CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Revenue:
Services and other revenue - DISH Network	$ 114,955	$ 116,449
Services and other revenue - other	269,791	269,897
Equipment revenue - DISH Network	31	2,769
Equipment revenue - other	48,374	42,859
Total revenue	433,151	431,974
Costs and Expenses:
Cost of sales - services and other (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	131,783	125,582
Cost of sales - equipment (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	43,938	43,108
Selling, general and administrative expenses	82,991	80,545
Research and development expenses	7,705	6,932
Depreciation and amortization	115,083	110,077
Total costs and expenses	381,500	366,244
Operating income	51,651	65,730
Other Income (Expense):
Interest income	8,291	3,965
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized	(45,396)	(23,171)
Gains on investments, net	12,035	2,462
Other-than-temporary impairment loss on available-for-sale securities	(3,298)	0
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated affiliates, net	6,408	(808)
Other, net	1,072	7,379
Total other expense, net	(20,888)	(10,173)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	30,763	55,557
Income tax benefit (provision)	12	(20,172)
Net income from continuing operations	30,775	35,385
Net income from discontinued operations	6,577	13,058
Net income	37,352	48,443
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in HSS Tracking Stock	(655)	(823)
Less: Net income attributable to other noncontrolling interests	292	111
Net income attributable to EchoStar	37,715	49,155
Less: Net loss attributable to Hughes Retail Preferred Tracking Stock	(1,209)	(1,519)
Net income attributable to EchoStar common stock	38,924	50,674
Net income from continuing operations	32,347	37,616
Net income from discontinued operations	$ 6,577	$ 13,058
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - Class A and B common stock:
Basic (in shares)	94,745	93,331
Diluted (in shares)	95,893	93,852
Earnings Per Share, Basic [Abstract]
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.34	$ 0.40
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.07	0.14
Total basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	0.41	0.54
Earnings Per Share, Diluted [Abstract]
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	0.34	0.40
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.07	0.14
Total diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.41	$ 0.54