Basic and Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Basic and Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Share
Net income (loss)	$ 480,406		$ 340,566		$ 579,680	$ 701,865
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax	28,063		23,523		54,238	45,061
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network	452,343	$ 73,099	317,043	$ 339,761	525,442	656,804
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network - Diluted	$ 452,343		$ 317,043		$ 525,442	$ 656,804
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - Class A and B common stock:
Basic (2) (in shares)	524,292		469,655		523,722	468,809
Dilutive impact of Convertible Notes (in shares)	58,192		58,192		58,192	58,192
Dilutive impact of stock awards outstanding (in shares)	135		136		157	106
Diluted (in shares)	582,619		527,983		582,071	527,107
Earnings per share - Class A and B common stock:
Basic net income (loss) per share attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share)	$ 0.86		$ 0.68		$ 1.00	$ 1.40
Diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share)	$ 0.78		$ 0.60		$ 0.90	$ 1.25