Marketable Investment Securities, Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, and Other Investment Securities - Narrative (Details) - Satellite and Tracking Stock Transaction $ in Millions	Feb. 20, 2014 USD ($) item shares	Feb. 20, 2014 USD ($)
DISH Investors
Other investment securities:
Percentage of economic interest in the Hughes Retail Group	80.00%
EchoStar and HSSC
Other investment securities:
Number of owned satellites transferred and leased back | item	5
Transfer of liabilities and other	$ 59	$ 59
Capital transaction		356
Cash in exchange for shares of series of preferred tracking stock issued	$ 11	11
Capital transaction recorded in additional paid-in capital		51
Capital distribution to EchoStar, net of deferred taxes		51
EchoStar and HSSC | DISH Investors
Other investment securities:
Tracking stock prohibited transfer period	1 year
EchoStar | DISH Investors
Other investment securities:
Preferred tracking stock issued by related party | shares	6,290,499
Historical cost of tracking stock		229
HSSC | DISH Investors
Other investment securities:
Preferred tracking stock issued by related party | shares	81.128
Historical cost of tracking stock		$ 87