Basic and Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Basic and Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Share
Net income (loss)	$ 361,299	$ 385,321
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax	21,538	17,761
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network	339,761	367,560
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network - Diluted	$ 339,761	$ 367,560
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - Class A and B common stock:
Basic (in shares)	467,953	466,642
Dilutive impact of Convertible Notes (in shares)	58,192	58,192
Dilutive impact of stock awards outstanding (in shares)	74	475
Diluted (in shares)	526,219	525,309
Earnings per share - Class A and B common stock:
Basic net income (loss) per share attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share)	$ 0.73	$ 0.79
Diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share)	$ 0.65	$ 0.70