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- Definition

Debt repurchase price percentage in event of change of control.

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- Definition

Face amount or stated value per share of common stock.

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Dividend or interest rate associated with the financial instrument issued in exchange for the original debt being converted in a noncash or part noncash transaction. Noncash are transactions that affect recognized assets or liabilities but that do not result in cash receipts or cash payments. Part noncash refers to that portion of the transaction not resulting in cash receipts or cash payments.

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The number of shares issued in exchange for the original debt being converted in a noncash (or part noncash) transaction. "Part noncash" refers to that portion of the transaction not resulting in cash receipts or payments in the period.

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- Definition

The number of warrants issued in exchange for the original debt being converted in a noncash (or part noncash) transaction. "Part noncash" refers to that portion of the transaction not resulting in cash receipts or cash payments in the period.

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- Definition

The carrying amount of the equity component of convertible debt which may be settled in cash upon conversion.

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- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

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- Definition

Effective interest rate for the funds borrowed under the debt agreement considering interest compounding and original issue discount or premium.

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Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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Percentage price of original principal amount of debt at which debt can be redeemed by the issuer.

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Period of time between issuance and maturity of debt instrument, in PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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- Definition

The cash outflow for a financial contract that meets the hedge criteria as either cash flow hedge, fair value hedge or hedge of net investment in foreign operations.

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The cash inflow from issuance of rights to purchase common shares at predetermined price (usually issued together with corporate debt).

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Amount of stockholders' equity (deficit), net of receivables from officers, directors, owners, and affiliates of the entity, attributable to both the parent and noncontrolling interests. Amount excludes temporary equity. Alternate caption for the concept is permanent equity.

