Additional Bid Withdrawl Payment

No definition available.

Name:	dish_AdditionalBidWithdrawlPayment
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents bid withdrawal payment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_BidWithdrawalPayment
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents value of bidding credit.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_BiddingCredit
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the combined net winning bids.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_CombinedNetWinningBids
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents gross winning bids amount.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_GrossWinningBids
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Interim Payment

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_InterimPayment
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Interim Payment Percentage

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_InterimPaymentPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Nonpayment Gross Winning Bids

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_NonpaymentGrossWinningBids
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number Of Licenses Returned

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- 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

Represents the percentage of bidding credit.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_PercentageOfBiddingCredit
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents refund amount received from auction related to AWS-3.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_ProceedsFromRefundAmountFromBid
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Reauction Payment

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_ReauctionPayment
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The carrying amount of total investment into Variable Interest Entity included in the reporting entity's statement of financial position.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_VariableInterestEntityInvestmentTotal
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Reflects the sum for the period of the additions and reductions to related party loans, which when added to the opening balance of related party loan will agree to the ending balance of such loans. This subtotal typically is not reflected.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7(e))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 850
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39549-107864

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
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

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfOperatingSegments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- 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
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3213-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Investing Activities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

+ Details

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

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfInvestmentsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of the Variable Interest Entity's (VIE) voting interest owned by (or beneficial interest in) the reporting entity (directly or indirectly).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5A
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=52262685&loc=SL6759159-111685

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=dish_Aws3AuctionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=dish_NorthstarLicensesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis=dish_PriorArrangementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis=us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis=dish_NorthstarWirelessOrNorthstarSpectrumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=dish_AmericanIIMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=dish_SNRLicensesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis=dish_SNRWirelessOrSNRWirelessHoldcoMember
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Organization and Business Activities (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended			96 Months Ended
	Aug. 18, 2015 USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) segment state item	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) item
Spectrum Investments
Number of primary business segments \| segment			2
Number of Pay-TV subscribers \| item			13,897,000			13,897,000
Number of subscribers for broadband services under the dishNET brand \| item			623,000			623,000
Number of state region in which wireline voice and broadband services are offered \| state			14
Payment to acquire certain wireless licenses and related assets			$ 8,970,389	$ 1,343,372	$ 328,134	$ 5,000,000
AWS 3 Auction
Spectrum Investments
Refund amount received		$ 400,000
Northstar Licenses \| Prior Arrangement [Member]
Variable Interest Entity
Number of licenses returned \| item			84
Nonpayment gross winning bids			$ 2,226,000			2,226,000
Northstar Spectrum And SNR Holdco
Variable Interest Entity
Total investments			$ 10,191,000			10,191,000
Northstar Spectrum And SNR Holdco \| AWS 3 Auction
Spectrum Investments
Percentage of bidding credit			25.00%
Northstar Wireless or Northstar Spectrum
Spectrum Investments
Re-Auction payment			$ 1,892,000
Variable Interest Entity
Interim payment percentage			15.00%
Northstar Wireless or Northstar Spectrum \| American II
Variable Interest Entity
Ownership percentage			85.00%
Loan made			$ 69,000
Northstar Wireless or Northstar Spectrum \| AWS 3 Auction
Variable Interest Entity
Interim Payment			$ 334,000
Interim payment percentage			15.00%
Northstar Wireless or Northstar Spectrum \| Northstar Licenses
Spectrum Investments
Gross Winning Bids			$ 5,619,000
Bidding credit value	$ 1,961,000
Northstar Wireless or Northstar Spectrum \| SNR Licenses
Spectrum Investments
Percentage of bidding credit	25.00%
SNR Wireless or SNR Wireless Holdco
Spectrum Investments
Re-Auction payment			$ 1,029,000
Variable Interest Entity
Interim payment percentage			15.00%
SNR Wireless or SNR Wireless Holdco \| SNR Licenses
Spectrum Investments
Gross Winning Bids			$ 5,482,000
Percentage of bidding credit			25.00%
Bidding credit value	$ 1,370,000
Combined net winning bids			$ 4,112,000
Additional bid withdrawl payment			3,000
Bid withdrawal payment			8,000
Variable Interest Entity
Nonpayment gross winning bids			1,211,000			$ 1,211,000
Interim Payment			$ 182,000
Interim payment percentage			15.00%
SNR Wireless or SNR Wireless Holdco \| SNR Licenses \| Prior Arrangement [Member]
Variable Interest Entity
Number of licenses returned \| item			113