Percentage ownership in variable interest entity by other related parties.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Represents the amount agreed to be funded under the term loan facility.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
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- Definition

Amount for accounts payable to related parties. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 850
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
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-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(k)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

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- Definition

For an unclassified balance sheet, amount of receivables arising from transactions with related parties.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
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-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(3)(a)(2))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66011266&loc=d3e33918-111571

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

The amount for notes payable (written promise to pay), due to related parties.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
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- Definition

Expenses recognized resulting from transactions (excluding transactions that are eliminated in consolidated or combined financial statements) with related party.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 850
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39549-107864

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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- Definition

Identify the stated interest rate per the agreement, for example, leasing and debt arrangements between related parties.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow for the payment of a long-term borrowing made from a related party where one party can exercise control or significant influence over another party; including affiliates, owners or officers and their immediate families, pension trusts, and so forth. Alternate caption: Payments for Advances from Affiliates.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
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Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Financing Activities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of revenue, fees and commissions earned from transactions between (a) a parent company and its subsidiaries; (b) subsidiaries of a common parent; (c) an entity and trusts for the benefit of employees, for example, but not limited to, pension and profit-sharing trusts that are managed by or under the trusteeship of the entity's management; (d) an entity and its principal, owners, management, or members of their immediate families; and (e) affiliates.

+ References

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(e))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Related Parties
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=16382449

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 946
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-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6-07.1(c))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6488393&loc=d3e606610-122999

+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of the Variable Interest Entity's (VIE) voting interest owned by (or beneficial interest in) the reporting entity (directly or indirectly).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5A
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64801991&loc=SL6759159-111685

+ Details

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- Details

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- Details

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Period Type:

- Details

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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=sats_DeluxeEchoStarLLCMember
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Period Type:

- Details

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- Details

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- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=sats_HughesCommunicationsInc.Member
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Related Party Transactions (Details 3) - USD ($)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
Related Party Transactions (Details 3) - USD ($)	May 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2008	Feb. 28, 2017	May 31, 2015
Related party transactions
Amount payable to related party		$ 3,691,000		$ 1,072,000
Hughes Systique Corporation
Related party transactions
Repayment of loan				600,000	$ 1,500,000
Remaining balance of loan		$ 0
Ownership interest in related party		43.80%
Ownership percentage by related party		25.70%
NagraStar
Related party transactions
Equity interest in joint venture							50.00%
Dish Mexico
Related party transactions
Equity interest in joint venture		49.00%
Revenue recognized from related party		$ 3,900,000	$ 5,800,000
Receivables from related party		$ 10,700,000		10,700,000
Deluxe/EchoStar LLC
Related party transactions
Equity interest in joint venture		50.00%
Revenue recognized from related party		$ 1,200,000	700,000
Receivables from related party		700,000		$ 700,000
SmarDTV SA
Related party transactions
Equity interest in joint venture								22.50%
AsiaSat [Member]
Related party transactions
Expenses from Transactions with Related Party		$ 0	$ 400,000
Hughes Communications, Inc. \| Hughes Systique Corporation
Related party transactions
Amount agreed to be funded under term loan facility						$ 1,500,000
Interest rate	8.00%					6.00%