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Long-Term Debt and Finance Lease Obligations - Narratives (Details) - USD ($)							12 Months Ended
	Jul. 13, 2016	Nov. 20, 2014	Apr. 05, 2013	Jul. 26, 2012	May 16, 2012	May 05, 2011	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Mar. 17, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Aug. 08, 2016	Jun. 13, 2016	Dec. 27, 2012
Debt Instrument
Interest rate (as a percent)							7.75%
Common stock par value (in dollars per share)							$ 86.08
Stockholders equity							$ 11,564,072,000	$ 8,594,189,000	$ 6,937,906,000		$ 4,611,323,000
Class A common stock
Debt Instrument
Common stock par value (in dollars per share)							$ 0.01	$ 0.01
DISH DBS Corporation ("DDBS")
Debt Instrument
Percentage of principal amount at which notes may be required to be repurchased in event of change of control							101.00%
7 7/8% Senior Notes due 2019
Debt Instrument
Interest rate (as a percent)							7.875%	7.875%
7 7/8% Senior Notes due 2019 \| DISH DBS Corporation ("DDBS")
Debt Instrument
Interest rate (as a percent)							7.875%
5 1/8% Senior Notes due 2020
Debt Instrument
Aggregate principal amount			$ 1,100,000,000
Loan balance maturity period			7 years
5 1/8% Senior Notes due 2020 \| DISH DBS Corporation ("DDBS")
Debt Instrument
Interest rate (as a percent)							5.125%	5.125%
Redemption price as a percentage of principal amount							100.00%
6 3/4% Senior Notes due 2021
Debt Instrument
Aggregate principal amount						$ 2,000,000,000.0
Loan balance maturity period						10 years
6 3/4% Senior Notes due 2021 \| DISH DBS Corporation ("DDBS")
Debt Instrument
Interest rate (as a percent)							6.75%	6.75%
Redemption price as a percentage of principal amount							100.00%
5 7/8% Senior Notes due 2022
Debt Instrument
Aggregate principal amount				$ 1,000,000,000.0	$ 1,000,000,000.0
Loan balance maturity period				10 years	10 years
5 7/8% Senior Notes due 2022 \| DISH DBS Corporation ("DDBS")
Debt Instrument
Interest rate (as a percent)							5.875%
Redemption price as a percentage of principal amount							100.00%
2 3/8% Convertible Notes due 2024
Debt Instrument
Interest rate (as a percent)							2.375%		2.375%	2.375%
Aggregate principal amount										$ 1,000,000,000.0
Loan balance maturity period							7 years
Redemption price as a percentage of principal amount							100.00%
Effective Interest rate (as a percent)							7.00%
Convertible, Carrying Amount of Equity Component							$ 252,000,000
2 3/8% Convertible Notes due 2024 \| Class A common stock
Debt Instrument
Aggregate principal amount							$ 1,000
Convertible notes converted rate, shares							12.1630
Common stock par value (in dollars per share)							$ 82.22
2 3/8% Convertible Notes due 2024 \| DISH DBS Corporation ("DDBS")
Debt Instrument
Interest rate (as a percent)							2.375%	2.375%
5% Senior Notes due 2023
Debt Instrument
Aggregate principal amount														$ 1,500,000,000
5% Senior Notes due 2023 \| DISH DBS Corporation ("DDBS")
Debt Instrument
Interest rate (as a percent)							5.00%	5.00%						5.00%
Redemption price as a percentage of principal amount							100.00%
5 7/8% Senior Notes due 2024
Debt Instrument
Interest rate (as a percent)							5.875%
Aggregate principal amount		$ 2,000,000,000.0
Loan balance maturity period		10 years
5 7/8% Senior Notes due 2024 \| DISH DBS Corporation ("DDBS")
Debt Instrument
Interest rate (as a percent)							5.875%	5.875%
Redemption price as a percentage of principal amount							100.00%
7 3/4% Senior Notes due 2026
Debt Instrument
Interest rate (as a percent)							7.75%
Aggregate principal amount													$ 2,000,000,000.0
Loan balance maturity period	10 years
Redemption price as a percentage of principal amount							100.00%
7 3/4% Senior Notes due 2026 \| DISH DBS Corporation ("DDBS")
Debt Instrument
Interest rate (as a percent)							7.75%	7.75%
3 3/8% Convertible Notes due 2026
Debt Instrument
Interest rate (as a percent)							3.375%	3.375%
Aggregate principal amount												$ 3,000,000,000.0
Loan balance maturity period							10 years
Redemption price as a percentage of principal amount							100.00%
Effective Interest rate (as a percent)							7.00%
3 3/8% Convertible Notes due 2026 \| Class A common stock
Debt Instrument
Aggregate principal amount							$ 1,000
Convertible notes converted rate, shares							15.3429
Common stock par value (in dollars per share)							$ 65.18
3 3/8% Convertible Notes due 2026 \| Class A common stock \| Convertible note hedges
Debt Instrument
Common stock par value (in dollars per share)							$ 65.18
Convertible notes converted into shares							46,000,000
Total cost of convertible notes							$ 635,000,000
3 3/8% Convertible Notes due 2026 \| Class A common stock \| Common stock warrants
Debt Instrument
Common stock par value (in dollars per share)							$ 86.08
Convertible notes converted into warrants							46,000,000
Cash proceeds from the sale of warrants							$ 376,000,000
3 3/8% Convertible Notes due 2026 \| Class A common stock \| Common stock warrants \| Minimum
Debt Instrument
Common stock par value (in dollars per share)							$ 65.18
Convertible notes converted rate							32.50%
3 3/8% Convertible Notes due 2026 \| Class A common stock \| Common stock warrants \| Maximum
Debt Instrument
Common stock par value (in dollars per share)							$ 86.08
Convertible notes converted rate							75.00%
3 3/8% Convertible Notes due 2026 \| DISH DBS Corporation ("DDBS")
Debt Instrument
Interest rate (as a percent)							3.375%
Additional Paid-In Capital
Debt Instrument
Stockholders equity							$ 4,947,007,000	$ 3,379,093,000	$ 3,296,488,000		$ 3,071,425,000
Additional Paid-In Capital \| 3 3/8% Convertible Notes due 2026
Debt Instrument
Convertible, Carrying Amount of Equity Component							$ 774,000,000