Additional Bid Withdrawl Payment

No definition available.

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

Build Out Accelerated Duration On Second Period

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_BuildOutAcceleratedDurationOnSecondPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
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

First Phase Duration Of Years For Geographic Signal Coverage

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_FirstPhaseDurationOfYearsForGeographicSignalCoverage
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
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

Percent Of Coverage On Available Licensed Geographic Areas

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_PercentOfCoverageOnAvailableLicensedGeographicAreas
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
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

Second Period Duration Of Years For Geographic Coverage

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Termination Period

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dish_TerminationPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	dish_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
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

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

Amount of increase (decrease) in loans and leases receivable due from related parties.

+ 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

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- 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=66902209&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

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=64801991&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_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_Licenses600MhzMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
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_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=dish_DBSDNorthAmericaIncAndAssetPurchaseAgreementTerreStarMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=dish_WirelessMember
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:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=dish_AmericanIIIMember
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_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=dish_SNRLicensesMember
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_NorthstarLicensesMember
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:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=dish_Aws3AuctionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=dish_FccWirelessBureauMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=dish_Auction1000Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Commitments and Contingencies (Details) $ in Millions								1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	84 Months Ended	111 Months Ended
Commitments and Contingencies (Details) $ in Millions	Sep. 23, 2016	Jul. 01, 2016 USD ($)	Aug. 18, 2015 USD ($)	Apr. 29, 2014 USD ($) segment	Oct. 29, 2013	Mar. 09, 2012	Mar. 09, 2012 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) item	Dec. 31, 2008 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) item	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Spectrum Investments
Payment to acquire certain wireless licenses and related assets											$ 5,000.0	$ 5,000.0
H Block Licenses
Spectrum Investments
Payment to acquire certain wireless licenses and related assets				$ 1,672.0
Accelerated period to meet Final Build-Out Requirement on failure to meet Interim Build-Out Requirement									2 years
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										$ 712.0
Modified 700 MHz Final Build-out Requirement (as a percent)					70.00%
600 MHz Licenses
Spectrum Investments
First period of geographic coverage									6 years
Second period of geographic coverage									12 years
Build-out requirement accelerated period								2 years
Termination Period								39 months
600 MHz Licenses \| Maximum
Spectrum Investments
Percent of coverage on available licensed geographic areas									75.00%
600 MHz Licenses \| Minimum
Spectrum Investments
Percent of coverage on available licensed geographic areas									40.00%
AWS-3 Licenses [Member]
Commitments relating to AWS-3 Auction
Refund amount received									$ 400.0
DBSD North America and TerreStar Transactions \| Wireless
Spectrum Investments
Purchase price							$ 2,860.0
AWS-4 Final Build-out Requirement (as a percent)									70.00%
Commitments relating to AWS-3 Auction
Ownership percentage						100.00%
Northstar Spectrum And SNR Holdco
Spectrum Investments
Noncontrolling Interest in Variable Interest Entity									$ 10.0			10.0	$ 10,000.0
Commitments relating to AWS-3 Auction
Percentage of bidding credit			25.00%
Total investments									$ 10,191.0			$ 10,191.0
Northstar Spectrum And SNR Holdco \| American III
Spectrum Investments
Number of wireless spectrum licenses \| item									244			244
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 Spectrum And SNR Holdco \| Prior Arrangement [Member] \| SNR Licenses
Commitments relating to AWS-3 Auction
Number of licenses returned \| item									113
Northstar Wireless or Northstar Spectrum
Spectrum Investments
Re-Auction payment									$ 1,892.0
Commitments relating to AWS-3 Auction
Percentage of bidding credit									15.00%
Bidding credit value			$ 1,961.0
Interim Payment									$ 334.0
Interim payment percentage									15.00%
Northstar Wireless or Northstar Spectrum \| Northstar Manager LLC
Commitments relating to AWS-3 Auction
Controlling interest owned by other companies									15.00%
Equity contribution									$ 133.0
Northstar Wireless or Northstar Spectrum \| American II
Commitments relating to AWS-3 Auction
Loan made									$ 69.0
Ownership percentage									85.00%
Equity contribution									$ 750.0
Northstar Wireless or Northstar Spectrum \| American II \| Northstar Credit Agreement
Commitments relating to AWS-3 Auction
Loan made									$ 5,070.0
Northstar Wireless or Northstar Spectrum \| Northstar Licenses
Spectrum Investments
Number of wireless spectrum licenses \| item									261			261
Commitments relating to AWS-3 Auction
Gross winning bids									$ 5,619.0
Northstar Wireless or Northstar Spectrum \| AWS-3 Licenses [Member]
Commitments relating to AWS-3 Auction
Percentage of bidding credit	25.00%								25.00%
Gross winning bids									$ 7,845.0
Net winning bid									$ 5,884.0
Number of licenses returned \| item									84
Nonpayment gross winning bids									$ 2,226.0			$ 2,226.0
SNR Wireless or SNR Wireless Holdco
Spectrum Investments
Re-Auction payment									1,029.0
Commitments relating to AWS-3 Auction
Bidding credit value			$ 1,370.0
Interim Payment									182.0
SNR Wireless or SNR Wireless Holdco \| SNR Credit Agreement [Member]
Commitments relating to AWS-3 Auction
Loan made									$ 3,847.0
SNR Wireless or SNR Wireless Holdco \| SNR Wireless Management LLC
Commitments relating to AWS-3 Auction
Controlling interest owned by other companies									15.00%
Equity contribution									$ 93.0
SNR Wireless or SNR Wireless Holdco \| American III
Commitments relating to AWS-3 Auction
Gross winning bids									4,271.0
Loan made									$ 344.0
Ownership percentage									85.00%
Equity contribution									$ 524.0
SNR Wireless or SNR Wireless Holdco \| AWS 3 Auction
Commitments relating to AWS-3 Auction
Gross winning bids									5,482.0
Net winning bid									4,112.0
Bid withdrawal payment									$ 8.0
SNR Wireless or SNR Wireless Holdco \| AWS-3 Licenses [Member] \| SNR Wireless Management LLC
Commitments relating to AWS-3 Auction
Percentage of bidding credit									15.00%
SNR Wireless or SNR Wireless Holdco \| SNR Licenses
Commitments relating to AWS-3 Auction
Nonpayment gross winning bids									$ 1,211.0			$ 1,211.0
Additional bid withdrawl payment									$ 3.0
FCC Wireless Bureau [Member] \| Auction 1000 [Member]
Spectrum Investments
Payment to acquire certain wireless licenses and related assets		$ 1,500.0