Basic and Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Basic and Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Share
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$ 332,326	$ 207,129	$ 685,578	$ 377,946
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of tax	7,903	(6,184)	9,670	(11,298)
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network	$ 324,423	$ 213,313	$ 675,908	$ 389,244
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - Class A and B common stock:
Basic (in shares)	462,929	459,863	462,512	459,147
Dilutive impact of stock awards outstanding (in shares)	1,706	2,744	1,888	2,794
Diluted (in shares)	464,635	462,607	464,400	461,941
Earnings per share - Class A and B common stock:
Basic net income (loss) per share attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share)	$ 0.70	$ 0.46	$ 1.46	$ 0.85
Diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share)	$ 0.70	$ 0.46	$ 1.46	$ 0.84