Segment Reporting (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) segment	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Segment information
Number of primary operating business units | segment									2
Total assets	$ 33,230,935				$ 30,587,012				$ 33,230,935	$ 30,587,012
Revenues	3,240,865	$ 3,168,363	$ 3,211,312	$ 3,187,144	3,306,829	$ 3,395,141	$ 3,460,845	$ 3,458,487	12,807,684	13,621,302	$ 14,391,375
Depreciation and amortization									630,577	712,024	817,564
Operating income (loss)	522,952	468,892	430,732	456,300	482,752	562,703	572,660	529,506	1,878,876	2,147,621	1,567,765
Interest income									77,214	44,759	41,006
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized									(23,687)	(15,006)	(63,172)
Other, net									11,524	11,801	104,488
Income tax (provision) benefit, net									(451,358)	(533,684)	515,320
Net income (loss)	413,547	$ 377,157	$ 340,566	$ 361,299	357,286	$ 452,598	$ 460,286	$ 385,321	1,492,569	1,655,491	2,165,407
United States
Segment information
Revenues									12,759,909	13,578,254	14,351,558
Canada And Mexico
Segment information
Revenues									47,775	43,048	39,817
Pay-TV
Segment information
Revenues									12,810,248	13,621,198	14,391,375
Depreciation and amortization									621,810	698,336	788,237
Operating income (loss)									1,961,700	2,187,675	1,759,130
Interest income									1,588,023	1,495,371	1,306,298
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized									(988,295)	(1,013,062)	(1,068,231)
Other, net									10,940	8,957	104,482
Income tax (provision) benefit, net									(615,664)	(650,858)	(473,370)
Net income (loss)									1,956,705	2,028,083	1,628,309
Pay-TV | Operating segment
Segment information
Total assets	31,531,612				28,981,608				31,531,612	28,981,608
Wireless
Segment information
Revenues									1,673	580
Depreciation and amortization									8,767	13,688	29,327
Operating income (loss)									(82,824)	(40,054)	(191,365)
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized									(546,201)	(452,556)	(260,233)
Other, net									584	2,844	6
Income tax (provision) benefit, net									164,306	117,174	988,690
Net income (loss)									(464,136)	(372,592)	537,098
Wireless | Operating segment
Segment information
Total assets	25,686,381				24,433,458				25,686,381	24,433,458
All Other and Eliminations
Segment information
Revenues									(4,237)	(476)
Interest income									(1,510,809)	(1,450,612)	(1,265,292)
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized									1,510,809	1,450,612	1,265,292
All Other and Eliminations | Other and Eliminations
Segment information
Total assets	$ (23,987,058)				$ (22,828,054)				(23,987,058)	(22,828,054)
Pay-TV video and related revenue
Segment information
Revenues									12,436,637	13,197,994	13,877,196
Broadband revenue
Segment information
Revenues									179,805	258,094	383,216
Equipment sales and other revenue
Segment information
Revenues									$ 191,242	$ 165,214	$ 130,963