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, 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)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholder's Equity
Non-cash, stock-based compensation	35,521				35,521
Change in unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net		69			69
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit attributable to unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities		(37)			(37)
Foreign currency translation		(1,343)			(1,343)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests				2,399	2,399
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH DBS			971,287		971,287
Other				(5,713)	(5,713)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 1,152,369	$ (376)	(13,194,440)	$ 287	(12,042,160)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholder's Equity
ASU 2014-09 cumulative catch-up adjustment			$ 2,320		$ 2,320