CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Revenue:
Subscriber-related revenue	$ 14,953,559	$ 14,495,091	$ 13,764,774
Equipment sales and other revenue	115,342	148,296	140,091
Total revenue	15,068,901	14,643,387	13,904,865
Costs and Expenses (exclusive of depreciation shown separately below - Note 8):
Subscriber-related expenses	8,783,009	8,313,046	7,818,061
Satellite and transmission expenses:
Satellite and transmission expenses	762,832	693,114	535,541
Cost of sales - equipment, services and other	91,654	107,777	91,902
Subscriber acquisition costs:
Cost of sales - subscriber promotion subsidies	194,305	255,913	281,772
Other subscriber acquisition costs	908,983	988,718	1,093,214
Subscriber acquisition advertising	579,260	566,687	467,884
Total subscriber acquisition costs	1,682,548	1,811,318	1,842,870
General and administrative expenses	777,507	815,745	776,711
FCC auction expense (Note 15)	515,555
Depreciation and amortization (Note 8)	1,000,048	1,077,936	1,054,026
Impairment of long-lived assets (Note 8)	123,352		437,575
Total costs and expenses	13,736,505	12,818,936	12,556,686
Operating income (loss)	1,332,396	1,824,451	1,348,179
Other Income (Expense):
Interest income	19,523	61,841	148,865
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized	(494,010)	(611,209)	(744,985)
Other, net	278,043	(69,341)	384,856
Total other income (expense)	(196,444)	(618,709)	(211,264)
Income (loss) before income taxes	1,135,952	1,205,742	1,136,915
Income tax (provision) benefit, net	(366,676)	(276,840)	(299,826)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	769,276	928,902	837,089
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax			(47,343)
Net income (loss)	769,276	928,902	789,746
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax	22,184	(15,791)	(17,746)
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network	$ 747,092	$ 944,693	$ 807,492
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - Class A and B common stock:
Basic (in shares)	462,995	460,126	456,044
Diluted (in shares)	464,697	462,927	459,166
Earnings per share - Class A and B common stock:
Basic net income (loss) per share from continuing operations attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share)	$ 1.61	$ 2.05	$ 1.87
Basic net income (loss) per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)			(0.10)
Basic net income (loss) per share attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share)	1.61	2.05	1.77
Diluted net income (loss) per share from continuing operations attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share)	1.61	2.04	1.86
Diluted net income (loss) per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)			(0.10)
Diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share)	$ 1.61	$ 2.04	$ 1.76
Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Net income (loss)	$ 769,276	$ 928,902	$ 789,746
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments		3,878	1,155
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities	20,205	(11,729)	123,233
Recognition of previously unrealized (gains) losses on available-for-sale securities included in net income (loss)	(99,361)	7,050	(148,603)
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit, net	(33,370)	1,436	9,284
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(112,526)	635	(14,931)
Comprehensive income (loss)	656,750	929,537	774,815
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax	22,184	(15,791)	(17,746)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to DISH Network	$ 634,566	$ 945,328	$ 792,561