CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 1,125,473	$ 888,188
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	715,730	761,295
Realized and unrealized losses (gains) on investments	(116,070)	(291,438)
Non-cash, stock-based compensation	10,530	17,714
Deferred tax expense (benefit)	289,873	157,183
Other, net	7,011	11,741
Change in long-term deferred revenue and other long-term liabilities	75,705	130,107
Changes in current assets and current liabilities, net	44,138	555,247
Net cash flows from operating activities	2,152,390	2,230,037
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Purchases of marketable investment securities	(328,198)	(179,296)
Sales and maturities of marketable investment securities	679,428	1,987,485
Settlement of derivative financial instruments	562,234
Purchases of property and equipment	(483,459)	(605,484)
Capitalized interest related to FCC authorizations (Note 2)	(563,698)	(187,818)
AWS-3 FCC license deposits (Note 10)		(9,075,567)
AWS-3 FCC license refund (Note 10)		400,000
Other, net	(1,487,255)	3,594
Net cash flows from investing activities	(1,620,948)	(7,657,086)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes	2,000,000
Proceeds from issuance of convertible notes	3,000,000
Purchases of convertible note hedges	(635,100)
Proceeds from issuance of warrants	375,600
Redemption and repurchases of senior notes (Note 9)	(1,500,000)	(650,001)
Capital contributions from Northstar Manager and SNR Management (Note 10)		204,200
Repayment of long-term debt and capital lease obligations	(25,864)	(23,470)
Net proceeds from Class A common stock options exercised and stock issued under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan	12,186	21,285
Debt issuance costs	(26,622)
Other, net	(500)	14,920
Net cash flows from financing activities	3,199,700	(433,066)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	3,731,142	(5,860,115)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	1,053,158	7,104,496
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 4,784,300	$ 1,244,381