d) Group</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Cablevision NY Group Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-03-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6600</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>113896</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Spouse</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Cablevision NY Group Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>19330</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Cablevision NY Group Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20900</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Trusts</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes restricted stock units.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Securities held directly by Deborah Dolan-Sweeney. Mr. Sweeney disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities and this report shall not be deemed an admission that he is, for the purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose, the beneficial owner of such securities.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Securities held in trusts for which Mr. Sweeney serves as co-trustee. Both he and Ms. Dolan-Sweeney disclaim beneficial ownership of these securities and this report shall not be deemed an admission that they are the beneficial owners of such securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Grant of restricted shares of Class A common stock pursuant to the Company's Employee Stock Plan, exempt under Rule 16b-3. All the shares will become fully vested and unrestricted on the third anniversary of the date of the grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Includes restricted shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Securities held directly by Ms Deborah Dolan-Sweeney's spouse, Brian G. Sweeney. Ms. Dolan-Sweeney disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities and this report shall not be deemed to be an admission that she is the beneficial owner of such securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Brian G. Sweeney, attorney-in-fact for Deborah A. Dolan</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-03-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
