Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

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The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

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Segment Reporting (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
Segment Reporting (Details) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($) segment	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Segment information
Number of primary operating business units \| segment			2
Total assets	$ 29,650,012		$ 29,650,012		$ 29,773,766
Revenues	3,460,845	$ 3,643,632	6,919,332	$ 7,323,993
Operating income (loss)	572,660	252,103	1,102,166	859,423
Pay-TV video and related revenue
Segment information
Revenues	3,352,354	3,512,900	6,699,951	7,049,362
Broadband revenue
Segment information
Revenues	67,406	101,379	142,513	209,003
Equipment sales and other revenue
Segment information
Revenues	41,085	29,353	76,868	65,628
United States
Segment information
Revenues	3,450,809	3,632,203	6,899,825	7,302,967
Canada And Mexico
Segment information
Revenues	10,036	11,429	19,507	21,026
Pay-TV \| Operating segment
Segment information
Total assets	28,125,561		28,125,561		28,353,581
Revenues	3,460,845	3,643,632	6,919,332	7,323,993
Operating income (loss)	581,323	262,919	1,120,625	884,584
Wireless \| Operating segment
Segment information
Total assets	23,892,140		23,892,140		23,377,088
Operating income (loss)	(8,663)	$ (10,816)	(18,459)	$ (25,161)
All Other and Eliminations \| Other and Eliminations
Segment information
Total assets	$ (22,367,689)		$ (22,367,689)		$ (21,956,903)