Segment Reporting (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2021 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($) segment	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Segment information
Number of primary operating business segments | segment									2
Total assets	$ 48,001,725				$ 38,239,947				$ 48,001,725	$ 38,239,947
Revenues	4,446,658	$ 4,449,635	$ 4,486,960	$ 4,497,853	4,557,365	$ 4,531,591	$ 3,187,090	$ 3,217,389	17,881,106	15,493,435	$ 12,807,684
Depreciation and amortization									724,852	714,552	630,577
Operating income (loss)	714,016	717,705	906,738	864,576	989,639	811,248	637,650	144,078	3,203,035	2,582,615	1,878,876
Interest income									11,338	22,734	77,214
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized									(16,174)	(12,974)	(23,687)
Other, net									20,557	(20,164)	11,524
Income tax (provision) benefit, net									(762,810)	(698,275)	(451,358)
Net income (loss)	565,412	$ 567,520	$ 681,451	$ 641,563	761,297	$ 532,959	$ 480,406	$ 99,274	2,455,946	1,873,936	1,492,569
Asset Impairment Charges										356,418
United States
Segment information
Revenues									17,824,629	15,442,371	12,759,909
Canada And Mexico
Segment information
Revenues									56,477	51,064	47,775
Pay-TV
Segment information
Revenues									12,928,707	12,897,413	12,810,248
Depreciation and amortization									538,836	613,926	621,810
Operating income (loss)									3,075,580	2,903,183	1,961,700
Interest income									1,346,502	1,676,953	1,588,023
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized									(819,510)	(922,876)	(988,295)
Other, net									(2,917)	2,020	10,940
Income tax (provision) benefit, net									(853,362)	(836,296)	(615,664)
Net income (loss)									2,746,293	2,822,984	1,956,705
Pay-TV | Operating segment
Segment information
Total assets	43,799,761				36,251,281				43,799,761	36,251,281
Wireless
Segment information
Revenues									4,957,272	2,599,842	1,673
Depreciation and amortization									186,016	100,626	8,767
Operating income (loss)									127,455	(320,568)	(82,824)
Interest income									6	4
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized									(531,834)	(744,321)	(546,201)
Other, net									23,474	(22,184)	584
Income tax (provision) benefit, net									90,552	138,021	164,306
Net income (loss)									(290,347)	(949,048)	(464,136)
Wireless | Operating segment
Segment information
Total assets	33,310,090				29,921,237				33,310,090	29,921,237
All Other & Eliminations
Segment information
Revenues									(4,873)	(3,820)	(4,237)
Interest income									(1,335,170)	(1,654,223)	(1,510,809)
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized									1,335,170	1,654,223	1,510,809
All Other & Eliminations | Eliminations
Segment information
Total assets	$ (29,108,126)				$ (27,932,571)				(29,108,126)	(27,932,571)
Pay-TV subscriber and related revenue
Segment information
Revenues									12,748,334	12,702,345	12,616,442
Wireless services and related revenue
Segment information
Revenues									4,142,883	2,143,703
Equipment sales and other revenue | Pay-TV
Segment information
Revenues									180,373	195,068	193,806
Equipment sales and other revenue | Wireless
Segment information
Revenues									814,389	456,139	1,673
Equipment sales and other revenue | All Other & Eliminations
Segment information
Revenues									$ (4,873)	$ (3,820)	$ (4,237)