CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 813,266	$ 685,578
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	483,246	509,098
Realized and unrealized losses (gains) on investments	(113,012)	(262,727)
Non-cash, stock-based compensation	3,745	14,823
Deferred tax expense (benefit)	185,938	72,427
Other, net	54,635	39,061
Changes in current assets and current liabilities, net	125,273	390,896
Net cash flows from operating activities	1,553,091	1,449,156
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Purchases of marketable investment securities	(136,212)	(112,864)
Sales and maturities of marketable investment securities	563,416	1,892,987
Settlement of derivative financial instruments	562,234
Purchases of property and equipment	(333,571)	(409,852)
Capitalized interest related to FCC authorizations (Note 2)	(405,071)	(124,894)
AWS-3 FCC license deposits (Note 10)		(9,075,567)
AWS-3 FCC license refund (Note 10)		400,000
Other, net	9,048	(38)
Net cash flows from investing activities	259,844	(7,430,228)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes	2,000,000
Redemption and repurchases of senior notes (Note 9)	(1,500,000)	(650,001)
Capital contributions from Northstar Manager and SNR Management (Note 10)		204,200
Repayment of long-term debt and capital lease obligations	(16,624)	(15,053)
Net proceeds from Class A common stock options exercised and stock issued under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan	7,443	18,001
Debt issuance costs	(7,676)
Other, net	128	13,678
Net cash flows from financing activities	483,271	(429,175)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	2,296,206	(6,410,247)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	1,053,158	7,104,496
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 3,349,364	$ 694,249