Property and Equipment and Intangible Assets - FCC Authorizations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Indefinite-lived intangible assets
FCC authorizations	$ 24,736,961	$ 23,725,789
DBS Licenses
Indefinite-lived intangible assets
FCC authorizations	611,794	611,794
700 MHz Licenses
Indefinite-lived intangible assets
FCC authorizations	711,871	711,871
MVDDS Licenses
Indefinite-lived intangible assets
FCC authorizations	24,000	24,000
AWS-4 Licenses
Indefinite-lived intangible assets
FCC authorizations	1,949,000	1,949,000
H Block Licenses
Indefinite-lived intangible assets
FCC authorizations	1,671,506	1,671,506
AWS-3 Licenses
Indefinite-lived intangible assets
FCC authorizations	9,890,389	9,890,389
600 MHz Licenses
Indefinite-lived intangible assets
FCC authorizations	6,211,154	6,211,154
Capitalized interest on FCC authorizations [Member]
Indefinite-lived intangible assets
FCC authorizations	$ 3,667,247	$ 2,656,075