CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Revenue:
Services and other revenue - other	$ 1,200,321	$ 1,100,828	$ 1,093,674
Services and other revenue - DISH Network	445,698	463,442	532,162
Equipment revenue - other	239,199	237,356	212,269
Equipment revenue - DISH Network	290	8,840	10,752
Total revenue	1,885,508	1,810,466	1,848,857
Costs and Expenses:
Cost of sales - services and other (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	546,327	521,220	574,400
Cost of sales - equipment (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	212,170	203,965	195,360
Selling, general and administrative expenses	366,007	325,044	318,136
Research and development expenses	31,745	31,170	26,377
Depreciation and amortization	522,190	432,904	460,819
Impairment of long-lived assets	10,762	0	0
Total costs and expenses	1,689,201	1,514,303	1,575,092
Operating income	196,307	296,163	273,765
Other Income (Expense):
Interest income	44,619	21,244	10,388
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized	(217,240)	(123,481)	(121,995)
Gains (losses) on investments, net	56,751	9,767	(6,443)
Other-than-temporary impairment loss on available-for-sale securities	(3,298)	0	(11,226)
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated affiliates, net	16,973	10,802	(2,477)
Other, net	6,582	2,131	(2,685)
Total other expense, net	(95,613)	(79,537)	(134,438)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	100,694	216,626	139,327
Income tax benefit (provision), net	284,286	(80,254)	(51,235)
Net income from continuing operations	384,980	136,372	88,092
Net income from discontinued operations	8,509	44,320	61,279
Net income	393,489	180,692	149,371
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in HSS Tracking Stock	(655)	(944)	(5,603)
Less: Net income attributable to other noncontrolling interests	1,583	1,706	1,617
Net income attributable to EchoStar	392,561	179,930	153,357
Less: Net loss attributable to Hughes Retail Preferred Tracking Stock	(1,209)	(1,743)	(10,343)
Net income attributable to EchoStar common stock	393,770	181,673	163,700
Net income from continuing operations	385,261	137,353	102,421
Net income from discontinued operations	$ 8,509	$ 44,320	$ 61,279
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - Class A and B common stock:
Basic (in shares)	95,425	93,795	92,397
Diluted (in shares)	96,741	94,410	93,466
Earnings Per Share, Basic [Abstract]
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Basic Share (in dollars)	$ 4.04	$ 1.46	$ 1.11
Discontinued Operation, Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax, Per Basic Share (in dollars)	0.09	0.48	0.66
Basic earnings per share (in dollars)	4.13	1.94	1.77
Earnings Per Share, Diluted [Abstract]
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Diluted Share (in dollars)	3.98	1.45	1.10
Discontinued Operation, Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax, Per Diluted Share (in dollars)	0.09	0.47	0.65
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars)	$ 4.07	$ 1.92	$ 1.75