Commitments and Contingencies (Details) $ in Thousands			1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		84 Months Ended
	Feb. 12, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 23, 2013 USD ($)	May. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2009 item	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Spectrum Investments
Dividend paid to DOC	$ 8,250,000					$ 8,250,000
Dish Network
Spectrum Investments
Payment to acquire certain wireless licenses							$ 5,000,000
Northstar Wireless or Northstar Spectrum | American III
Spectrum Investments
Non-controlling investments					$ 10,000,000
Satellite transponder guarantees
Spectrum Investments
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted					$ 232,000
Hopper litigation | Maximum
Spectrum Investments
Number of days to store HD primetime programs recordings			8 days
Technology Development Licensing
Spectrum Investments
Number of reexamination petitions pending before patent and trademark office | item				2
Do Not Call Litigation
Spectrum Investments
Period of injunctive relief sought from placing any outbound telemarketing calls to market or promote its goods or services					5 years
Do Not Call Litigation | DISH Network L.L.C.
Spectrum Investments
Claim amount		$ 270,000
Lightsquared Harbinger Capital Partners LLC
Spectrum Investments
Business days allowed to terminate existing agreements					3 days