Segment Reporting (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) segment	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Segment information
Number of primary operating business units | segment									2
Total assets	$ 29,773,766				$ 27,914,292				$ 29,773,766	$ 27,914,292
Total revenue	3,483,928	$ 3,583,454	$ 3,643,632	$ 3,680,361	3,752,765	$ 3,767,472	$ 3,864,591	$ 3,827,474	14,391,375	15,212,302	$ 15,225,493
Depreciation and amortization									817,564	921,202	963,357
Operating income (loss)	259,291	449,051	252,103	607,320	572,899	522,662	640,282	583,418	1,567,765	2,319,261	1,428,372
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
Income tax (provision) benefit, net									515,320	(865,818)	(393,170)
Income (loss)	1,401,305	$ 315,265	$ 58,762	$ 390,075	367,804	$ 332,975	$ 438,062	$ 411,944	2,165,407	1,550,785	842,026
United States
Segment information
Total revenue									14,351,558	15,111,832	15,090,923
Canada And Mexico
Segment information
Total revenue									39,817	100,470	134,570
Pay-TV
Segment information
Total revenue									14,391,375	15,212,302	15,225,097
Depreciation and amortization									788,237	877,342	919,058
Operating income (loss)									1,759,130	2,383,388	2,133,947
Interest income									1,306,298	1,006,243	859,608
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized									(1,068,231)	(876,375)	(844,320)
Other, net									104,482	32,867	85,496
Income tax (provision) benefit, net									(473,370)	(934,024)	(785,642)
Income (loss)									1,628,309	1,612,099	1,449,089
Pay-TV | Operating segment
Segment information
Total assets	28,353,581				26,980,276				28,353,581	26,980,276
Wireless
Segment information
Total revenue											396
Depreciation and amortization									29,327	43,860	44,299
Operating income (loss)									(191,365)	(64,127)	(705,575)
Interest income										3,745	9,434
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized									(260,233)	(155,586)	(499,277)
Other, net									6	86,448	195,883
Income tax (provision) benefit, net									988,690	68,206	392,472
Income (loss)									537,098	(61,314)	(607,063)
Wireless | Operating segment
Segment information
Total assets	23,377,088				17,814,382				23,377,088	17,814,382
All Other and Eliminations | Other and Eliminations
Segment information
Total assets	$ (21,956,903)				$ (16,880,366)				(21,956,903)	(16,880,366)
Interest income									(1,265,292)	(978,820)	(849,516)
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized									$ 1,265,292	$ 978,820	$ 849,516