CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Class A and B Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Earnings (Deficit)	Noncontrolling Interest	Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest	Total
Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 4,679	$ 3,379,093	$ (874)	$ 5,212,790	$ (1,499)	$ 460,068	$ 8,594,189
Issuance of Class A common stock:
Exercise of stock awards		227					227
Employee Stock Purchase Plan	2	4,520					4,522
Non-cash, stock-based compensation		11,537					11,537
Change in unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale debt securities, net			1,006				1,006
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit attributable to unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities			(236)				(236)
Foreign currency translation			47				47
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests					164	21,374	164
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network				339,761			339,761
Balance at Mar. 31, 2019	4,681	3,395,377	(57)	5,552,551	(1,335)	481,442	8,951,217
Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	4,679	3,379,093	(874)	5,212,790	(1,499)	460,068	8,594,189
Issuance of Class A common stock:
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit attributable to unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities							(257)
Foreign currency translation							185
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network							656,804
Balance at Jun. 30, 2019	4,699	3,457,135	149	5,869,594	(1,066)	504,696	9,330,511
Balance at Mar. 31, 2019	4,681	3,395,377	(57)	5,552,551	(1,335)	481,442	8,951,217
Issuance of Class A common stock:
Exercise of stock awards	6	18,620					18,626
Employee benefits	11	26,993					27,004
Employee Stock Purchase Plan	1	4,040					4,041
Non-cash, stock-based compensation		12,105					12,105
Change in unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale debt securities, net			89				89
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit attributable to unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities			(21)				(21)
Foreign currency translation			138				138
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests					269	23,254	269
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network				317,043			317,043
Balance at Jun. 30, 2019	4,699	3,457,135	149	5,869,594	(1,066)	504,696	9,330,511
Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	5,230	4,947,007	(18)	6,612,302	(449)	552,075	11,564,072
Issuance of Class A common stock:
Exercise of stock awards		395					395
Employee Stock Purchase Plan	3	5,127					5,130
Non-cash, stock-based compensation		16,418					16,418
Change in unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale debt securities, net			(208)				(208)
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit attributable to unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities			49				49
Foreign currency translation			375				375
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests					263		263
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network				73,099		25,912	73,099
Balance at Mar. 31, 2020	5,233	4,968,947	198	6,685,401	(186)	577,987	11,659,593
Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	5,230	4,947,007	(18)	6,612,302	(449)	552,075	11,564,072
Issuance of Class A common stock:
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit attributable to unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities							595
Foreign currency translation							(3,146)
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network							525,442
Balance at Jun. 30, 2020	5,246	5,019,179	(2,664)	7,137,744	32	605,815	12,159,537
Balance at Mar. 31, 2020	5,233	4,968,947	198	6,685,401	(186)	577,987	11,659,593
Issuance of Class A common stock:
Exercise of stock awards	3	(663)					(660)
Employee benefits	8	28,293					28,301
Employee Stock Purchase Plan	2	4,209					4,211
Non-cash, stock-based compensation		18,393					18,393
Change in unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale debt securities, net			113				113
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit attributable to unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities			546				546
Foreign currency translation			(3,521)				(3,521)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests					235		235
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network				452,343		27,828	452,343
Other					(17)		(17)
Balance at Jun. 30, 2020	$ 5,246	$ 5,019,179	$ (2,664)	$ 7,137,744	$ 32	$ 605,815	$ 12,159,537