CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sling TV Exchange Transaction with EchoStar Additional Paid-In Capital	Sling TV Exchange Transaction with EchoStar Noncontrolling Interest	Sling TV Exchange Transaction with EchoStar Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest	Sling TV Exchange Transaction with EchoStar	Class A and B Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Earnings (Deficit)	Treasury Stock	Noncontrolling Interest	Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest	Total
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012					$ 5,090	$ 2,440,626	$ 188,803	$ (1,028,193)	$ (1,569,459)	$ 34,761		$ 71,628
Issuance of Class A common stock:
Exercise of stock awards					46	71,997						72,043
Employee benefits					7	24,223						24,230
Employee Stock Purchase Plan					1	4,468						4,469
Non-cash, stock-based compensation						30,628				27		30,655
Income tax (expense) benefit related to stock awards and other						19,430				1		19,431
Change in unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net							(25,370)					(25,370)
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit, net							9,284					9,284
Foreign currency translation							1,155					1,155
Capital distribution to EchoStar, net of deferred taxes						(3,148)						(3,148)
Noncontrolling interest recognized with acquisition of a controlling interest in a subsidiary										2,882		2,882
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests										(17,746)		(17,746)
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network								807,492				807,492
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013					5,144	2,588,224	173,872	(220,701)	(1,569,459)	19,925		997,005
Issuance of Class A common stock:
Exercise of stock awards					29	44,719						44,748
Employee benefits					4	25,777						25,781
Employee Stock Purchase Plan					1	6,185						6,186
Non-cash, stock-based compensation						34,055				71	$ 27	34,126
Income tax (expense) benefit related to stock awards and other						41,707				(691)		41,016
Change in unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net							(4,679)					(4,679)
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit, net							1,436					1,436
Foreign currency translation							3,878					3,878
Capital distribution to EchoStar, net of deferred taxes	$ (5,845)	$ (6,118)		$ (11,963)		(51,466)						(51,466)
Deemed distribution to EchoStar-initial fair value of redeemable noncontrolling interest, net of deferred taxes of $8,489	$ (14,011)		$ 22,500	$ (14,011)
Capital contribution from EchoStar- sale of T2 satellite, net of deferred taxes of $5,554						9,446						9,446
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest excluding redeemable noncontrolling interest										(14,062)	(1,729)	(14,062)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests												(15,791)
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network								944,693				944,693
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014					5,178	2,678,791	174,507	723,992	(1,569,459)	(875)	41,498	2,012,134
Issuance of Class A common stock:
Initial value of northstar Spectrum and SNR Holdco											20,700	41,498
Exercise of stock awards					20	25,744						25,764
Employee benefits					4	26,022						26,026
Employee Stock Purchase Plan					1	8,103						8,104
Non-cash, stock-based compensation						19,072					127	19,072
Income tax (expense) benefit related to stock awards and other						31,844				691		32,535
Change in unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net							(79,156)					(79,156)
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit, net							(33,370)					(33,370)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest excluding redeemable noncontrolling interest										(816)	23,000	(816)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests												22,184
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network								747,092				747,092
Balance at Dec. 31, 2015					$ 5,203	2,779,978	$ 61,981	$ 1,471,084	$ (1,569,459)	$ (1,000)	284,243	2,747,787
Issuance of Class A common stock:
Revaluation of EchoStar's interest in Sling TV to redemption value, net of deferred taxes of $5,820						$ (9,598)					15,418	(9,598)
Initial value of northstar Spectrum and SNR Holdco											$ 204,200	$ 284,243