Basic and Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Net income (loss)	$ 390,075	$ 411,944
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of tax	14,360	12,053
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network	375,715	399,891	$ 1,497,939
Interest on dilutive Convertible Notes, net of tax	17,119
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Diluted, Total	$ 392,834	$ 399,891
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - Class A and B common stock:
Basic (in shares)	465,412	464,375
Dilutive impact of Convertible Notes (in shares)	48,056
Dilutive impact of stock awards outstanding (in shares)	975	844
Diluted (in shares)	514,443	465,219
Earnings per share - Class A and B common stock:
Basic net income (loss) per share attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share)	$ 0.81	$ 0.86
Diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share)	$ 0.76	$ 0.86
3 3/8% Convertible Notes due 2026
Interest rate (as a percent)	3.375%		3.375%