Long-Term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Long-Term Debt

Schedule of carrying and fair values of the entity's debt facilities

	As of December 31,
	2018				2017
	Carrying Amount		Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Fair Value
	(In thousands)
4 1/4% Senior Notes due 2018 (1)	$	—	$	—	$	1,025,861	$	1,031,596
7 7/8% Senior Notes due 2019 (2)		1,317,372		1,343,298		1,400,000		1,501,206
5 1/8% Senior Notes due 2020		1,100,000		1,089,957		1,100,000		1,127,588
6 3/4% Senior Notes due 2021		2,000,000		1,974,940		2,000,000		2,120,480
5 7/8% Senior Notes due 2022		2,000,000		1,833,140		2,000,000		2,014,140
5  % Senior Notes due 2023		1,500,000		1,247,445		1,500,000		1,432,335
5 7/8% Senior Notes due 2024		2,000,000		1,611,960		2,000,000		1,952,220
7 3/4% Senior Notes due 2026		2,000,000		1,653,720		2,000,000		2,118,400
Other notes payable		10,346		10,346		11,509		11,509
Subtotal		11,927,718	$	10,764,806		13,037,370	$	13,309,474
Unamortized deferred financing costs and debt discounts, net		(23,215)				(31,041)
Capital lease obligations (3)		66,984				104,318
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations (including current portion)	$	11,971,487			$	13,110,647

(1) On April 2, 2018, we redeemed the principal balance of our 4 1/4% Senior Notes due 2018.

(2) During 2018, we repurchased $82 million of our 7 7/8% Senior Notes due 2019 in open market trades.  The remaining balance of $1.318 billion matures on September 1, 2019 and is included in “Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations” on our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2018.

(3) Disclosure regarding fair value of capital leases is not required.

Schedule of interest on long-term debt

		Annual
	Semi-Annual	Debt Service
	Payment Dates	Requirements
		(In thousands)
7 7/8% Senior Notes due 2019	March 1 and September 1	$	110,250
5 1/8% Senior Notes due 2020	May 1 and November 1	$	56,375
6 3/4% Senior Notes due 2021	June 1 and December 1	$	135,000
5 7/8% Senior Notes due 2022	January 15 and July 15	$	117,500
5% Senior Notes due 2023	March 15 and September 15	$	75,000
5 7/8% Senior Notes due 2024	May 15 and November 15	$	117,500
7 3/4% Senior Notes due 2026	January 1 and July 1	$	155,000

Schedule of other long term debt and capital lease obligations

	As of December 31,
	2018		2017
	(In thousands)
Satellites and other capital lease obligations	$	66,984	$	104,318
Notes payable related to satellite vendor financing and other debt payable in installments through 2025 with interest rates of approximately 6.0%		10,346		11,509
Total		77,330		115,827
Less: current portion		(21,155)		(38,613)
Other long-term debt and capital lease obligations, net of current portion	$	56,175	$	77,214

Future minimum lease payments under capital lease obligations

For the Years Ended December 31,
2019	$	50,751
2020		48,032
2021		48,032
2022		16,032
2023		—
Thereafter		—
Total minimum lease payments		162,847
Less:  Amount representing lease of the orbital location and estimated executory costs (primarily insurance and maintenance) including profit thereon, included in total minimum lease payments		(87,248)
Net minimum lease payments		75,599
Less:  Amount representing interest		(8,615)
Present value of net minimum lease payments		66,984
Less:  Current portion		(19,923)
Long-term portion of capital lease obligations	$	47,061