Basic and Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Net income (loss)	$ 385,321	$ 390,075
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax	17,761	14,360
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network	367,560	375,715
Interest on dilutive Convertible Notes, net of tax		17,119
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Diluted, Total	$ 367,560	$ 392,834
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - Class A and B common stock:
Basic (in shares)	466,642	465,412
Dilutive impact of Convertible Notes (in shares)	58,192	48,056
Dilutive impact of stock awards outstanding (in shares)	475	975
Diluted (in shares)	525,309	514,443
Earnings per share - Class A and B common stock:
Basic net income (loss) per share attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share)	$ 0.79	$ 0.81
Diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share)	$ 0.70	$ 0.76
2 3/8% Convertible Notes due 2024
Interest rate (as a percent)	2.375%
3 3/8% Convertible Notes due 2026
Interest rate (as a percent)	3.375%		3.375%