Segment Reporting (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) segment	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Segment information
Number of primary operating business units | segment									2
Total assets	$ 30,587,012				$ 29,773,766				$ 30,587,012	$ 29,773,766
Revenues	3,306,829	$ 3,395,141	$ 3,460,845	$ 3,458,487	3,483,928	$ 3,583,454	$ 3,643,632	$ 3,680,361	13,621,302	14,391,375	$ 15,212,302
Depreciation and amortization									712,024	817,564	921,202
Operating income (loss)	482,752	562,703	572,660	529,506	259,291	449,051	252,103	607,320	2,147,621	1,567,765	2,319,261
Interest income									44,759	41,006	31,168
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized									(15,006)	(63,172)	(53,141)
Other, net									11,801	104,488	119,315
Income tax (provision) benefit, net									(533,684)	515,320	(865,818)
Income (loss)	357,286	$ 452,598	$ 460,286	$ 385,321	1,401,305	$ 315,265	$ 58,762	$ 390,075	1,655,491	2,165,407	1,550,785	$ 1,550,785
United States
Segment information
Revenues									13,578,254	14,351,558	15,111,832
Canada And Mexico
Segment information
Revenues									43,048	39,817	100,470
Pay-TV
Segment information
Revenues									13,621,198	14,391,375	15,212,302
Depreciation and amortization									698,336	788,237	877,342
Operating income (loss)									2,187,675	1,759,130	2,383,388
Interest income									1,495,371	1,306,298	1,006,243
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized									(1,013,062)	(1,068,231)	(876,375)
Other, net									8,957	104,482	32,867
Income tax (provision) benefit, net									(650,858)	(473,370)	(934,024)
Income (loss)									2,028,083	1,628,309	1,612,099
Pay-TV | Operating segment
Segment information
Total assets	28,981,608				28,353,581				28,981,608	28,353,581
Wireless
Segment information
Revenues									580
Depreciation and amortization									13,688	29,327	43,860
Operating income (loss)									(40,054)	(191,365)	(64,127)
Interest income											3,745
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized									(452,556)	(260,233)	(155,586)
Other, net									2,844	6	86,448
Income tax (provision) benefit, net									117,174	988,690	68,206
Income (loss)									(372,592)	537,098	(61,314)
Wireless | Operating segment
Segment information
Total assets	24,433,458				23,377,088				24,433,458	23,377,088
All Other and Eliminations
Segment information
Revenues									(476)
Interest income									(1,450,612)	(1,265,292)	(978,820)
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized									1,450,612	1,265,292	978,820
All Other and Eliminations | Other and Eliminations
Segment information
Total assets	$ (22,828,054)				$ (21,956,903)				(22,828,054)	(21,956,903)
Pay-TV video and related revenue
Segment information
Revenues									13,197,994	13,877,196	14,576,699
Broadband revenue
Segment information
Revenues									258,094	383,216	457,240
Equipment sales and other revenue
Segment information
Revenues									$ 165,214	$ 130,963	$ 178,363