CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 3/8% Convertible Notes due 2026 Additional Paid-In Capital	3 3/8% Convertible Notes due 2026	Convertible note hedges Additional Paid-In Capital	Convertible note hedges	2 3/8% Convertible Notes due 2024 Additional Paid-In Capital	2 3/8% Convertible Notes due 2024	Class A and B Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Earnings (Deficit)	Treasury Stock	Noncontrolling Interest	Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest	Total
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014							$ 5,178	$ 2,510,617	$ 174,507	$ 805,275	$ (1,569,459)	$ (875)	$ 21,442	$ 1,925,243
Issuance of Class A common stock:
Exercise of stock awards							20	25,744						25,764
Employee benefits							4	26,022						26,026
Employee Stock Purchase Plan							1	8,103						8,104
Non-cash, stock-based compensation								19,072					127	19,072
Income tax (expense) benefit related to stock awards and other								31,844				691		32,535
Change in unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net									(79,156)					(79,156)
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit attributable to unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities									(33,370)					(33,370)
Payments made to parent of transferred businesses								(31,615)				(11)	16	(31,626)
Redeemable noncontrolling interest recognized - investment in Northstar Spectrum and SNR Holdco													204,200
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests												(805)	40,458	(805)
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network										802,374				802,374
Balance at Dec. 31, 2015							5,203	2,589,787	61,981	1,607,649	(1,569,459)	(1,000)	266,243	2,694,161
Issuance of Class A common stock:
Exercise of stock awards							5	10,067						10,072
Employee benefits							4	25,142						25,146
Employee Stock Purchase Plan							2	8,551						8,553
Non-cash, stock-based compensation								13,037						13,037
Change in unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net									(96,262)					(96,262)
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit attributable to unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities									35,062					35,062
Payments made to parent of transferred businesses								(34,371)				(75)		(34,446)
Retirement of treasury stock							(562)			(1,568,897)	$ 1,569,459
Issuance of warrants								375,600						375,600
Net of deferred taxes	$ 487,521	$ 487,521	$ 400,113	$ 400,113
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests												(550)		(550)
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network										1,497,939			53,397	1,497,939
Other								(3,796)				(601)	(6)	(4,397)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2016							4,652	3,071,425	781	1,536,691		(2,226)	319,634	4,611,323
Issuance of Class A common stock:
Exercise of stock awards							5	14,508						14,513
Employee benefits							4	23,160						23,164
Employee Stock Purchase Plan							3	14,058						14,061
Non-cash, stock-based compensation								29,941						29,941
Change in unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net									(1,458)					(1,458)
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit attributable to unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities									532					532
Payments made to parent of transferred businesses								(7,378)				274	6	(7,104)
Net of deferred taxes					$ 159,869	$ 159,869
Foreign currency translation									1,027					1,027
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests												2,969	63,750	2,969
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network										2,098,689				2,098,689
Other								(9,095)				(525)		(9,620)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2017							$ 4,664	$ 3,296,488	$ 882	$ 3,635,380		$ 492	$ 383,390	$ 6,937,906