Related Party Transactions - DISH Network (Details) $ in Thousands		1 Months Ended																							12 Months Ended
	Mar. 01, 2014 USD ($) satellite	Feb. 28, 2022	Apr. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Feb. 28, 2017	Jan. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Nov. 30, 2016	Jul. 31, 2016	Nov. 30, 2015	Nov. 30, 2014	Oct. 31, 2014	May 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014 USD ($) satellite	Feb. 28, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2012	May 31, 2012	May 31, 2010	Feb. 28, 2010	Jan. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Sep. 30, 2009 transponder	Nov. 30, 2008 transponder	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) term	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 01, 2014	Feb. 28, 2013 transponder	Jul. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2010 USD ($)
Related party transactions
Net proceeds from issuance of Tracking Stock (Note 4) | $																									$ 0	$ 0	$ 7,526
Sling TV Holding
Related party transactions
Non-voting interest in cost method investment percentage																												10.00%	10.00%
Equity interest, percentage in joint venture																															33.00%
Hughes Broadband Distribution Agreement
Related party transactions
Agreement term																	5 years
Required minimum notice for termination of agreement																									180 days
Automatic renewal period																									1 year
DISH Network | Sling TV Holding
Related party transactions
Ownership interest acquired by related party (as a percent)																												90.00%			67.00%
Voting interests acquired by related party (as a percent)																												100.00%
DISH Network | 2012 Receiver Agreement
Related party transactions
Minimum required notice period for termination of agreement by related party																									60 days
Agreement term								1 year		1 year			1 year
DISH Network | Broadcast Agreement
Related party transactions
Minimum required notice period for termination of agreement by related party																									60 days
Agreement term								1 year
DISH Network | Broadcast Agreement for Certain Sports Related Programming
Related party transactions
Agreement term																			10 years
DISH Network | RUS Service Implementation Agreement [Member]
Related party transactions
Grants receivable by related parties | $																																	$ 14,100
DISH Network | EchoStar VII
Related party transactions
Term of renewal option							1 year
DISH Network | EchoStar VIII capacity leased to Dish Network
Related party transactions
Required minimum notice for termination of agreement																									30 days
DISH Network | EchoStar XVI
Related party transactions
Agreement term									1 year													10 years
Agreement term from commencement of service date																4 years
Renewal option reduction									1 year
Term of renewal option																									5 years
Additional term of renewal option																									5 years
DISH Network | DISH Nimiq 5 Agreement [Member]
Related party transactions
Agreement term from commencement of service date																							10 years
Number of DBS transponders available to receive services																							32
DISH Network | QuetzSat-1 Transponder
Related party transactions
Number of DBS transponders currently receiving services																								24
Number of DBS transponders currently receiving services subleased back from related party																														5
DISH Network | Satellite Leasing Service Agreement | Ciel Satellite Holdings Inc [Member]
Related party transactions
Agreement term																		10 years
DISH Network | Satellite and Tracking Stock Transaction
Related party transactions
Net proceeds from issuance of Tracking Stock (Note 4) | $	$ 11,400														$ 11,400
DISH Network | Satellite and Tracking Stock Transaction | EchoStar and HSSC
Related party transactions
Number of owned satellites transferred | satellite	5													5
Net proceeds from issuance of Tracking Stock (Note 4) | $														$ 11,400
DISH Network | TT&C Agreement
Related party transactions
Minimum required notice period for termination of agreement by related party																									60 days
Agreement term								1 year
DISH Network | Meridian Lease Agreement
Related party transactions
Agreement term																									1 year
Required minimum notice period for termination of agreement after extension																									30 days
DISH Network | Santa Fe Lease Agreement
Related party transactions
Agreement term																									1 year
Required minimum notice period for termination of agreement after extension																									30 days
DISH Network | Gilbert Lease Agreement
Related party transactions
Agreement term																									1 year
Required minimum notice for termination of agreement																									30 days
DISH Network | Cheyenne Lease Agreement
Related party transactions
Required minimum notice period for termination of agreement after extension																									30 days
DISH Network | Product Support Agreement
Related party transactions
Minimum required notice period for termination of agreement by related party																									60 days
DISH Network | DISH Online.com Services Agreement
Related party transactions
Minimum required notice period for termination of agreement by related party																									120 days
Agreement term							1 year			1 year		1 year									2 years
Term of renewal option																									1 year
DISH Network | DISH Remote Access Services Agreement
Related party transactions
Minimum required notice period for termination of agreement by related party																									120 days
Agreement term																				5 years
Automatic renewal period																									1 year
DISH Network | SlingService Services Agreement
Related party transactions
Minimum required notice period for termination of agreement by related party																									120 days
Agreement term																				5 years
Automatic renewal period																									1 year
DISH Network | Set-Top Box Application Development Agreement
Related party transactions
Required minimum notice for termination of agreement																									90 days
Automatic renewal period																									1 year
DISH Network | XiP Encryption Agreement
Related party transactions
Minimum required notice period for termination of agreement by related party																									30 days
Required minimum notice period for termination of agreement by the reporting entity																									180 days
DISH Network | DBSD North America Agreement
Related party transactions
Ownership interest acquired by related party (as a percent)																																100.00%
DISH Network | Remanufactured Receiver and Services Agreement
Related party transactions
Agreement term								1 year		1 year	1 year
Required minimum notice period for termination of agreement by the reporting entity																									60 days
DISH Network | EchoStar XV capacity leased from Dish Network
Related party transactions
Required minimum notice for termination of agreement																									30 days
DISH Network | Professional Services Agreement
Related party transactions
Required minimum notice for termination of agreement																									60 days
Automatic renewal period																									1 year
Required minimum notice for termination of individual service																									30 days
DISH Network | Professional Services Agreement | Subsequent Event
Related party transactions
Agreement term						1 year
DISH Network | El Paso Lease Agreement
Related party transactions
Term of renewal option																									3 years
Number of successive three year renewal options | term																									4
Telesat Canada | TeleSat Transponder Agreement [Member]
Related party transactions
Agreement term																							15 years
Number of DBS transponders available to receive services																							32
SES Latin America | QuetzSat-1 Lease Agreement
Related party transactions
Agreement term																								10 years
Number of DBS transponders expected to receive services																								32
Hughes Retail Preferred Tracking Stock | DISH Network
Related party transactions
Percentage of economic interest held																									80.00%
Hughes Retail Group | Hughes Retail Preferred Tracking Stock | DISH Network | Satellite and Tracking Stock Transaction
Related party transactions
Percentage of economic interest held	80.00%													80.00%											80.00%
Forecast | DISH Network | DISH Remote Access Services Agreement
Related party transactions
Agreement term					1 year
Forecast | DISH Network | SlingService Services Agreement
Related party transactions
Agreement term					1 year
Forecast | DISH Network | TerreStar Agreement [Member]
Related party transactions
Minimum required notice period for termination of agreement by related party				60 days
Agreement term			1 year	1 year
Required minimum notice for termination of agreement			90 days
Forecast | DISH Network | Set-Top Box Application Development Agreement
Related party transactions
Agreement term					1 year
Forecast | DISH Network | DBSD North America Agreement
Related party transactions
Minimum required notice period for termination of agreement by related party		180 days	120 days
Agreement term		5 years	1 year