Additional Bid Withdrawl Payment

No definition available.

Name:	dish_AdditionalBidWithdrawlPayment
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Additional loan to pay gross winning bids.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_AdditionalLoanToPayGrossWinningBids
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents bid withdrawal payment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_BidWithdrawalPayment
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents value of bidding credit.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_BiddingCredit
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the combined net winning bids.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_CombinedNetWinningBids
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents of equity contributions.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_EquityContribution
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents gross winning bids amount.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_GrossWinningBids
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Interim Payment

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_InterimPayment
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Interim Payment Percentage

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_InterimPaymentPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Nonpayment Gross Winning Bids

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_NonpaymentGrossWinningBids
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number Of Licenses Returned

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_NumberOfLicensesReturned
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Overpayment Of Interim Payment

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_OverpaymentOfInterimPayment
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the percentage of bidding credit.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_PercentageOfBiddingCredit
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents refund amount received from auction related to AWS-3.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_ProceedsFromRefundAmountFromBid
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Reauction Payment

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_ReauctionPayment
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The carrying amount of total investment into Variable Interest Entity included in the reporting entity's statement of financial position.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_VariableInterestEntityInvestmentTotal
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage of controlling interest owned by other companies.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_VariableInterestEntityOwnershipPercentageByOtherParty
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of wireless spectrum licenses acquired by the winning bidder.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_WirelessSpectrumLicenses
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Wireless spectrum licenses accelerated period to meet final build-out requirement on failure to meet interim build out requirement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_WirelessSpectrumLicensesAcceleratedPeriodToMeetFinalBuildOutRequirementOnFailureToMeetInterimBuildOutRequirement
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the percentage of population in each area covered by an individual license to which the entity must provide reliable signal coverage and offer service by the end of license term.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_WirelessSpectrumLicensesFinalBuildOutRequirementPopulationPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the percentage of population in each area covered by an individual license to which the entity must provide reliable signal coverage and offer service within some specified period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_WirelessSpectrumLicensesInterimBuildOutRequirementPopulationPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the minimum percentage of population in each area covered by an individual license to which the entity must provide terrestrial signal coverage and offer terrestrial service by the end of license term.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_WirelessSpectrumLicensesMinimumFinalBuildOutRequirementPopulationPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Wireless spectrum licenses minimum interim build-out requirement geographic area percentage.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_WirelessSpectrumLicensesMinimumInterimBuildOutRequirementGeographicAreaPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_WirelessSpectrumLicensesMinimumInterimBuildOutRequirementPopulationPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the minimum percentage of E Block population in each area covered by an individual license to which the entity must provide terrestrial signal coverage and offer terrestrial service by the end of license term.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_WirelessSpectrumLicensesMinimumModifiedFinalBuildOutRequirementPopulationPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of consideration transferred, consisting of acquisition-date fair value of assets transferred by the acquirer, liabilities incurred by the acquirer, and equity interest issued by the acquirer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 30
-Paragraph 7
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911251&loc=d3e6578-128477

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35744584&loc=d3e6927-128479

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 30
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911251&loc=d3e6613-128477

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Reflects the sum for the period of the additions and reductions to related party loans, which when added to the opening balance of related party loan will agree to the ending balance of such loans. This subtotal typically is not reflected.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7(e))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 850
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39549-107864

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableRelatedPartiesPeriodIncreaseDecrease
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Portion of equity (net assets) in a variable interest entity (VIE) not attributable, directly or indirectly, to the parent entity. That is, this is the portion of equity in a VIE that is attributable to the noncontrolling interest (previously referred to as minority interest).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestInVariableInterestEntity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash outflow to acquire asset without physical form usually arising from contractual or other legal rights, excluding goodwill.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3213-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Investing Activities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireIntangibleAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfInvestmentsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of unrecognized tax benefits pertaining to uncertain tax positions taken in tax returns.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 15A
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=SL6600010-109319

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Unrecognized Tax Benefit
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6527854

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage of the Variable Interest Entity's (VIE) voting interest owned by (or beneficial interest in) the reporting entity (directly or indirectly).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5A
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=52262685&loc=SL6759159-111685

