Commitment to acquire ownership percentage.

No definition available.

Name:	dish_CommitmentToAcquireOwnershipPercentage
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- Definition

Represents the number of rural residents that are targeted under broadband services.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_NumberOfRuralResidentsThatAreTargetedUnderBroadbandServices
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

Represents the number of states region in which wireline voice and broadband services are offered.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_NumberOfStatesInWhichWirelineVoiceAndBroadbandServicesAreOffered
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the number of subscribers for broadband services.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_NumberOfSubscribersForBroadbandServices
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the number of subscribers of DISH branded pay TV services.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_NumberOfSubscribersForPayTVServices
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of wireless spectrum licenses acquired by the winning bidder.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of consideration transferred, consisting of acquisition-date fair value of assets transferred by the acquirer, liabilities incurred by the acquirer, and equity interest issued by the acquirer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 30

-Section 30

-Paragraph 7

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911251&loc=d3e6578-128477

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 30

-Section 30

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911251&loc=d3e6613-128477

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35744584&loc=d3e6927-128479

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of operating segments. An operating segment is a component of an enterprise: (a) that engages in business activities from which it may earn revenues and incur expenses (including revenues and expenses relating to transactions with other components of the same enterprise), (b) whose operating results are regularly reviewed by the enterprise's chief operating decision maker to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and assess its performance, and (c) for which discrete financial information is available. An operating segment may engage in business activities for which it has yet to earn revenues, for example, start-up operations may be operating segments before earning revenues.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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- Definition

The cash outflow to acquire asset without physical form usually arising from contractual or other legal rights, excluding goodwill.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Investing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3213-108585

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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Organization and Business Activities (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		0 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014 resident item segment subscriber	Sep. 30, 2014 Wireless	Dec. 31, 2008 Wireless	Apr. 29, 2014 Wireless segment	Mar. 09, 2012 Wireless DBSD North America and TerreStar Transactions	Mar. 09, 2012 Wireless DBSD North America (ICO)
Organization and Business Activities
Number of primary business segments	2
Number of DISH branded pay TV services subscribers	14,041,000
Number of subscribers for broadband services under the dishNET brand	553,000
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
Spectrum Investments
Payment to acquire wireless licenses		$ 1,672	$ 712
Commitment to acquire percentage ownership interest						100.00%
Purchase price					$ 2,860
Number of wireless spectrum licenses				176