CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 1,873,936	$ 1,492,569	$ 1,655,491
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	714,552	630,577	712,024
Impairment of long-lived assets (Note 2)	356,418
Realized and unrealized losses (gains) on investments and derivatives	21,822	(4,121)	(11,908)
Non-cash, stock-based compensation	64,954	14,262	36,261
Deferred tax expense (benefit)	899,173	228,250	454,699
Allowance for credit losses and allowance for doubtful accounts, respectively	28,622	2,314	(1,270)
Change in long-term deferred revenue and other long-term liabilities	(244,660)	228,557	(3,303)
Other, net	4,735	92,471	(70,900)
Changes in current assets and current liabilities, net
Trade accounts receivable	(25,172)	49,183	14,724
Prepaid and accrued income taxes	(84,633)	50,101	93,618
Inventory	58,291	(79,542)	14,788
Other current assets	(271,227)	67,398	(46,772)
Trade accounts payable	73,268	46,892	(160,952)
Deferred revenue and other	(499)	26,172	(98,179)
Accrued programming and other accrued expenses	(157,804)	(182,682)	(70,480)
Net cash flows from operating activities	3,311,776	2,662,401	2,517,841
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Purchases of marketable investment securities	(1,902,599)	(1,029,858)	(1,403,890)
Sales and maturities of marketable investment securities	1,944,748	1,799,966	730,210
Purchases of property and equipment	(413,302)	(581,081)	(393,938)
Capitalized interest related to FCC authorizations (Note 2)	(779,204)	(901,367)	(922,759)
Purchases of FCC authorizations, including deposits (Note 16)	(1,047,542)	(12,155)	(2,500)
Boost Mobile Acquisition (Note 6)	(1,312,500)
Other, net	(351,173)	6,659	17,604
Net cash flows from investing activities	(3,861,572)	(717,836)	(1,975,273)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of convertible notes	2,000,000
Redemption and repurchases of senior notes	(1,100,000)	(1,317,372)	(1,108,489)
Northstar Spectrum LLC Purchase Agreement	(311,735)
Repayment of long-term debt and finance lease obligations	(100,536)	(41,548)	(42,767)
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes	1,000,000
Net proceeds from Class A common stock options exercised and stock issued under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan	27,414	36,435	19,981
Stock Rights Offering		998,408
Debt issuance costs	(15,675)
Other, net	2	(4,092)	(3,270)
Net cash flows from financing activities	1,499,470	(328,169)	(1,134,545)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents	949,674	1,616,396	(591,977)
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period (Note 7)	2,504,320	887,924	1,479,901
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents, end of period (Note 7)	$ 3,453,994	$ 2,504,320	$ 887,924