CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY (DEFICIT) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Earnings (Deficit)	Noncontrolling Interest	Total
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 1,107,884	$ 28,383	$ (6,941,604)	$ 1,202	$ (5,804,135)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholder's Equity
Dividends to DISH Orbital Corporation (Note 16)			(8,250,000)		(8,250,000)
Non-cash, stock-based compensation	19,199				19,199
Income tax (expense) benefit related to stock awards and other	23,464			691	24,155
Change in unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net		(23,468)			(23,468)
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit attributable to unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities		7,124			7,124
Payments made to parent of transferred businesses	(31,600)			(10)	(31,610)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests				226	226
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH DBS			835,417		835,417
Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	1,118,947	12,039	(14,356,187)	2,109	(13,223,092)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholder's Equity
Dividends to DISH Orbital Corporation (Note 16)			(1,500,000)		(1,500,000)
Non-cash, stock-based compensation	13,037				13,037
Change in unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net		(19,845)			(19,845)
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit attributable to unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities		7,690			7,690
Payments made to parent of transferred businesses	(34,372)			(74)	(34,446)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests				498	498
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH DBS			964,614		964,614
Other	(6)			(600)	(606)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	1,097,606	(116)	(14,891,573)	1,933	(13,792,150)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholder's Equity
Non-cash, stock-based compensation	29,941				29,941
Change in unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net		(33)			(33)
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit attributable to unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities		57			57
Foreign currency translation		1,027			1,027
Payments made to parent of transferred businesses	(7,372)			274	(7,098)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests				1,919	1,919
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH DBS			723,526		723,526
Other	(3,327)			(525)	(3,852)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 1,116,848	$ 935	$ (14,168,047)	$ 3,601	$ (13,046,663)