CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Revenue:
Subscriber-related revenue	$ 13,877,196	$ 14,578,414	$ 14,524,510
Equipment sales and other revenue	130,315	177,525	271,518
Total revenue	14,007,511	14,755,939	14,796,028
Costs and Expenses (exclusive of depreciation shown separately below - Note 6):
Subscriber-related expenses	8,692,676	8,639,893	8,550,226
Satellite and transmission expenses	717,231	725,307	733,494
Cost of sales - equipment and other	95,116	135,321	185,354
Subscriber acquisition costs:
Cost of sales - subscriber promotion subsidies	72,955	131,492	154,882
Other subscriber acquisition costs	563,952	666,482	849,999
Subscriber acquisition advertising	548,304	588,805	552,278
Total subscriber acquisition costs	1,185,211	1,386,779	1,557,159
General and administrative expenses	669,934	705,935	729,245
Litigation expense (Note 11)	295,695	21,148	20,900
Depreciation and amortization (Note 6)	741,772	832,435	870,996
Total costs and expenses	12,397,635	12,446,818	12,647,374
Operating income (loss)	1,609,876	2,309,121	2,148,654
Other Income (Expense):
Interest income	9,855	6,537	5,609
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized	(865,181)	(825,765)	(862,302)
Other, net	88,511	32,805	17,816
Total other income (expense)	(766,815)	(786,423)	(838,877)
Income (loss) before income taxes	843,061	1,522,698	1,309,777
Income tax (provision) benefit, net	(117,616)	(557,586)	(474,134)
Net income (loss)	725,445	965,112	835,643
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax	1,919	498	226
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH DBS	723,526	964,614	835,417
Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Net income (loss)	725,445	965,112	835,643
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments	1,027
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities	(33)	(1,488)	(23,468)
Recognition of previously unrealized (gains) losses on available-for-sale securities included in net income (loss)		(18,357)
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit, net	57	7,690	7,124
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1,051	(12,155)	(16,344)
Comprehensive income (loss)	726,496	952,957	819,299
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax	1,919	498	226
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to DISH DBS	$ 724,577	$ 952,459	$ 819,073