Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Revenue:
Subscriber revenue	$ 4,472,522	$ 4,196,852	$ 3,824,793
Advertising revenue	160,347	138,231	122,292
Equipment revenue	131,586	118,947	110,923
Other revenue	660,674	563,190	512,050
Total revenue	5,425,129	5,017,220	4,570,058
Cost of services:
Revenue share and royalties	1,210,323	1,108,515	1,034,832
Programming and content	388,033	353,779	293,091
Customer service and billing	385,431	387,131	377,908
Satellite and transmission	82,747	103,020	94,609
Cost of equipment	35,448	40,882	42,724
Subscriber acquisition costs	499,492	512,809	532,599
Sales and marketing	437,739	386,724	354,189
Engineering, design and development	112,427	82,146	64,403
General and administrative	334,023	341,106	324,801
Depreciation and amortization	298,602	268,979	272,214
Total operating expenses	3,784,265	3,585,091	3,391,370
Income from operations	1,640,864	1,432,129	1,178,688
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(345,820)	(331,225)	(299,103)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(43,679)	(24,229)	0
Other income	12,844	14,985	12,379
Total other expense	(376,655)	(340,469)	(286,724)
Income before income taxes	1,264,209	1,091,660	891,964
Income tax expense	(616,301)	(345,727)	(382,240)
Net income	647,908	745,933	509,724
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	18,546	363	(100)
Total comprehensive income	$ 666,454	$ 746,296	$ 509,624
Net income per common share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.14	$ 0.15	$ 0.09
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.14	$ 0.15	$ 0.09
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	4,637,553	4,917,050	5,375,707
Diluted (in shares)	4,723,535	4,964,728	5,435,166
Dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.041	$ 0.01	$ 0