CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Revenue:
Subscriber-related revenue	$ 14,578,414	$ 14,524,510	$ 14,130,607
Equipment sales and other revenue	58,629	113,739	146,806
Total revenue	14,637,043	14,638,249	14,277,413
Costs and Expenses (exclusive of depreciation shown separately below - Note 6):
Subscriber-related expenses	8,613,705	8,511,404	8,066,642
Satellite and transmission expenses	740,224	753,853	685,732
Cost of sales - equipment, services and other	63,334	91,653	106,037
Subscriber acquisition costs:
Cost of sales - subscriber promotion subsidies	145,941	173,331	231,064
Other subscriber acquisition costs	666,482	849,999	912,718
Subscriber acquisition advertising	588,805	552,278	528,642
Total subscriber acquisition costs	1,401,228	1,575,608	1,672,424
General and administrative expenses	753,204	745,366	762,146
Depreciation and amortization (Note 6)	864,379	907,687	956,101
Total costs and expenses	12,436,074	12,585,571	12,249,082
Operating income (loss)	2,200,969	2,052,678	2,028,331
Other Income (Expense):
Interest income	6,532	5,606	35,810
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized	(825,615)	(862,231)	(834,856)
Other, net	30,672	14,480	(3,394)
Total other income (expense)	(788,411)	(842,145)	(802,440)
Income (loss) before income taxes	1,412,558	1,210,533	1,225,891
Income tax (provision) benefit, net	(528,777)	(447,640)	(410,831)
Net income (loss)	883,781	762,893	815,060
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax	(32,747)	(17,242)	(9,825)
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH DBS	916,528	780,135	824,885
Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Net income (loss)	883,781	762,893	815,060
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities	(1,488)	(23,468)	27,819
Recognition of previously unrealized (gains) losses on available-for-sale securities included in net income (loss)	(18,357)
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit, net	7,690	7,124	(10,625)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(12,155)	(16,344)	17,194
Comprehensive income (loss)	871,626	746,549	832,254
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax	(32,747)	(17,242)	(9,825)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to DISH DBS	$ 904,373	$ 763,791	$ 842,079