Commitments and Contingencies - Part 2 (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2009 item	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) item	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2008 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Spectrum Investments
Number of wireless spectrum licenses | item			176
Dividend paid to DOC			$ 1,500,000	$ 8,250,000	$ 2,150,000
Unrecognized tax benefits			201,040	202,400	207,675		$ 145,884
Total rent expense for operating leases			$ 407,000	$ 477,000	$ 468,000
Maximum
Spectrum Investments
Term of programming contracts			10 years
Minimum
Spectrum Investments
Term of programming contracts			1 year
Auction 1000 [Member]
Spectrum Investments
Minimum upfront deposit from bidder in forward auction bid			$ 5,400,000
Fourth phase auction threshold amount			12,000,000
Fourth phase auction threshold amount proceeds			19,600,000
Dish Network
Spectrum Investments
Payment to acquire certain wireless licenses						$ 5,000,000
Northstar Wireless or Northstar Spectrum | Dish Network [Member]
Spectrum Investments
Non-controlling investments			10,000,000
Satellite transponder guarantees
Spectrum Investments
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted			$ 190,000
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