CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 394,960	$ 353,252
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	233,627	246,212
Realized and unrealized losses (gains) on investments	(66,980)	(127,024)
Non-cash, stock-based compensation	4,477	7,709
Deferred tax expense (benefit)	80,967	12,477
Other, net	8,978	20,753
Changes in current assets and current liabilities, net	247,169	378,218
Net cash flows from operating activities	903,198	891,597
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Purchases of marketable investment securities	(23,059)	(13,507)
Sales and maturities of marketable investment securities	440,669	1,802,460
Settlement of derivative financial instruments	220,871
Purchases of property and equipment	(169,169)	(212,110)
Capitalized interest related to FCC authorizations (Note 2)	(225,360)	(62,150)
AWS-3 FCC license refunds (deposits), net (Note 10)		(8,675,567)
Other, net	13,559	3,282
Net cash flows from investing activities	257,511	(7,157,592)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Redemption and repurchases of senior notes (Note 9)	(1,500,000)
Capital contributions from Northstar Manager and SNR Management (Note 10)		204,200
Repayment of long-term debt and capital lease obligations	(8,020)	(7,116)
Net proceeds from Class A common stock options exercised and stock issued under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan	3,057	6,345
Other, net	68	7,967
Net cash flows from financing activities	(1,504,895)	211,396
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(344,186)	(6,054,599)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	1,053,158	7,104,496
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 708,972	$ 1,049,897