CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Revenue:
Total Revenue	$ 13,621,302	$ 14,391,375	$ 15,212,302
Costs and Expenses (exclusive of depreciation shown separately below - Note 8):
Subscriber-related expenses	8,544,577	8,919,985	8,913,624
Satellite and transmission expenses	576,568	658,017	710,719
Cost of sales - equipment and other	145,604	95,116	133,902
Subscriber acquisition costs:
Cost of sales - subscriber promotion subsidies	50,253	74,145	143,507
Other subscriber acquisition costs	292,824	579,272	709,772
Subscriber acquisition advertising	426,230	550,844	603,213
Total subscriber acquisition costs	769,307	1,204,261	1,456,492
General and administrative expenses	725,601	687,054	735,954
Litigation expense (Note 14)		295,695	21,148
Depreciation and amortization (Note 8)	712,024	817,564	921,202
Impairment of long-lived assets (Note 8)		145,918
Total costs and expenses	11,473,681	12,823,610	12,893,041
Operating income (loss)	2,147,621	1,567,765	2,319,261
Other Income (Expense):
Interest income	44,759	41,006	31,168
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized	(15,006)	(63,172)	(53,141)
Other, net	11,801	104,488	119,315
Total other income (expense)	41,554	82,322	97,342
Income (loss) before income taxes	2,189,175	1,650,087	2,416,603
Income tax (provision) benefit, net	(533,684)	515,320	(865,818)
Net income (loss)	1,655,491	2,165,407	1,550,785
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax	80,400	66,718	52,846
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network	$ 1,575,091	$ 2,098,689	$ 1,497,939
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - Class A and B common stock:
Basic (in shares)	467,350	466,021	464,807
Diluted (in shares)	525,832	522,596	484,162
Earnings per share - Class A and B common stock:
Basic net income (loss) per share attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share)	$ 3.37	$ 4.50	$ 3.22
Diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share)	$ 3.00	$ 4.07	$ 3.15
Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Net income (loss)	$ 1,655,491	$ 2,165,407	$ 1,550,785
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(1,343)	1,027
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities	(529)	9,671	3,050
Recognition of previously unrealized (gains) losses on available-for-sale securities included in net income (loss)	(8)	(11,129)	(99,312)
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit, net	124	532	35,062
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(1,756)	101	(61,200)
Comprehensive income (loss)	1,653,735	2,165,508	1,489,585
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax	80,400	66,718	52,846
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to DISH Network	1,573,335	2,098,790	1,436,739
Subscriber-related revenue
Revenue:
Total Revenue	13,456,088	14,260,412	15,033,939
Equipment sales and other revenue
Revenue:
Total Revenue	$ 165,214	$ 130,963	$ 178,363