CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Revenue:
Total Revenue	$ 3,460,845	$ 3,643,632	$ 6,919,332	$ 7,323,993
Costs and Expenses (exclusive of depreciation shown separately below - Note 7):
Subscriber-related expenses	2,159,427	2,242,775	4,344,378	4,485,962
Satellite and transmission expenses	146,052	163,980	299,696	340,162
Cost of sales - equipment and other	36,117	22,136	67,743	50,109
Subscriber acquisition costs:
Cost of sales - subscriber promotion subsidies	9,108	22,388	25,038	43,399
Other subscriber acquisition costs	68,734	134,817	145,806	276,761
Subscriber acquisition advertising	105,420	118,255	208,429	245,334
Total subscriber acquisition costs	183,262	275,460	379,273	565,494
General and administrative expenses	190,625	179,812	360,402	310,847
Litigation expense (Note 9)		295,695		295,695
Depreciation and amortization (Note 7)	172,702	211,671	365,674	416,301
Total costs and expenses	2,888,185	3,391,529	5,817,166	6,464,570
Operating income (loss)	572,660	252,103	1,102,166	859,423
Other Income (Expense):
Interest income	10,619	12,447	19,936	26,739
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized	(2,865)	(26,269)	(5,822)	(55,439)
Other, net	21,432	3,167	(13,376)	7,912
Total other income (expense)	29,186	(10,655)	738	(20,788)
Income (loss) before income taxes	601,846	241,448	1,102,904	838,635
Income tax (provision) benefit, net	(141,560)	(182,686)	(257,297)	(389,798)
Net income (loss)	460,286	58,762	845,607	448,837
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax	21,569	18,646	39,330	33,006
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network	$ 438,717	$ 40,116	$ 806,277	$ 415,831
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - Class A and B common stock:
Basic (in shares)	467,425	466,019	467,036	465,717
Diluted (in shares)	525,849	466,935	525,607	519,861
Earnings per share - Class A and B common stock:
Basic net income (loss) per share attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share)	$ 0.94	$ 0.09	$ 1.73	$ 0.89
Diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share)	$ 0.83	$ 0.09	$ 1.53	$ 0.86
Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Net income (loss)	$ 460,286	$ 58,762	$ 845,607	$ 448,837
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(657)	639	(257)	846
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities	49	801	154	6,965
Recognition of previously unrealized (gains) losses on available-for-sale securities included in net income (loss)	(3)	(630)	(5)	(634)
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit, net	(13)	(62)	(39)	(2,326)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(624)	748	(147)	4,851
Comprehensive income (loss)	459,662	59,510	845,460	453,688
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax	21,569	18,646	39,330	33,006
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to DISH Network	438,093	40,864	806,130	420,682
Subscriber Related Revenue [Member]
Revenue:
Total Revenue	3,419,760	3,614,279	6,842,464	7,258,365
Equipment sales and other revenue
Revenue:
Total Revenue	$ 41,085	$ 29,353	$ 76,868	$ 65,628