Long-Term Debt and Finance Lease Obligations - Long term debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Long-term debt
Finance lease obligations	$ 98,994	$ 109,164
5 7/8% Senior Notes due 2022
Long-term debt
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.875%
5% Senior Notes due 2023
Long-term debt
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.00%
5 7/8% Senior Notes due 2024
Long-term debt
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.875%
7 3/4% Senior Notes due 2026
Long-term debt
Interest rate (as a percent)	7.75%
5 1/4% Senior Secured Notes due 2026
Long-term debt
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.25%
7 3/8% Senior Notes due 2028
Long-term debt
Interest rate (as a percent)	7.375%
5 3/4% Senior Secured Notes due 2028
Long-term debt
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.75%
5 1/8% Senior Notes due 2029
Long-term debt
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.125%
D I S H D B S Corporation
Long-term debt
Carrying Amount	$ 15,269,837	15,271,012
Fair Value	14,741,790	15,481,517
Unamortized deferred financing costs and debt discounts, net	(40,733)	(42,547)
Finance lease obligations	98,994	109,164
Total long-term debt and finance lease obligations (including current portion)	15,328,098	15,337,629
D I S H D B S Corporation | 5 7/8% Senior Notes due 2022
Long-term debt
Carrying Amount	1,998,825	2,000,000
Fair Value	$ 2,010,738	$ 2,039,700
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.875%	5.875%
Debt repurchased	$ 1,000
Outstanding debt	1,999,000
D I S H D B S Corporation | 5% Senior Notes due 2023
Long-term debt
Carrying Amount	1,500,000	$ 1,500,000
Fair Value	$ 1,506,990	$ 1,541,670
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.00%	5.00%
D I S H D B S Corporation | 5 7/8% Senior Notes due 2024
Long-term debt
Carrying Amount	$ 2,000,000	$ 2,000,000
Fair Value	$ 1,998,840	$ 2,060,180
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.875%	5.875%
D I S H D B S Corporation | 7 3/4% Senior Notes due 2026
Long-term debt
Carrying Amount	$ 2,000,000	$ 2,000,000
Fair Value	$ 1,987,520	$ 2,122,700
Interest rate (as a percent)	7.75%	7.75%
D I S H D B S Corporation | 5 1/4% Senior Secured Notes due 2026
Long-term debt
Carrying Amount	$ 2,750,000	$ 2,750,000
Fair Value	$ 2,624,160	$ 2,792,900
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.25%	5.25%
D I S H D B S Corporation | 7 3/8% Senior Notes due 2028
Long-term debt
Carrying Amount	$ 1,000,000	$ 1,000,000
Fair Value	$ 949,450	$ 1,017,060
Interest rate (as a percent)	7.375%	7.375%
D I S H D B S Corporation | 5 3/4% Senior Secured Notes due 2028
Long-term debt
Carrying Amount	$ 2,500,000	$ 2,500,000
Fair Value	$ 2,368,350	2,520,650
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.75%
D I S H D B S Corporation | 5 1/8% Senior Notes due 2029
Long-term debt
Carrying Amount	$ 1,500,000	1,500,000
Fair Value	$ 1,274,730	$ 1,365,645
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.125%	5.125%
D I S H D B S Corporation | Other notes payable
Long-term debt
Carrying Amount	$ 21,012	$ 21,012
Fair Value	$ 21,012	$ 21,012