CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Revenue:
Services and other revenue - DISH Network	$ 111,135	$ 115,127	$ 339,824	$ 347,440
Services and other revenue - other	310,973	276,280	865,817	820,149
Equipment revenue - DISH Network	126	2,138	175	7,008
Equipment revenue - other	58,999	66,501	173,644	160,081
Total revenue	481,233	460,046	1,379,460	1,334,678
Costs and Expenses:
Cost of sales - services and other (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	138,641	131,594	404,448	384,942
Cost of sales - equipment (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	52,051	53,599	153,854	143,252
Selling, general and administrative expenses	91,003	80,672	263,820	240,454
Research and development expenses	8,302	9,030	23,444	23,524
Depreciation and amortization	134,822	108,549	379,939	324,743
Total costs and expenses	424,819	383,444	1,225,505	1,116,915
Operating income	56,414	76,602	153,955	217,763
Other Income (Expense):
Interest income	12,012	6,259	30,342	13,726
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized	(55,646)	(37,316)	(156,498)	(80,376)
Gains on investments, net	20,090	230	33,962	8,179
Other-than-temporary impairment loss on available-for-sale securities	0	0	(3,298)	0
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates, net	4,381	4,166	15,620	8,984
Other, net	4,686	364	8,211	5,531
Total other expense, net	(14,477)	(26,297)	(71,661)	(43,956)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	41,937	50,305	82,294	173,807
Income tax provision	(6,082)	(17,394)	(9,073)	(61,258)
Net income from continuing operations	35,855	32,911	73,221	112,549
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	(654)	4,499	6,454	29,213
Net income	35,201	37,410	79,675	141,762
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest in HSS Tracking Stock	0	85	(655)	(926)
Less: Net income attributable to other noncontrolling interests	532	524	1,006	946
Net income attributable to EchoStar	34,669	36,801	79,324	141,742
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to Hughes Retail Preferred Tracking Stock	0	157	(1,209)	(1,709)
Net income attributable to EchoStar common stock	34,669	36,644	80,533	143,451
Net income from continuing operations	35,323	32,145	74,079	114,238
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	$ (654)	$ 4,499	$ 6,454	$ 29,213
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - Class A and B common stock:
Basic (in shares)	95,656	93,898	95,316	93,661
Diluted (in shares)	96,890	94,401	96,626	94,189
Earnings Per Share, Basic [Abstract]
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.37	$ 0.34	$ 0.78	$ 1.22
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	(0.01)	0.05	0.06	0.31
Total basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	0.36	0.39	0.84	1.53
Earnings Per Share, Diluted [Abstract]
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	0.36	0.34	0.77	1.21
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0	0.05	0.06	0.31
Total diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.36	$ 0.39	$ 0.83	$ 1.52