Stock-Based Compensation - Stock Options Outstanding And Exercisable Associated With Employees (Details) - $ / shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Exercise prices for stock options outstanding and exercisable:
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 80.00
Number of stock options outstanding (in shares)	7,913,733
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	5 years 8 months 9 days
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 36.22
Number of stock options exercisable	1,883,533
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	4 years 3 months 15 days
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 29.98
Stock Options | DISH Network Awards
Exercise prices for stock options outstanding and exercisable:
Number of stock options outstanding (in shares)	7,913,733	6,807,169	10,214,344	11,938,090
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 36.22	$ 31.17	$ 25.29	$ 22.49
Number of stock options exercisable	1,883,533	1,927,069	3,107,544
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 29.98	$ 26.87	$ 19.81
Range of Exercise Prices $00.00 - $10.00
Exercise prices for stock options outstanding and exercisable:
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 10.00
Number of stock options outstanding (in shares)	207,400
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	1 year 6 months 4 days
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 6.34
Number of stock options exercisable	207,400
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	1 year 6 months 4 days
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 6.35
Range Of Exercise Prices $10.01 - $20.00
Exercise prices for stock options outstanding and exercisable:
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, low end of range (in dollars per share)	10.01
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 20.00
Number of stock options outstanding (in shares)	1,885,085
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	3 years 5 months 19 days
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 15.44
Number of stock options exercisable	85,085
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	2 years 11 months 9 days
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 16.73
Range of Exercise Prices $20.01 - $30.00
Exercise prices for stock options outstanding and exercisable:
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, low end of range (in dollars per share)	20.01
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 30.00
Number of stock options outstanding (in shares)	1,617,876
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	4 years 4 months 28 days
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 26.64
Number of stock options exercisable	1,067,876
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	4 years 2 months 19 days
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 25.98
Range of Exercise Prices $30.01 - $40.00
Exercise prices for stock options outstanding and exercisable:
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, low end of range (in dollars per share)	30.01
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 40.00
Number of stock options outstanding (in shares)	1,426,222
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	5 years 10 months 17 days
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 36.11
Number of stock options exercisable	257,822
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	5 years 4 months 24 days
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 34.96
Range of Exercise Prices $40.01 - $50.00
Exercise prices for stock options outstanding and exercisable:
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, low end of range (in dollars per share)	40.01
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 50.00
Number of stock options outstanding (in shares)	428,900
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	9 years 29 days
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 46.22
Number of stock options exercisable	7,800
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	2 years 11 days
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 42.84
Range of Exercise Prices $50.01 - $60.00
Exercise prices for stock options outstanding and exercisable:
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, low end of range (in dollars per share)	50.01
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 60.00
Number of stock options outstanding (in shares)	1,532,000
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	8 years 6 months 11 days
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 56.98
Number of stock options exercisable	48,500
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	4 years
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 57.58
Range of Exercise Prices $60.01 - $70.00
Exercise prices for stock options outstanding and exercisable:
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, low end of range (in dollars per share)	60.01
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 70.00
Number of stock options outstanding (in shares)	796,250
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	7 years 1 month 10 days
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 66.56
Number of stock options exercisable	189,050
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	7 years 1 month 28 days
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 65.51
Range of Exercise Prices $70.01 - $70.00
Exercise prices for stock options outstanding and exercisable:
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, low end of range (in dollars per share)	70.01
Exercise prices, outstanding stock option awards, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 80.00
Number of stock options outstanding (in shares)	20,000
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	3 years
Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 72.89
Number of stock options exercisable	20,000
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	3 years
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 72.89