CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 3/8% Convertible Notes due 2026 Additional Paid-In Capital	3 3/8% Convertible Notes due 2026	Convertible note hedges Additional Paid-In Capital	Convertible note hedges	Sling TV Exchange Transaction with EchoStar Additional Paid-In Capital	Sling TV Exchange Transaction with EchoStar Noncontrolling Interest	Sling TV Exchange Transaction with EchoStar Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest	Sling TV Exchange Transaction with EchoStar	Class A and B Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Earnings (Deficit)	Treasury Stock	Noncontrolling Interest	Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest	Total
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013									$ 5,144	$ 2,588,224	$ 173,872	$ (220,701)	$ (1,569,459)	$ 19,925		$ 997,005
Issuance of Class A common stock:
Exercise of stock awards									29	44,719						44,748
Employee benefits									4	25,777						25,781
Employee Stock Purchase Plan									1	6,185						6,186
Non-cash, stock-based compensation										34,055				71	$ 27	34,126
Income tax (expense) benefit related to stock awards and other										41,707				(691)		41,016
Change in unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net											(4,679)					(4,679)
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit, net											1,436					1,436
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest excluding redeemable noncontrolling interest														(14,062)	(1,729)	(14,062)
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network												944,693				944,693
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014									5,178	2,678,791	174,507	723,992	(1,569,459)	(875)	41,498	2,012,134
Issuance of Class A common stock:
Exercise of stock awards									20	25,744						25,764
Employee benefits									4	26,022						26,026
Employee Stock Purchase Plan									1	8,103						8,104
Non-cash, stock-based compensation										19,072					127	19,072
Income tax (expense) benefit related to stock awards and other										31,844				691		32,535
Change in unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net											(79,156)					(79,156)
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit, net											(33,370)					(33,370)
Foreign currency translation											3,878					3,878
Capital distribution to EchoStar, net of deferred taxes					$ (5,845)	$ (6,118)		$ (11,963)		(51,466)						(51,466)
Deemed distribution to EchoStar-initial fair value of redeemable noncontrolling interest, net of deferred taxes of $8,489					$ (14,011)		$ 22,500	$ (14,011)
Capital contribution from EchoStar- sale of T2 satellite, net of deferred taxes of $5,554										9,446						9,446
Redeemable noncontrolling interest recognized - investment in Northstar Spectrum and SNR Holdco															204,200
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest excluding redeemable noncontrolling interest														(816)	23,000	(816)
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network												747,092				747,092
Balance at Dec. 31, 2015									5,203	2,779,978	61,981	1,471,084	(1,569,459)	(1,000)	284,243	2,747,787
Issuance of Class A common stock:
Revaluation of EchoStar's interest in Sling TV to redemption value, net of deferred taxes										(9,598)					15,418	(9,598)
Initial value of northstar Spectrum and SNR Holdco															20,700	284,243
Exercise of stock awards									5	10,067						10,072
Employee benefits									4	25,142						25,146
Employee Stock Purchase Plan									2	8,551						8,553
Non-cash, stock-based compensation										12,826					211	12,826
Change in unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net											(96,262)					(96,262)
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit, net											35,062					35,062
Retirement of treasury stock									(562)			(1,568,897)	$ 1,569,459
Issuance of warrants										375,600						375,600
Net of deferred taxes	$ 487,521	$ 487,521	$ (400,113)	$ (400,113)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest excluding redeemable noncontrolling interest														(625)	20,226	(625)
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network												1,449,853				1,449,853
Other										(3,796)				(601)		(4,397)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 774,000								$ 4,652	3,279,646	$ 781	$ 1,352,040		$ (2,226)	330,634	4,634,893
Issuance of Class A common stock:
Revaluation of EchoStar's interest in Sling TV to redemption value, net of deferred taxes										$ (16,130)					$ 25,954	(16,130)
Initial value of northstar Spectrum and SNR Holdco																$ 330,634