Commitments and Contingencies - Narrative Part 2 (Details) $ in Thousands			1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Dec. 23, 2013 USD ($)	May 24, 2012	Jul. 31, 2009 item	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) item	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)
Loss contingencies
General and administrative expenses				$ 187,672	$ 176,066	$ 388,841	$ 375,474
Satellite transponder guarantees
Loss contingencies
Guarantees for payments				216,000		216,000
Litigation accrual				$ 0		$ 0
Technology Development Licensing
Loss contingency terms
Number of reexamination petitions pending before patent and trademark office | item			2
The Hopper Litigation | Maximum
Loss contingencies
Number of days to store HD primetime programs recordings		8 days
Lightsquared Harbinger Capital Partners LLC
Loss contingency terms
Business days allowed to terminate existing agreements						3 days
LightSquared transaction shareholder derivative actions
Loss contingencies
Number of shareholders who filed lawsuits | item						5
Do Not Call Litigation
Loss contingencies
Period of injunctive relief sought from placing any outbound telemarketing calls to market or promote its goods or services						5 years
Do Not Call Litigation | OHIO
Loss contingencies
Claim amount						$ 10,000
Do Not Call Litigation | CALIFORNIA
Loss contingencies
Claim amount from state plaintiff						100,000
Do Not Call Litigation | Illinois And North Carolina [Member]
Loss contingencies
Claim Amount Minimum That Would Not Raise Constitutional Concerns						1,000,000
Do Not Call Litigation | DISH Network L.L.C.
Loss contingencies
Claim amount	$ 270,000
Claim amount from state plaintiff						23,500,000
Do Not Call Litigation | Maximum | DISH Network L.L.C.
Loss contingencies
Claim amount from federal plaintiff						$ 900,000