Segment Reporting (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) segment	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Segment information
Number of primary operating business segments | segment									2
Total assets	$ 38,239,947				$ 33,230,935				$ 38,239,947	$ 33,230,935
Revenues	4,557,365	$ 4,531,591	$ 3,187,090	$ 3,217,389	3,240,865	$ 3,168,363	$ 3,211,312	$ 3,187,144	15,493,435	12,807,684	$ 13,621,302
Depreciation and amortization									714,552	630,577	712,024
Operating income (loss)	989,639	811,248	637,650	144,078	522,952	468,892	430,732	456,300	2,582,615	1,878,876	2,147,621
Interest income									22,734	77,214	44,759
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized									(12,974)	(23,687)	(15,006)
Other, net									(20,164)	11,524	11,801
Income tax (provision) benefit, net									(698,275)	(451,358)	(533,684)
Net income (loss)	761,297	$ 532,959	$ 480,406	$ 99,274	413,547	$ 377,157	$ 340,566	$ 361,299	1,873,936	1,492,569	1,655,491
Asset Impairment Charges									356,418
United States
Segment information
Revenues									15,442,371	12,759,909	13,578,254
Canada And Mexico
Segment information
Revenues									51,064	47,775	43,048
Pay-TV
Segment information
Revenues									12,897,413	12,810,248	13,621,198
Depreciation and amortization									613,926	621,810	698,336
Operating income (loss)									2,903,183	1,961,700	2,187,675
Interest income									1,676,953	1,588,023	1,495,371
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized									(922,876)	(988,295)	(1,013,062)
Other, net									2,020	10,940	8,957
Income tax (provision) benefit, net									(836,296)	(615,664)	(650,858)
Net income (loss)									2,822,984	1,956,705	2,028,083
Pay-TV | Operating segment
Segment information
Total assets	36,251,281				31,531,612				36,251,281	31,531,612
Wireless
Segment information
Revenues									2,599,842	1,673	580
Depreciation and amortization									100,626	8,767	13,688
Operating income (loss)									(320,568)	(82,824)	(40,054)
Interest income									4
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized									(744,321)	(546,201)	(452,556)
Other, net									(22,184)	584	2,844
Income tax (provision) benefit, net									138,021	164,306	117,174
Net income (loss)									(949,048)	(464,136)	(372,592)
Wireless | Operating segment
Segment information
Total assets	29,921,237				25,686,381				29,921,237	25,686,381
All Other and Eliminations
Segment information
Revenues									(3,820)	(4,237)	(476)
Interest income									(1,654,223)	(1,510,809)	(1,450,612)
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized									1,654,223	1,510,809	1,450,612
All Other and Eliminations | Other and Eliminations
Segment information
Total assets	$ (27,932,571)				$ (23,987,058)				(27,932,571)	(23,987,058)
Pay-TV subscriber and related revenue
Segment information
Revenues									12,702,345	12,616,442	13,456,088
Wireless services and related revenue
Segment information
Revenues									2,143,703
Equipment sales and other revenue | Pay-TV
Segment information
Revenues									195,068	193,806	165,110
Equipment sales and other revenue | Wireless
Segment information
Revenues									456,139	1,673	580
Equipment sales and other revenue | All Other and Eliminations
Segment information
Revenues									$ (3,820)	$ (4,237)	$ (476)