CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common stock	Hughes Retail Preferred Tracking Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Earnings (Deficit)	Treasury Stock	Noncontrolling Interest in HSS Tracking Stock	Other Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 3,226,231	$ 96	$ 0	$ 3,502,005	$ (14,655)	$ (171,914)	$ (98,162)	$ 0	$ 8,861
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Exercise of stock options	16,710	2		16,708
Employee benefits	10,316			10,316
Employee Stock Purchase Plan	12,147			12,147
Stock-based compensation	14,683			14,683
Issuance of Hughes Retail Preferred Tracking Stock	250,687		6	163,510				87,171
Sling TV Holding exchange	8,843			8,843
EchoStar XXI option payment, net	(9,569)			(9,569)
Excess tax benefit from stock option exercises	(7,252)			(7,252)
R&D tax credits utilized by DISH Network	(5,269)			(5,269)
Net income (loss)	147,549					152,874		(6,714)	1,389
Unrealized losses on available-for sale securities, net and other	(9,503)				(9,503)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(31,935)				(31,698)				(237)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2014	3,623,638	98	6	3,706,122	(55,856)	(19,040)	(98,162)	80,457	10,013
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Exercise of stock options	24,841	1		24,840
Employee benefits	10,711			10,711
Employee Stock Purchase Plan	13,888			13,888
Stock-based compensation	21,839			21,839
Excess tax benefit from stock option exercises	3,929			3,929
R&D tax credits utilized by DISH Network	(3,048)			(3,048)
Other, net	(1,830)			(1,830)
Net income (loss)	149,371					153,357		(5,603)	1,617
Unrealized losses on available-for sale securities, net and other	(855)				(855)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(60,842)				(60,522)				(320)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2015	3,781,642	99	6	3,776,451	(117,233)	134,317	(98,162)	74,854	11,310
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Exercise of stock options	13,066	1		13,065
Employee benefits	11,126			11,126
Employee Stock Purchase Plan	14,367			14,367
Stock-based compensation	15,234			15,234
Excess tax benefit from stock option exercises	848			848
R&D tax credits utilized by DISH Network	(1,600)			(1,600)
Other, net	(814)			(814)
Net income (loss)	180,692					179,930		(944)	1,706
Unrealized losses on available-for sale securities, net and other	3,559				3,559
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(11,315)				(11,129)				(186)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 4,006,805	$ 100	$ 6	$ 3,828,677	$ (124,803)	$ 314,247	$ (98,162)	$ 73,910	$ 12,830