Income Taxes and Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Net operating loss carryforwards
Cash paid for income taxes to DISH Network		$ 408,265	$ 551,693	$ 558,220
Gain (Loss) Related to Litigation Settlement		(295,695)	(21,148)	(20,900)
Net operating loss carryforwards		0
Current (provision) benefit:
Federal		356,759	567,850	528,005
State		54,133	64,453	35,988
Foreign		3,736	10,253	(3,089)
Total current (benefit) provision		414,628	642,556	560,904
Deferred (provision) benefit:
Federal		(308,028)	(83,638)	(92,415)
State		11,954	(837)	7,050
Increase (decrease) in valuation allowance		(938)	(495)	(1,405)
Total deferred (benefit) provision		(297,012)	(84,970)	(86,770)
Total (benefit) provision		117,616	557,586	474,134
Income (loss) before income taxes		843,061	$ 1,522,698	$ 1,309,777
Income (loss) from foreign operations		$ 1,000
Reconciliation of amounts computed by applying the statutory Federal tax rate to income before taxes
Statutory rate (as a percent)		35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
State income taxes, net of Federal benefit (as a percent)		4.20%	2.90%	2.50%
Reveral of uncertain tax positions (as a percent)		(0.20%)	(1.30%)	(0.70%)
Tax Reform Act (1)		(34.50%)
Nondeductible/Nontaxable items (2)		11.50%
Other (as a percent)		(2.00%)		(0.60%)
Total (benefit) provision for income taxes		14.00%	36.60%	36.20%
Impact on Income tax (provision) benefit by remeasurement of deferred tax assets and liabilities		$ 291,000
Litigation expense		255,000
Deferred tax assets:
NOL, credit and other carryforwards		11,197	$ 12,022
Accrued expenses		35,776	51,901
Stock-based compensation		14,875	17,659
Deferred revenue		15,236	19,064
Total deferred tax assets		77,084	100,646
Valuation allowance		(5,887)	(6,825)
Deferred tax asset after valuation allowance		71,197	93,821
Deferred tax liabilities:
Depreciation		(394,528)	(652,399)
FCC authorizations and other intangible amortization		(123,963)	(200,285)
Bases difference in partnerships and other investments		(32,199)
Other liabilities		(5,606)	(18,040)
Total deferred tax liabilities		(556,296)	(870,724)
Net deferred tax asset (liability)		(485,099)	(776,903)
Reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits included in long-term deferred revenue, distribution and carriage payments and other long-term liabilities
Balance as of beginning of period	$ 201,162	201,693	203,053	$ 208,328
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year		684	39,752	12,502
Additions based on tax positions related to prior years		4,593	395	14,593
Reductions based on tax positions related to prior years		(1,061)	(34,761)	(24,905)
Reductions based on tax positions related to settlements with taxing authorities		(1,634)	(3,628)	(2,648)
Reductions based on tax positions related to the lapse of the statute of limitations		(3,113)	(3,118)	(4,817)
Balance as of end of period		201,162	201,693	203,053
Unrecognized tax benefits if recognized, could favorably affect our effective tax rate		201,000
Interest and penalty (benefit) expense		4,000	5,000	$ 3,000
Accrued interest and penalties		24,000	$ 20,000
Forecast
Reconciliation of amounts computed by applying the statutory Federal tax rate to income before taxes
Statutory rate (as a percent)	21.00%
State
Net operating loss carryforwards
Tax benefits related to credit carryforwards		$ 10,000