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=dish_WirelessMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=dish_HBlockLicensesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=dish_Licenses700MHzMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=dish_Aws3AuctionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=dish_NorthstarLicensesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis=dish_PriorArrangementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=dish_DBSDNorthAmericaIncAndAssetPurchaseAgreementTerreStarMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis=us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=dish_Aws3LicensesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis=dish_NorthstarWirelessOrNorthstarSpectrumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=dish_NorthstarManagerLLCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=dish_AmericanIIMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dish_ContractualObligationsTypeAxis=dish_NorthstarCreditAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=dish_SNRLicensesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis=dish_SNRWirelessOrSNRWirelessHoldcoMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dish_ContractualObligationsTypeAxis=dish_SnrCreditAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=dish_SnrWirelessManagementLLCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=dish_AmericanIIIMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Commitments and Contingencies - Part 2 (Details) $ in Thousands					1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended				96 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2015 USD ($)	Apr. 29, 2014 USD ($) segment	Oct. 29, 2013	Mar. 09, 2012 USD ($)	Aug. 18, 2015 USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) item	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2008 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) item	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)
Spectrum Investments
Payment to acquire certain wireless licenses and related assets							$ 8,970,389	$ 1,343,372	$ 328,134		$ 5,000,000
Accelerated period to meet Final Build-Out Requirement on failure to meet Interim Build-Out Requirement							1 year
Unrecognized tax benefits							$ 335,933	$ 207,675	$ 151,353		335,933	$ 328,951
Wireless
Spectrum Investments
Modified 700 MHz Final Build-out Requirement (as a percent)			70.00%
H Block Licenses
Spectrum Investments
Payment to acquire certain wireless licenses and related assets		$ 1,672,000
Number of wireless spectrum licenses \| segment		176
H Block Licenses \| Minimum
Spectrum Investments
Interim Build-out Requirement (as a percent)							40.00%
Final Build-out Requirement (as a percent)							75.00%
700 MHz Licenses
Spectrum Investments
Payment to acquire certain wireless licenses and related assets										$ 712,000
700 MHz Interim Build-out Requirement (as a percent)			40.00%
AWS 3 Auction
Spectrum Investments
Refund amount received						$ 400,000
Northstar Licenses \| Prior Arrangement [Member]
Spectrum Investments
Number of licenses returned \| item							84
Nonpayment gross winning bids							$ 2,226,000				2,226,000
DBSD North America and TerreStar Transactions \| Wireless
Spectrum Investments
Purchase price				$ 2,860,000
AWS-4 Interim Build-out Requirement (as a percent)							40.00%
AWS-4 Final Build-out Requirement (as a percent)							70.00%
Northstar Spectrum And SNR Holdco
Spectrum Investments
Total debt and equity investments in subsidaries							$ 10,000,000				10,000,000
Total investments							$ 10,191,000				$ 10,191,000
Northstar Spectrum And SNR Holdco \| AWS 3 Auction
Spectrum Investments
Percentage of bidding credit							25.00%
Northstar Spectrum And SNR Holdco \| AWS-3 Licenses [Member]
Spectrum Investments
Accelerated period to meet Final Build-Out Requirement on failure to meet Interim Build-Out Requirement							2 years
Interim Build-out Requirement (as a percent)							40.00%
Final Build-out Requirement (as a percent)							75.00%
Northstar Wireless or Northstar Spectrum
Spectrum Investments
Re-Auction payment							$ 1,892,000
Interim payment percentage							15.00%
Overpayment of interim payment							$ 334,000
Northstar Wireless or Northstar Spectrum \| Northstar Manager LLC
Spectrum Investments
Controlling interest owned by other companies							15.00%
Equity contribution	$ 133,000
Northstar Wireless or Northstar Spectrum \| American II
Spectrum Investments
Ownership percentage							85.00%
Equity contribution	750,000
Loan made							$ 69,000
Northstar Wireless or Northstar Spectrum \| American II \| Northstar Credit Agreement
Spectrum Investments
Loan made	5,070,000
Northstar Wireless or Northstar Spectrum \| AWS 3 Auction
Spectrum Investments
Interim Payment							$ 334,000
Interim payment percentage							15.00%
Northstar Wireless or Northstar Spectrum \| Northstar Licenses
Spectrum Investments
Number of wireless spectrum licenses \| item							261				261
Gross winning bids							$ 5,619,000
Bidding credit value					$ 1,961,000
Northstar Wireless or Northstar Spectrum \| AWS-3 Licenses [Member]
Spectrum Investments
Percentage of bidding credit							25.00%
Gross winning bids							$ 7,845,000
Net winning bid							5,884,000
Nonpayment gross winning bids							2,226,000				$ 2,226,000
Northstar Wireless or Northstar Spectrum \| SNR Licenses
Spectrum Investments
Percentage of bidding credit					25.00%
SNR Wireless or SNR Wireless Holdco
Spectrum Investments
Re-Auction payment							$ 1,029,000
Interim payment percentage							15.00%
Overpayment of interim payment							$ 182,000
SNR Wireless or SNR Wireless Holdco \| SNR Credit Agreement [Member]
Spectrum Investments
Loan made	3,847,000
SNR Wireless or SNR Wireless Holdco \| SNR Wireless Management LLC
Spectrum Investments
Controlling interest owned by other companies							15.00%
Equity contribution	93,000
SNR Wireless or SNR Wireless Holdco \| American III
Spectrum Investments
Number of wireless spectrum licenses \| item							244				244
Gross winning bids							$ 4,271,000
Additional loan to pay gross winning bids							$ 344,000
Ownership percentage							85.00%
Equity contribution	$ 524,000
Loan made							$ 344,000
SNR Wireless or SNR Wireless Holdco \| AWS-3 Licenses [Member]
Spectrum Investments
Nonpayment gross winning bids							$ 1,211,000				$ 1,211,000
SNR Wireless or SNR Wireless Holdco \| SNR Licenses
Spectrum Investments
Percentage of bidding credit							25.00%
Gross winning bids							$ 5,482,000
Net winning bid							4,112,000
Bid withdrawal payment							8,000
Bidding credit value					$ 1,370,000
Nonpayment gross winning bids							1,211,000				$ 1,211,000
Interim Payment							$ 182,000
Interim payment percentage							15.00%
Additional bid withdrawl payment							$ 3,000
SNR Wireless or SNR Wireless Holdco \| SNR Licenses \| Prior Arrangement [Member]
Spectrum Investments
Number of licenses returned \| item							113