CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Current Assets:
Allowance for doubtful accounts on trade accounts receivable (in dollars)	$ 14,368	$ 13,237
Allowance for doubtful accounts on trade accounts receivable - DISH Network (in dollars)	0	0
Property and equipment, accumulated depreciation (in dollars)	$ 2,598,240	$ 2,499,889
Preferred Stock
Stockholders' Equity:
Preferred Stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares)	20,000,000	20,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)	0	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	0	0
Hughes Retail Preferred Tracking Stock
Stockholders' Equity:
Preferred Stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.001
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares)	13,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)	6,290,499	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	6,290,499.000	0
Class A common stock
Stockholders' Equity:
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	1,600,000,000	1,600,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	48,757,838	48,370,956
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	43,225,520	42,838,638
Class B common stock
Stockholders' Equity:
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	800,000,000	800,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	47,687,039	47,687,039
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	47,687,039	47,687,039
Class C common stock
Stockholders' Equity:
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	800,000,000	800,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	0	0
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	0	0
Class D common stock
Stockholders' Equity:
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	800,000,000	800,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	0	0
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	0	0