CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 307,431	$ 740,159
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	563,068	627,168
Realized and unrealized losses (gains) on investments	(41,509)	(32,322)
Non-cash, stock-based compensation	20,619	10,530
Deferred tax expense (benefit)	(9,025)	(127,262)
Other, net	4,714	70,602
Changes in current assets and current liabilities, net	205,960	75,670
Net cash flows from operating activities	1,051,258	1,364,545
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
(Purchases) Sales and maturities of marketable investment securities, net	(50,620)	127,348
Purchases of property and equipment	(319,445)	(405,040)
Purchases of strategic investments	(90,381)
Other, net	19,578	10,863
Net cash flows from investing activities	(440,868)	(266,829)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes		2,000,000
Dividend to DISH Orbital Corporation		(1,500,000)
Redemption and repurchases of senior notes	(900,000)	(1,500,000)
Payments made to parent of transferred businesses	(7,098)	(46,655)
Repayment of long-term debt and capital lease obligations	(29,858)	(30,873)
Debt issuance costs		(7,676)
Other, net	(349)	(500)
Net cash flows from financing activities	(937,305)	(1,085,704)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(326,915)	12,012
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	777,578	420,752
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 450,663	$ 432,764