Basic and Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Basic and Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Share
Net income (loss)	$ 394,960	$ 353,252
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of tax	5,670	1,767
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network	$ 389,290	$ 351,485
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - Class A and B common stock:
Basic (in shares)	464,375	462,090
Dilutive impact of stock awards outstanding (in shares)	844	1,956
Diluted (in shares)	465,219	464,046
Earnings per share - Class A and B common stock:
Basic net income (loss) per share attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share)	$ 0.84	$ 0.76
Diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share)	$ 0.84	$ 0.76