CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Revenue:
Subscriber-related revenue	$ 13,764,774	$ 13,064,936	$ 12,972,152
Equipment sales and other revenue	94,855	98,480	65,437
Equipment sales, services and other revenue - EchoStar	45,236	17,918	36,474
Total revenue	13,904,865	13,181,334	13,074,063
Costs and Expenses (exclusive of depreciation shown separately below - Note 8):
Subscriber-related expenses	7,818,061	7,254,458	6,845,611
Satellite and transmission expenses:
EchoStar	494,240	424,543	441,541
Other	41,301	41,697	39,806
Cost of sales - equipment, services and other	91,902	97,965	80,372
Subscriber acquisition costs:
Cost of sales - subscriber promotion subsidies	281,772	267,133	249,440
Other subscriber acquisition costs	1,561,098	1,420,194	1,255,691
Total subscriber acquisition costs	1,842,870	1,687,327	1,505,131
General and administrative expenses - EchoStar	90,238	66,507	45,187
General and administrative expenses	686,473	655,538	592,178
Litigation expense (Note 16)		730,457	(316,949)
Depreciation and amortization (Note 8)	1,054,026	964,484	912,203
Impairment of long-lived assets (Note 8)	437,575
Total costs and expenses	12,556,686	11,922,976	10,145,080
Operating income (loss)	1,348,179	1,258,358	2,928,983
Other Income (Expense):
Interest income	148,865	99,091	33,882
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized	(744,985)	(536,236)	(557,966)
Other, net	384,856	173,697	8,240
Total other income (expense)	(211,264)	(263,448)	(515,844)
Income (loss) before income taxes	1,136,915	994,910	2,413,139
Income tax (provision) benefit, net (Note 12)	(299,826)	(331,991)	(890,765)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	837,089	662,919	1,522,374
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(47,343)	(37,179)	(6,796)
Net income (loss)	789,746	625,740	1,515,578
Less: Income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(17,746)	(10,947)	(329)
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network	807,492	636,687	1,515,907
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - Class A and B common stock:
Basic (in shares)	456,044	450,264	445,434
Diluted (in shares)	459,166	452,899	446,865
Earnings per share - Class A and B common stock:
Basic net income (loss) per share from continuing operations attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share)	$ 1.87	$ 1.49	$ 3.41
Basic net income (loss) per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.10)	$ (0.08)	$ (0.01)
Basic net income (loss) per share attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share)	$ 1.77	$ 1.41	$ 3.40
Diluted net income (loss) per share from continuing operations attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share)	$ 1.86	$ 1.49	$ 3.41
Diluted net income (loss) per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.10)	$ (0.08)	$ (0.02)
Diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share)	$ 1.76	$ 1.41	$ 3.39
Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Net income (loss)	789,746	625,740	1,515,578
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments	1,155	4,106	(9,139)
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities	123,233	265,785	(13,965)
Recognition of previously unrealized (gains) losses on available-for-sale securities included in net income (loss)	(148,603)	(150,239)	11,790
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit, net	9,284	(12,892)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(14,931)	106,760	(11,314)
Comprehensive income (loss)	774,815	732,500	1,504,264
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(17,746)	(10,947)	(329)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to DISH Network	$ 792,561	$ 743,447	$ 1,504,593