CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 2,455,946	$ 1,873,936	$ 1,492,569
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	724,852	714,552	630,577
Impairment of long-lived assets (Note 2)		356,418
Realized and unrealized losses (gains) on investments and derivatives and other	19,724	21,822	(4,121)
Non-cash, stock-based compensation	51,680	64,954	14,262
Deferred tax expense (benefit)	602,044	899,173	228,250
Allowance for credit losses and allowance for doubtful accounts, respectively	(33,836)	28,622	2,314
Change in long-term deferred revenue and other long-term liabilities	(1,400)	(244,660)	228,557
Other, net	98,278	4,735	92,471
Changes in current assets and current liabilities, net
Trade accounts receivable	209,456	(25,172)	49,183
Prepaid and accrued income taxes	81,197	(84,633)	50,101
Inventory	(167,985)	58,291	(79,542)
Other current assets	(62,356)	(271,227)	67,398
Trade accounts payable	101,034	73,268	46,892
Deferred revenue and other	(98,808)	(499)	26,172
Accrued programming and other accrued expenses	51,425	(157,804)	(182,682)
Net cash flows from operating activities	4,031,251	3,311,776	2,662,401
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Purchases of marketable investment securities	(4,687,033)	(1,902,599)	(1,029,858)
Sales and maturities of marketable investment securities	2,069,343	1,944,748	1,799,966
Purchases of property and equipment	(1,185,642)	(413,302)	(581,081)
Capitalized interest related to FCC authorizations (Note 2)	(777,885)	(779,204)	(901,367)
Refund of FCC authorization deposit (Note 16)	337,490
Purchases of FCC authorizations, including deposits	(122,657)	(1,387,542)	(12,155)
Boost Mobile Acquisition (Note 6)		(1,312,500)
Other, net	(44,029)	(11,173)	6,659
Net cash flows from investing activities	(4,410,413)	(3,861,572)	(717,836)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Repayment of long-term debt and finance lease obligations	(89,876)	(100,536)	(41,548)
Redemption and repurchases of senior notes	(2,000,000)	(1,100,000)	(1,317,372)
Northstar Spectrum LLC Purchase Agreement		(311,735)
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes	6,750,000	1,000,000
Proceeds from issuance of convertible notes		2,000,000
Net proceeds from Class A common stock options exercised and stock issued under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan	58,303	27,414	36,435
Stock Rights Offering			998,408
Debt issuance costs	(34,459)	(15,675)
Other, net	(24,540)	2	(4,092)
Net cash flows from financing activities	4,659,428	1,499,470	(328,169)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents	4,280,266	949,674	1,616,396
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period (Note 7)	3,453,994	2,504,320	887,924
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents, end of period (Note 7)	$ 7,734,260	$ 3,453,994	$ 2,504,320