Marketable Investment Securities, Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, and Other Investment Securities - Narrative (Details) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
	Feb. 20, 2014 USD ($) item shares	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Other investment securities:
Capital transaction recorded in additional paid-in capital		$ (51,466)
Satellite and Tracking Stock Transaction | DISH Investors
Other investment securities:
Percentage of economic interest in the Hughes Retail Group	80.00%
EchoStar and HSSC | Satellite and Tracking Stock Transaction
Other investment securities:
Number of owned satellites transferred and leased back | item	5
Transfer of liabilities and other	$ 59,000
Cash in exchange for shares of series of preferred tracking stock issued	11,000
Capital transaction	356,000
Capital transaction recorded in additional paid-in capital	$ 51,000
EchoStar and HSSC | Satellite and Tracking Stock Transaction | DISH Investors
Other investment securities:
Tracking stock prohibited transfer period	1 year
EchoStar | Satellite and Tracking Stock Transaction
Other investment securities:
Transfer of liabilities and other			$ 44,540
EchoStar | Satellite and Tracking Stock Transaction | DISH Investors
Other investment securities:
Preferred tracking stock issued by related party | shares	6,290,499
Historical cost of tracking stock	$ 229,000
HSSC | Satellite and Tracking Stock Transaction | DISH Investors
Other investment securities:
Preferred tracking stock issued by related party | shares	81.128
Historical cost of tracking stock	$ 87,000