Segment Reporting (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014 item	Mar. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting
Number of business segments	3
Segment Reporting
Total revenue	$ 826,023	$ 795,454
EBITDA	191,884	171,634
Capital expenditures	113,625	72,620
Interest income and expense, net	(43,446)	(47,123)
Depreciation and amortization	(133,226)	(126,699)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in HSS Tracking Stock	(324)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	299	40
Income (loss) before income taxes	15,187	(2,148)
EchoStar Technologies Business
Segment Reporting
Total revenue	405,692	426,773
Hughes Business
Segment Reporting
Total revenue	314,371	289,181
EchoStar Satellite Services Business
Segment Reporting
Total revenue	99,872	73,346
All Other and Eliminations
Segment Reporting
Total revenue	6,088	6,154
Operating segments \| EchoStar Technologies Business
Segment Reporting
Total revenue	405,793	426,994
EBITDA	38,964	29,925
Capital expenditures	13,922	12,311
Operating segments \| Hughes Business
Segment Reporting
Total revenue	314,771	289,399
EBITDA	81,939	63,981
Capital expenditures	45,972	44,340
Operating segments \| EchoStar Satellite Services Business
Segment Reporting
Total revenue	100,821	74,202
EBITDA	84,782	64,806
Capital expenditures	29	12,272
Intersegment Elimination \| EchoStar Technologies Business
Segment Reporting
Total revenue	101	221
Intersegment Elimination \| Hughes Business
Segment Reporting
Total revenue	400	218
Intersegment Elimination \| EchoStar Satellite Services Business
Segment Reporting
Total revenue	949	856
Intersegment Elimination \| All Other and Eliminations
Segment Reporting
Total revenue	(1,450)	(1,295)
All Other and Eliminations \| All Other and Eliminations
Segment Reporting
Total revenue	4,638	4,859
EBITDA	(13,801)	12,922
Capital expenditures	$ 53,702	$ 3,697

Represents the amount of earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization.

No definition available.

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- Definition

EBITDA adjustment for net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

EBITDA adjustment for net income (loss) attributable to subsidiary preferred tracking stock noncontrolling interest.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The current period expense charged against earnings on long-lived, physical assets not used in production, and which are not intended for resale, to allocate or recognize the cost of such assets over their useful lives; or to record the reduction in book value of an intangible asset over the benefit period of such asset; or to reflect consumption during the period of an asset that is not used in production.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 360

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)

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-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

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- Definition

This element represents the income or loss from continuing operations attributable to the economic entity which may also be defined as revenue less expenses from ongoing operations, after income or loss from equity method investments, but before income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 10

-Article 5

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- Definition

The net amount of operating interest income (expense).

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 225

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.10)

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- Definition

Number of segments reported by the entity. A reportable segment is a component of an entity for which there is an accounting requirement to report separate financial information on that component in the entity's financial statements.

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- Definition

The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale; includes cash outflows to pay for construction of self-constructed assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Investing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph (c)

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- Definition

Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)

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