Segment Reporting (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended							3 Months Ended					12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014 resident item segment subscriber	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014 Continuing operations	Dec. 31, 2013 Continuing operations	Mar. 31, 2014 Eliminations	Dec. 31, 2013 Eliminations	Mar. 31, 2014 Operating segment	Mar. 31, 2013 Operating segment	Mar. 31, 2014 DISH Operating segment	Mar. 31, 2013 DISH Operating segment	Dec. 31, 2013 DISH Operating segment	Dec. 31, 2008 Wireless	Mar. 31, 2014 Wireless segment	Feb. 27, 2014 Wireless	Mar. 31, 2014 Wireless Operating segment	Mar. 31, 2013 Wireless Operating segment	Dec. 31, 2013 Wireless Operating segment	Dec. 31, 2008 DBSD North America (ICO) Wireless	Mar. 09, 2012 DBSD North America and TerreStar Transactions Wireless
Segment Reporting
Number of primary operating business units	2
Number of DISH Network subscribers	14,097,000
Number of rural residents that are targeted under broadband services	15,000,000
Number of state region in which wireline voice and broadband services are offered	14
Segment information
Payment to acquire certain 700 MHz wireless licenses													$ 712,000,000						$ 712,000,000
Payments to acquire wireless spectrum assets																				2,860,000,000
Number of wireless spectrum licenses														176
Aggregate bid price														1,564,000,000	1,564,000,000
Total assets	20,550,786,000		20,375,628,000	20,550,786,000	20,297,424,000	(5,269,647,000)	(4,041,934,000)			19,972,000,000		19,713,853,000				5,848,433,000		4,625,505,000
Assets of discontinued operations			78,204,000
Total revenue	3,594,198,000	3,375,530,000								3,594,032,000	3,374,880,000					166,000	650,000
Operating income (loss)	$ 446,298,000	$ 451,617,000						$ 446,298,000	$ 451,617,000	$ 469,930,000	$ 469,619,000					$ (23,632,000)	$ (18,002,000)