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Long-Term Debt - Fair Value of Long-Term Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	May. 16, 2012
Debt Instrument
Carrying Value	$ 13,630,996	$ 14,284,085
Fair Value	13,266,816	14,850,380
Unamortized deferred financing costs and debt	(41,563)	(51,473)
Capital Lease obligations	166,492	194,914
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations (including current portion)	13,755,925	14,427,526
Principal balance of debt redeemed	$ 650,001	1,099,999	$ 500,000
7 1/8% Senior Notes due 2016
Debt Instrument
Interest rate (as a percent)	7.125%
4 5/8% Senior Notes due 2017
Debt Instrument
Interest rate (as a percent)	4.625%
4 1/4% Senior Notes due 2018
Debt Instrument
Interest rate (as a percent)	4.25%
7 7/8% Senior Notes due 2019
Debt Instrument
Interest rate (as a percent)	7.875%
5 1/8% Senior Notes due 2020
Debt Instrument
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.125%
6 3/4% Senior Notes due 2021
Debt Instrument
Interest rate (as a percent)	6.75%
5 7/8% Senior Notes due 2022
Debt Instrument
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.875%
5% Senior Notes due 2023
Debt Instrument
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.00%
5 7/8% Senior Notes due 2024
Debt Instrument
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.875%
DISH DBS Corporation ("DDBS") \| 7 3/4% Senior Notes due 2015
Debt Instrument
Carrying Value		650,001
Fair Value		$ 664,321
Interest rate (as a percent)	7.75%	7.75%
DISH DBS Corporation ("DDBS") \| 7 1/8% Senior Notes due 2016
Debt Instrument
Carrying Value	$ 1,500,000	$ 1,500,000
Fair Value	$ 1,506,750	$ 1,580,625
Interest rate (as a percent)	4.125%	4.125%
DISH DBS Corporation ("DDBS") \| 4 5/8% Senior Notes due 2017
Debt Instrument
Carrying Value	$ 900,000	$ 900,000
Fair Value	$ 922,770	$ 933,750
Interest rate (as a percent)	7.625%	7.625%		4.625%
DISH DBS Corporation ("DDBS") \| 4 1/4% Senior Notes due 2018
Debt Instrument
Carrying Value	$ 1,200,000	$ 1,200,000
Fair Value	$ 1,207,560	$ 1,245,600
Interest rate (as a percent)	4.25%	4.25%
DISH DBS Corporation ("DDBS") \| 7 7/8% Senior Notes due 2019
Debt Instrument
Carrying Value	$ 1,400,000	$ 1,400,000
Fair Value	$ 1,525,440	$ 1,589,700
Interest rate (as a percent)	7.875%	7.875%
DISH DBS Corporation ("DDBS") \| 5 1/8% Senior Notes due 2020
Debt Instrument
Carrying Value	$ 1,100,000	$ 1,100,000
Fair Value	$ 1,100,000	$ 1,100,000
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.125%	5.125%
DISH DBS Corporation ("DDBS") \| 6 3/4% Senior Notes due 2021
Debt Instrument
Carrying Value	$ 2,000,000	$ 2,000,000
Fair Value	$ 2,021,020	$ 2,157,500
Interest rate (as a percent)	6.75%	6.75%
DISH DBS Corporation ("DDBS") \| 5 7/8% Senior Notes due 2022
Debt Instrument
Carrying Value	$ 2,000,000	$ 2,000,000
Fair Value	$ 1,889,780	$ 2,055,000
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.875%	5.875%
DISH DBS Corporation ("DDBS") \| 5% Senior Notes due 2023
Debt Instrument
Carrying Value	$ 1,500,000	$ 1,500,000
Fair Value	$ 1,297,500	$ 1,470,000
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.00%	5.00%
DISH DBS Corporation ("DDBS") \| 5 7/8% Senior Notes due 2024
Debt Instrument
Carrying Value	$ 2,000,000	$ 2,000,000
Fair Value	$ 1,765,000	$ 2,019,800
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.875%	5.875%
DISH DBS Corporation ("DDBS") \| Other notes payable
Debt Instrument
Carrying Value	$ 30,996	$ 34,084
Fair Value	$ 30,996	$ 34,084