Property and Equipment and Intangible Assets - FCC Authorizations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
FCC authorizations	$ 16,498,733	$ 15,667,604
DBS Licenses
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
FCC authorizations	611,794	611,794
700 MHz Licenses
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
FCC authorizations	711,871	711,871
MVDDS
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
FCC authorizations	24,000	24,000
AWS-4 Licenses [Member]
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
FCC authorizations	1,949,000	1,949,000
H Block Licenses
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
FCC authorizations	1,671,506	1,671,506
AWS-3 Licenses [Member]
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
FCC authorizations	9,890,389	9,890,389
Capitalized interest on FCC authorizations [Member]
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
FCC authorizations	$ 1,640,173	$ 809,044