Income Taxes and Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Income Taxes and Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes
Net operating loss carryforwards	$ 0
Net operating loss carryforwards
Cash paid for income taxes to DISH Network	279,234,000	433,120,000	272,599,000
Current (provision) benefit:
Federal	(342,417,000)	(361,662,000)	(127,291,000)
State	26,163,000	(13,272,000)	10,673,000
Foreign	(6,990,000)	(13,316,000)
Total current (provision) benefit	(323,244,000)	(388,250,000)	(116,618,000)
Deferred (provision) benefit:
Federal	(78,420,000)	(65,955,000)	(126,561,000)
State	(14,011,000)	(5,450,000)	(42,747,000)
Decrease (increase) in valuation allowance	4,844,000
Total deferred (provision) benefit	(87,587,000)	(71,405,000)	(169,308,000)
Total benefit (provision)	(410,831,000)	(459,655,000)	(285,926,000)
Income (loss) before income taxes	1,225,891,000	1,284,377,000	770,192,000
Income (loss) from foreign operations	(4,000,000)
Reconciliation of amounts computed by applying the statutory Federal tax rate to income before taxes
Statutory rate (as a percent)	(35.00%)	(35.00%)	(35.00%)
State income taxes, net of Federal benefit (as a percent)	(2.00%)	(1.00%)	(2.70%)
Reversal of uncertain tax positions (as a percent)	3.50%
Other (as a percent)		0.20%	0.60%
Total benefit (provision) for income taxes (as a percent)	(33.50%)	(35.80%)	(37.10%)
Deferred tax assets:
NOL, credit and other carryforwards	18,799,000	10,645,000
Accrued expenses	40,461,000	48,416,000
Stock-based compensation	21,193,000	23,006,000
Deferred revenue	31,853,000	54,331,000
Total deferred tax assets	112,306,000	136,398,000
Valuation allowance	(5,214,000)	(7,469,000)
Deferred tax asset after valuation allowance	107,092,000	128,929,000
Deferred tax liabilities:
Depreciation and amortization	(1,155,329,000)	(1,272,014,000)
Unrealized gains on investments	(109,428,000)	(2,204,000)
Other liabilities	(30,734,000)	(36,629,000)
Total deferred tax liabilities	(1,295,491,000)	(1,310,847,000)
Net deferred tax asset (liability)	(1,188,399,000)	(1,181,918,000)
Current portion of net deferred tax asset	37,018,000	65,457,000
Noncurrent portion of net deferred tax asset (liability)	(1,225,417,000)	(1,247,375,000)
Net deferred tax asset (liability)	(1,188,399,000)	(1,181,918,000)
Reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits included in long-term deferred revenue, distribution and carriage payments and other long-term liabilities
Balance as of beginning of period	145,884,000	185,669,000	190,935,000
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	69,643,000	9,533,000	5,949,000
Additions based on tax positions related to prior years	58,963,000	66,307,000	1,581,000
Reductions based on tax positions related to prior years	(16,379,000)		(3,461,000)
Reductions based on tax positions related to settlements with taxing authorities	(42,023,000)	(103,311,000)
Reductions based on tax positions related to the lapse of the statute of limitations	(8,413,000)	(12,314,000)	(9,335,000)
Balance as of end of period	207,675,000	145,884,000	185,669,000
Unrecognized tax benefits if recognized, could favorably affect our effective tax rate	173,000,000
Interest and penalty (benefit) expense	(3,000,000)	8,000,000	6,000,000
Accrued interest and penalties	10,000,000	13,000,000
State
Net operating loss carryforwards
NOL benefit for state income tax purposes	5,000,000
Tax benefits related to credit carryforwards	$ 19,000,000