Basic and Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Basic and Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Share
Net income (loss)	$ 377,157			$ 452,598			$ 1,079,022	$ 1,298,205
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax	23,853			20,864			68,914	60,194
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network	353,304	$ 317,043	$ 339,761	431,734	$ 438,717	$ 367,560	1,010,108	1,238,011
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network - Diluted	$ 353,304			$ 431,734			$ 1,010,108	$ 1,238,011
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - Class A and B common stock:
Basic (in shares)	477,495			467,570			471,736	467,216
Dilutive impact of Convertible Notes (in shares)	58,192			58,192			58,192	58,192
Dilutive impact of stock awards outstanding (in shares)	59			233			113	344
Diluted (in shares)	535,746			525,995			530,041	525,752
Earnings per share - Class A and B common stock:
Basic net income (loss) per share attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share)	$ 0.74			$ 0.92			$ 2.14	$ 2.65
Diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share)	$ 0.66			$ 0.82			$ 1.91	$ 2.35