CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 2,372,907	$ 2,455,946	$ 1,873,936
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	717,073	724,852	714,552
Impairment of long-lived assets (Note 2)			356,418
Realized and unrealized losses (gains) on investments, derivatives and other	(1,040,651)	19,724	21,822
Non-cash, stock-based compensation	71,450	51,680	64,954
Deferred tax expense (benefit)	702,735	602,044	899,173
Changes in allowance for credit losses	5,819	(33,836)	28,622
Change in long-term deferred revenue and other long-term liabilities	86,039	(1,400)	(244,660)
Other, net	235,856	98,278	4,735
Changes in current assets and current liabilities, net
Trade accounts receivable	(24,234)	209,456	(25,172)
Prepaid and accrued income taxes	(36,115)	81,197	(84,633)
Inventory	36,722	(167,985)	58,291
Other current assets	27,992	(62,356)	(271,227)
Trade accounts payable	79,116	101,034	73,268
Deferred revenue and other	(52,105)	(98,808)	(499)
Accrued programming and other accrued expenses	(90,504)	51,425	(157,804)
Net cash flows from operating activities	3,092,100	4,031,251	3,311,776
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Purchases of marketable investment securities	(898,326)	(4,687,033)	(1,902,599)
Sales and maturities of marketable investment securities	3,023,236	2,069,343	1,944,748
Purchases of property and equipment	(2,727,302)	(1,185,642)	(413,302)
Capitalized interest related to FCC authorizations (Note 2)	(984,309)	(777,885)	(779,204)
Refund of FCC authorization deposit		337,490
Purchases of FCC authorizations, including deposits	(7,206,865)	(122,657)	(1,387,542)
Boost Mobile Acquisition			(1,312,500)
Other, net	6,527	(44,029)	(11,173)
Net cash flows from investing activities	(8,787,039)	(4,410,413)	(3,861,572)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Repayment of long-term debt and finance lease obligations	(83,117)	(89,876)	(100,536)
Redemption and repurchases of senior notes	(2,056,821)	(2,000,000)	(1,100,000)
Northstar Spectrum LLC Purchase Agreement			(311,735)
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes	2,000,000	6,750,000	1,000,000
Proceeds from issuance of convertible notes			2,000,000
Net proceeds from Class A common stock options exercised and stock issued under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan	18,132	58,303	27,414
Debt issuance costs and debt discount	(51,121)	(34,459)	(15,675)
Other, net	(18,413)	(24,540)	2
Net cash flows from financing activities	(191,340)	4,659,428	1,499,470
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents	(5,886,279)	4,280,266	949,674
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period (Note 6)	7,734,260	3,453,994	2,504,320
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents, end of period (Note 6)	$ 1,847,981	$ 7,734,260	$ 3,453,994