CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Revenue:
Services and other revenue - DISH Network	$ 113,734	$ 115,864	$ 228,689	$ 232,313
Services and other revenue - other	285,053	273,972	554,844	543,869
Equipment revenue - DISH Network	18	2,101	49	4,870
Equipment revenue - other	66,271	50,721	114,645	93,580
Total revenue	465,076	442,658	898,227	874,632
Costs and Expenses:
Cost of sales - services and other (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	134,024	127,766	265,807	253,348
Cost of sales - equipment (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	57,865	46,545	101,803	89,653
Selling, general and administrative expenses	89,826	79,237	172,817	159,782
Research and development expenses	7,437	7,562	15,142	14,494
Depreciation and amortization	130,034	106,117	245,117	216,194
Total costs and expenses	419,186	367,227	800,686	733,471
Operating income	45,890	75,431	97,541	141,161
Other Income (Expense):
Interest income	10,039	3,502	18,330	7,467
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized	(55,456)	(19,889)	(100,852)	(43,060)
Gains on investments, net	1,837	5,487	13,872	7,949
Other-than-temporary impairment loss on available-for-sale securities	0	0	(3,298)	0
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates, net	4,831	5,626	11,239	4,818
Other, net	2,453	(2,212)	3,525	5,167
Total other expense, net	(36,296)	(7,486)	(57,184)	(17,659)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	9,594	67,945	40,357	123,502
Income tax provision	(3,003)	(23,692)	(2,991)	(43,864)
Net income from continuing operations	6,591	44,253	37,366	79,638
Net income from discontinued operations	531	11,656	7,108	24,714
Net income	7,122	55,909	44,474	104,352
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in HSS Tracking Stock	0	(188)	(655)	(1,011)
Less: Net income attributable to other noncontrolling interests	182	311	474	422
Net income attributable to EchoStar	6,940	55,786	44,655	104,941
Less: Net loss attributable to Hughes Retail Preferred Tracking Stock	0	(347)	(1,209)	(1,866)
Net income attributable to EchoStar common stock	6,940	56,133	45,864	106,807
Net income from continuing operations	6,409	44,477	38,756	82,093
Net income from discontinued operations	$ 531	$ 11,656	$ 7,108	$ 24,714
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - Class A and B common stock:
Basic (in shares)	95,537	93,751	95,143	93,541
Diluted (in shares)	96,785	94,330	96,451	94,090
Earnings Per Share, Basic [Abstract]
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.07	$ 0.47	$ 0.41	$ 0.88
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0	0.13	0.07	0.26
Total basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	0.07	0.60	0.48	1.14
Earnings Per Share, Diluted [Abstract]
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	0.07	0.47	0.40	0.87
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0	0.13	0.08	0.27
Total diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.07	$ 0.60	$ 0.48	$ 1.14