CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Revenue:
Subscriber-related revenue	$ 14,260,412	$ 15,033,939	$ 14,953,559
Equipment sales and other revenue	130,963	178,363	271,934
Total revenue	14,391,375	15,212,302	15,225,493
Costs and Expenses (exclusive of depreciation shown separately below - Note 8):
Subscriber-related expenses	8,919,985	8,913,624	8,821,831
Satellite and transmission expenses	658,017	710,719	741,286
Cost of sales - equipment and other	95,116	133,902	185,355
Subscriber acquisition costs:
Cost of sales - subscriber promotion subsidies	74,145	143,507	175,857
Other subscriber acquisition costs	579,272	709,772	908,983
Subscriber acquisition advertising	550,844	603,213	579,260
Total subscriber acquisition costs	1,204,261	1,456,492	1,664,100
General and administrative expenses	687,054	735,954	758,985
FCC auction expense (Note 14)			515,555
Litigation expense (Note 14)	295,695	21,148	20,900
Depreciation and amortization (Note 8)	817,564	921,202	963,357
Impairment of long-lived assets (Note 8)	145,918		125,752
Total costs and expenses	12,823,610	12,893,041	13,797,121
Operating income (loss)	1,567,765	2,319,261	1,428,372
Other Income (Expense):
Interest income	41,006	31,168	19,526
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized	(63,172)	(53,141)	(494,081)
Other, net	104,488	119,315	281,379
Total other income (expense)	82,322	97,342	(193,176)
Income (loss) before income taxes	1,650,087	2,416,603	1,235,196
Income tax (provision) benefit, net	515,320	(865,818)	(393,170)
Net income (loss)	2,165,407	1,550,785	842,026
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of tax	66,718	52,846	39,652
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network	$ 2,098,689	$ 1,497,939	$ 802,374
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - Class A and B common stock:
Basic (in shares)	466,021	464,807	462,995
Diluted (in shares)	522,596	484,162	464,697
Earnings per share - Class A and B common stock:
Basic net income (loss) per share attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share)	$ 4.50	$ 3.22	$ 1.73
Diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share)	$ 4.07	$ 3.15	$ 1.73
Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Net income (loss)	$ 2,165,407	$ 1,550,785	$ 842,026
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments	1,027
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities	9,671	3,050	20,205
Recognition of previously unrealized (gains) losses on available-for-sale securities included in net income (loss)	(11,129)	(99,312)	(99,361)
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit, net	532	35,062	(33,370)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	101	(61,200)	(112,526)
Comprehensive income (loss)	2,165,508	1,489,585	729,500
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax	66,718	52,846	39,652
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to DISH Network	$ 2,098,790	$ 1,436,739	$ 689,848