Long-Term Debt (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Long-Term Debt

Schedule of carrying and fair values of the entity's debt facilities

	As of December 31,
	2016				2015
	Carrying Amount		Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Fair Value
	(In thousands)
7 1/8% Senior Notes due 2016 (1)	$	—	$	—	$	1,500,000	$	1,506,750
4 5/8% Senior Notes due 2017 (2)		900,000		913,887		900,000		922,770
4 1/4% Senior Notes due 2018		1,200,000		1,228,464		1,200,000		1,207,560
7 7/8% Senior Notes due 2019		1,400,000		1,559,698		1,400,000		1,525,440
5 1/8% Senior Notes due 2020		1,100,000		1,141,866		1,100,000		1,100,000
6 3/4% Senior Notes due 2021		2,000,000		2,178,880		2,000,000		2,021,020
5 7/8% Senior Notes due 2022		2,000,000		2,114,780		2,000,000		1,889,780
5 % Senior Notes due 2023		1,500,000		1,500,315		1,500,000		1,297,500
5 7/8% Senior Notes due 2024		2,000,000		2,064,000		2,000,000		1,765,000
7 3/4% Senior Notes due 2026		2,000,000		2,270,900		—		—
Other notes payable		12,606		12,606		13,686		13,686
Subtotal		14,112,606	$	14,985,396		13,613,686	$	13,249,506
Unamortized deferred financing costs and debt discounts, net		(40,124)				(41,563)
Capital lease obligations (3)		136,146				166,492
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations (including current portion)	$	14,208,628			$	13,738,615

(1) On February 1, 2016, we redeemed the principal balance of our 7 1/8% Senior Notes due 2016.

(2) Our 4 5/8% Senior Notes due 2017 mature on July 15, 2017 and have been reclassified to “Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations” on our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2016.

(3) Disclosure regarding fair value of capital leases is not required.

Schedule of interest on long-term debt

		Annual
	Semi-Annual	Debt Service
	Payment Dates	Requirements
		(In thousands)
4 5/8% Senior Notes due 2017	January 15 and July 15	$	41,625
4 1/4% Senior Notes due 2018	April 1 and October 1	$	51,000
7 7/8% Senior Notes due 2019	March 1 and September 1	$	110,250
5 1/8% Senior Notes due 2020	May 1 and November 1	$	56,375
6 3/4% Senior Notes due 2021	June 1 and December 1	$	135,000
5 7/8% Senior Notes due 2022	January 15 and July 15	$	117,500
5% Senior Notes due 2023	March 15 and September 15	$	75,000
5 7/8% Senior Notes due 2024	May 15 and November 15	$	117,500
7 3/4% Senior Notes due 2026	January 1 and July 1	$	155,000

Schedule of other long term debt and capital lease obligations

	As of December 31,
	2016		2015
	(In thousands)
Satellites and other capital lease obligations	$	136,146	$	166,492
Notes payable related to satellite vendor financing and other debt payable in installments through 2025 with interest rates of approximately 6.0%		12,606		13,686
Total		148,752		180,178
Less: current portion		(34,509)		(31,928)
Other long-term debt and capital lease obligations, net of current portion	$	114,243	$	148,250

Future minimum lease payments under capital lease obligations

For the Years Ended December 31,
2017	$	76,297
2018		75,935
2019		50,320
2020		48,000
2021		48,000
Thereafter		16,000
Total minimum lease payments		314,552
Less:  Amount representing lease of the orbital location and estimated executory costs (primarily insurance and maintenance) including profit thereon, included in total minimum lease payments		(153,360)
Net minimum lease payments		161,192
Less:  Amount representing interest		(25,046)
Present value of net minimum lease payments		136,146
Less:  Current portion		(33,412)
Long-term portion of capital lease obligations	$	102,734