CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income	$ 393,489	$ 180,692	$ 149,371
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	533,849	495,068	528,158
Impairment of long-lived assets	10,762	0	2,400
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates, net	(15,814)	(13,310)	(1,895)
Losses (gains) and impairment on marketable investment securities, net	(53,453)	(9,767)	17,669
Loss from partial redemption of debt	0	0	5,044
Stock-based compensation	10,103	15,234	21,839
Deferred tax provision (benefit)	(288,577)	98,148	56,132
Dividends received from unconsolidated entities	19,000	15,000	5,000
Proceeds from sale of trading securities	8,922	7,140	380
Changes in current assets and current liabilities, net:
Trade accounts receivable, net	421	(26,942)	(38,452)
Trade accounts receivable - DISH Network	235,227	(1,456)	(25,490)
Inventory	(19,291)	(4,814)	(4,906)
Other current assets	(15,352)	2,263	6,499
Trade accounts payable	(78,419)	(24,571)	37,228
Trade accounts payable - DISH Network	731	(19,650)	(7,792)
Accrued expenses and other	11,993	55,998	1,477
Changes in noncurrent assets and noncurrent liabilities, net	(36,975)	9,459	1,616
Other, net	10,276	24,851	22,173
Net cash flows from operating activities	726,892	803,343	776,451
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Purchases of marketable investment securities	(855,717)	(921,247)	(536,430)
Sales and maturities of marketable investment securities	578,051	1,001,166	1,057,034
Expenditures for property and equipment	(583,211)	(722,341)	(809,270)
Refunds and other receipts related to capital expenditures	4,311	24,087	105,750
Sale of investment in unconsolidated entity	17,781	0	0
Investments in unconsolidated entities	0	(1,636)	(64,655)
Expenditures for externally marketed software	(31,331)	(23,252)	(22,327)
Other, net	2,114	10,956	(5,413)
Net cash flows from investing activities	(868,002)	(632,267)	(275,311)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	0	1,500,000	0
Payments of debt issuance costs	(414)	(7,097)	0
Repayment of 6 1/2% Senior Secured Notes Due 2019 and related premium	0	0	(113,300)
Repayment of debt and capital lease obligations	(37,670)	(40,364)	(44,804)
Net proceeds from Class A common stock options exercised	35,536	13,065	24,841
Net proceeds from Class A common stock issued under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan	8,758	14,367	13,888
Cash exchanged for Tracking Stock	(651)	0	0
Other, net	(5,487)	(4,282)	(882)
Net cash flows from financing activities	72	1,475,689	(120,257)
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents	1,351	138	(5,696)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(139,687)	1,646,903	375,187
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value, Including Discontinued Operations	2,571,143	924,240	549,053
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value, Including Discontinued Operations	2,431,456	2,571,143	924,240
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:
Cash paid for interest (including capitalized interest)	259,632	172,707	179,114
Capitalized interest	52,015	94,395	63,808
Cash paid for income taxes	11,033	11,700	6,394
Employee benefits paid in Class A common stock	11,200	11,126	10,711
Property and equipment financed under capital lease obligations	8,484	7,652	8,604
Increase (decrease) in capital expenditures included in accounts payable, net	(3,831)	3,054	(7,123)
Transfer of EchoStar 105/SES-11 payloads to SES in exchange for receivable	77,524	0	0
Capitalized in-orbit incentive obligations	43,890	0	0
Noncash net assets exchanged for Tracking Stock	$ 299,888	$ 0	$ 0