CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Parenthetical) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Purchases of property and equipment, discontinued operations	$ 0	$ 1,782

The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of property, plant, and equipment from discontinued operations.

No definition available.

Name:	dish_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipmentIncludedInDiscontinuedOperations
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration