CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Revenue:
Total Revenue	$ 13,362,139	$ 14,007,511	$ 14,755,939
Costs and Expenses (exclusive of depreciation shown separately below - Note 6):
Subscriber-related expenses	8,392,150	8,692,676	8,639,893
Satellite and transmission expenses	637,160	717,231	725,307
Cost of sales - equipment and other	143,671	95,116	135,321
Subscriber acquisition costs:
Cost of sales - subscriber promotion subsidies	50,253	72,955	131,492
Other subscriber acquisition costs	292,824	563,952	666,482
Subscriber acquisition advertising	426,230	548,304	588,805
Total subscriber acquisition costs	769,307	1,185,211	1,386,779
General and administrative expenses	692,881	669,934	705,935
Litigation expense (Note 11)		295,695	21,148
Depreciation and amortization (Note 6)	660,460	741,772	832,435
Total costs and expenses	11,295,629	12,397,635	12,446,818
Operating income (loss)	2,066,510	1,609,876	2,309,121
Other Income (Expense):
Interest income	8,923	9,855	6,537
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized	(792,436)	(865,181)	(825,765)
Other, net	8,994	88,511	32,805
Total other income (expense)	(774,519)	(766,815)	(786,423)
Income (loss) before income taxes	1,291,991	843,061	1,522,698
Income tax (provision) benefit, net	(318,305)	(117,616)	(557,586)
Net income (loss)	973,686	725,445	965,112
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax	2,399	1,919	498
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH DBS	971,287	723,526	964,614
Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Net income (loss)	973,686	725,445	965,112
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(1,343)	1,027
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities	69	(33)	(1,488)
Recognition of previously unrealized (gains) losses on available-for-sale securities included in net income (loss)			(18,357)
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit, net	(37)	57	7,690
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(1,311)	1,051	(12,155)
Comprehensive income (loss)	972,375	726,496	952,957
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax	2,399	1,919	498
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to DISH DBS	969,976	724,577	952,459
Subscriber-related
Revenue:
Total Revenue	13,197,994	13,877,196	14,578,414
Costs and Expenses (exclusive of depreciation shown separately below - Note 6):
Subscriber-related expenses	8,392,150
Equipment sales and other
Revenue:
Total Revenue	$ 164,145	$ 130,315	$ 177,525