Related Party Transactions (Details 3) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015	May. 31, 2014	Feb. 29, 2008	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2009	May. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Related party transactions
Amount payable to related party				$ 23,247		$ 23,247				$ 32,474
Amount receivable from related party				247,453		247,453				251,669
Hughes Systique Corporation
Related party transactions
Repayment of loan	$ 700			600
Remaining balance of loan				900		$ 900
Ownership interest in related party (as a percent)						44.00%
Ownership percentage by related party						25.80%
Hughes Systique Corporation | HNS
Related party transactions
Amount agreed to be funded under term loan facility			$ 1,500
Amount funded			$ 500					$ 1,000
Interest rate (as a percent)		8.00%	6.00%
NagraStar
Related party transactions
Ownership interest in related party (as a percent)						50.00%
Purchases from related party				4,400	$ 5,900	$ 13,000	$ 15,500
Amount payable to related party				1,100		$ 1,100				3,200
Dish Mexico
Related party transactions
Ownership interest in related party (as a percent)						49.00%
Digital set-top boxes and related accessories				19,887	14,741	$ 45,432	40,146
Sales of satellite services				5,837	5,837	17,510	17,510
Uplink services				1,030	1,530	3,981	4,745
Amount receivable from related party				28,786		$ 28,786				11,012
Deluxe
Related party transactions
Ownership interest in related party (as a percent)						50.00%
Revenue recognized from equipment and services provided to related party				700	$ 800	$ 2,100	$ 2,500
Receivables from related party				100		100				$ 200
SmarDTV SA
Related party transactions
Equity interest in joint venture (as a percentage)									22.50%
Purchases from related party				1,700		2,600
Amount payable to related party				2,300		2,300
Note receivable from related party				$ 600		$ 600