Segment Reporting (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) segment	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Segment information
Number of primary operating business units | segment			2
Total assets	$ 30,137,410		$ 30,137,410		$ 29,773,766
Revenues	3,395,141	$ 3,583,454	10,314,473	$ 10,907,447
Operating income (loss)	562,703	449,051	1,664,869	1,308,474
Pay-TV video and related revenue
Segment information
Revenues	3,288,754	3,459,439	9,988,705	10,508,801
Broadband revenue
Segment information
Revenues	60,602	91,615	203,115	300,618
Equipment sales and other revenue
Segment information
Revenues	45,785	32,400	122,653	98,028
United States
Segment information
Revenues	3,380,412	3,571,686	10,280,237	10,874,653
Canada And Mexico
Segment information
Revenues	14,729	11,768	34,236	32,794
Pay-TV | Operating segment
Segment information
Total assets	28,570,048		28,570,048		28,353,581
Revenues	3,395,141	3,583,454	10,314,473	10,907,447
Operating income (loss)	572,753	460,158	1,693,378	1,344,742
Wireless | Operating segment
Segment information
Total assets	24,156,847		24,156,847		23,377,088
Operating income (loss)	(10,050)	$ (11,107)	(28,509)	$ (36,268)
All Other and Eliminations | Other and Eliminations
Segment information
Total assets	$ (22,589,485)		$ (22,589,485)		$ (21,956,903)