Organization and Business Activities (Details)					1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			96 Months Ended	108 Months Ended
	Dec. 13, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 05, 2016 USD ($)	Oct. 19, 2016 USD ($)	Aug. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) item	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) segment state item	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) item
Spectrum Investments
Number of primary operating business units | segment						2
Number of Pay-TV subscribers | item					13,671,000	13,671,000				13,671,000
Number of subscribers for broadband services under the dishNET brand | item					580,000	580,000				580,000
Number of states in which wireline broadband services offered | state						34
Number of state region in which wireline voice and broadband services are offered | state						14
Payment to acquire certain wireless licenses and related assets							$ 8,970,389,000	$ 1,343,372,000	$ 5,000,000,000	$ 5,000,000,000
Percent of coverage on available licensed geographic areas						90.00%
First phase auction threshold proceeds				$ 23,100,000,000
Auction 1000 [Member]
Spectrum Investments
Minimum upfront deposit from bidder in forward auction bid						$ 5,400,000,000
First phase auction threshold amount				88,400,000,000		$ 88,400,000,000
First Phase Auction Amount Of Spectrum | item						100
Percent of coverage on available licensed geographic areas						90.00%
First phase auction threshold proceeds				$ 23,100,000,000
Second phase auction threshold proceed			$ 21,500,000,000
Second phase auction threshold amount			$ 56,500,000,000			$ 56,500,000,000
Second Phase Auction Amount Of Spectrum | item						90
Third phase auction threshold amount		$ 42,300,000,000				$ 42,300,000,000
Third phase auction threshold proceed		$ 19,700,000,000
Third Phase Auction Amount Of Spectrum						80
Fourth phase auction threshold amount	$ 12,000,000,000					$ 12,000,000,000
Fourth phase auction threshold proceeds					$ 19,600,000,000
Fourth Phase Auction Amount Of Spectrum | item						70
Northstar Spectrum And SNR Holdco
Spectrum Investments
Total debt and equity investments in subsidaries					10,000,000,000	$ 10,000,000,000				10,000,000,000
Northstar Wireless or Northstar Spectrum
Spectrum Investments
Total debt and equity investments in subsidaries					$ 10,000,000,000	$ 10,000,000,000				$ 10,000,000,000