CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Revenue:
Services and other revenue - DISH Network	$ 103,805	$ 114,955
Services and other revenue - other	355,040	269,791
Equipment revenue - other	42,947	48,405
Total revenue	501,792	433,151
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales - services and other (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	143,793	131,783
Cost of sales - equipment (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	44,023	43,938
Selling, general and administrative expenses	103,275	82,991
Research and development expenses	7,137	7,705
Depreciation and amortization	145,554	115,083
Total costs and expenses	443,782	381,500
Operating income	58,010	51,651
Other income (expense):
Interest income	15,635	8,291
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized	(62,751)	(45,396)
Gains (losses) on investments, net	(36,663)	12,035
Other-than-temporary impairment loss on available-for-sale securities	0	(3,298)
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated affiliates, net	(1,009)	6,408
Other, net	204	1,072
Total other expense, net	(84,584)	(20,888)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(26,574)	30,763
Income tax benefit, net	5,403	12
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	(21,171)	30,775
Net income from discontinued operations	0	6,577
Net income (loss)	(21,171)	37,352
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in HSS Tracking Stock (Note 1)	0	(655)
Less: Net income attributable to other noncontrolling interests	380	292
Net income (loss) attributable to EchoStar Corporation	(21,551)	37,715
Less: Net loss attributable to Hughes Retail Preferred Tracking Stock (Note 1)	0	(1,209)
Net income (loss) attributable to EchoStar Corporation common stock	(21,551)	38,924
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	(21,551)	32,347
Net income from discontinued operations	$ 0	$ 6,577
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - Class A and B common stock:
Basic (in shares)	95,888	94,745
Diluted (in shares)	95,888	95,893
Earnings Per Share, Basic [Abstract]
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.22)	$ 0.34
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0	0.07
Total basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	(0.22)	0.41
Earnings Per Share, Diluted [Abstract]
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	(0.22)	0.34
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0	0.07
Total diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.22)	$ 0.41