Income Taxes and Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Income Taxes and Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes
Tax benefits related to credit carryforwards	$ 9,000
Cash paid for income taxes to DISH Network	622,512	$ 489,819	$ 562,268
Net operating loss carryforwards	0
Current (benefit) provision:
Federal	528,689	572,754	486,736
State	118,540	133,475	106,594
Foreign	2,475	(4,255)	2,387
Total current (benefit) provision	649,704	701,974	595,717
Deferred (benefit) provision:
Federal	(69,321)	(95,995)	(31,424)
State	(15,794)	(20,720)	(7,090)
Increase (decrease) in valuation allowance	515		(2,790)
Total deferred (benefit) provision	(84,600)	(116,715)	(41,304)
Total (benefit) provision	565,104	585,259	554,413
Income (loss) before income taxes	2,309,733	$ 2,396,004	$ 2,291,285
Income (loss) from foreign operations	$ 13,000
Reconciliation of amounts computed by applying the statutory Federal tax rate to income before taxes
Statutory rate (as a percent)	21.00%	21.00%	21.00%
State income taxes, net of Federal benefit (as a percent)	3.40%	3.50%	3.50%
Other, net (as a percent)	0.10%	(0.10%)	(0.30%)
Total (benefit) provision for income taxes	24.50%	24.40%	24.20%
Deferred tax assets:
NOL, interest, credit and other carryforwards	$ 7,277	$ 7,642
Accrued and prepaid expenses	22,449	8,526
Stock-based compensation	16,686	19,374
Deferred revenue	6,118	7,344
Bases differences in partnerships and cost method investments	3,360	1,281
Total deferred tax assets	55,890	44,167
Valuation allowance	(8,194)	(7,679)
Deferred tax asset after valuation allowance	47,696	36,488
Deferred tax liabilities:
Depreciation	(193,564)	(235,498)
FCC authorizations and other intangible amortization	(122,302)	(153,738)
Total deferred tax liabilities	(315,866)	(389,236)
Net deferred tax asset (liability)	(268,170)	(352,748)
Reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits included in long-term deferred revenue, distribution and carriage payments and other long-term liabilities
Balance as of beginning of period	204,378	198,511	$ 188,141
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	3,601	3,444	303
Additions based on tax positions related to prior years	2,892	9,523	12,095
Reductions based on tax positions related to prior years	(7,219)	(7,100)	(1,400)
Reductions based on tax positions related to settlements with taxing authorities	(834)
Reductions based on tax positions related to the lapse of the statute of limitations	(352)		(628)
Balance as of end of period	202,466	204,378	198,511
Unrecognized tax benefits if recognized, could favorably affect our effective tax rate	164,000
Interest and penalty (benefit) expense	14,000	8,000	$ 6,000
Accrued interest and penalties	$ 62,000	$ 49,000