Commitments and Contingencies - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)					1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Jun. 05, 2017	Oct. 03, 2016	Sep. 23, 2016	Dec. 23, 2013	Feb. 11, 2016	Mar. 31, 2018
Spectrum Investments
Term barred from conducting any outbound telemarketing	2 years
Term barred from accepting orders from independent third-party retailer	2 years
LBAC
Spectrum Investments
Business days allowed to terminate existing agreements						3 days
Northstar Wireless or Northstar Spectrum | DISH Network L.L.C.
Spectrum Investments
Non-controlling investments						$ 10,000,000,000
Northstar Wireless or Northstar Spectrum | AWS 3 Auction | Vermont National Telephone Company
Spectrum Investments
Bidding credit credits			25.00%
Northstar Wireless or Northstar Spectrum | AWS 3 Auction | Vermont National Telephone Company | Maximum
Spectrum Investments
Claim amount			$ 11,000
Northstar Wireless or Northstar Spectrum | AWS 3 Auction | Vermont National Telephone Company | Minimum
Spectrum Investments
Claim amount			$ 5,500
Satellite transponder guarantees
Spectrum Investments
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted						111,000,000
Krakauer Action | Other accrued expenses
Spectrum Investments
Loss Contingency Accrual						61,000,000
Telemarketing Litigation [Member]
Spectrum Investments
Demonstration requirements period	5 years
Loss Contingency Accrual	$ 280,000,000
Period of injunctive relief sought from placing any outbound telemarketing calls to market or promote its goods or services		5 years
Telemarketing Litigation [Member] | DISH Network L.L.C.
Spectrum Investments
Federal Loss Contingency Damages Sought Value						900,000,000
State Loss Contingency Damages Sought Value						23,500,000,000
Claim amount				$ 270,000,000
Telemarketing Litigation [Member] | Other accrued expenses
Spectrum Investments
Loss Contingency Accrual						280,000,000
Telemarketing Litigation [Member] | Maximum
Spectrum Investments
Claim amount from state plaintiff						$ 1,000,000,000
Claim amount from federal plaintiff					$ 900,000,000
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
CALIFORNIA | Telemarketing Litigation [Member] | DISH Network L.L.C.
Spectrum Investments
Claim amount						$ 100,000,000
OHIO | Telemarketing Litigation [Member] | DISH Network L.L.C.
Spectrum Investments
Claim amount						$ 10,000,000