Discontinued Operations (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Feb. 28, 2017
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Income Statement Disclosures [Abstract]
Net income from discontinued operations	$ 0	$ 6,577,000
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Balance Sheet Disclosures [Abstract]
Total assets of discontinued operations			$ 100,000
Total liabilities of discontinued operations			$ 500,000
Discontinued Operations
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Income Statement Disclosures [Abstract]
Equipment, services and other revenue - DISH Network		143,063,000
Equipment, services and other revenue - other		10,164,000
Total revenue		153,227,000
Cost of equipment, services and other		121,843,000
Selling, general and administrative expenses		5,853,000
Research and development expenses		4,635,000
Depreciation and amortization		11,659,000
Total costs and expenses		143,990,000
Operating income		9,237,000
Interest expense		(15,000)
Equity in losses of unconsolidated affiliates, net		(1,159,000)
Other, net		(65,000)
Total expense, net		(1,239,000)
Income from discontinued operations before income taxes		7,998,000
Income tax provision		(1,421,000)
Net income from discontinued operations		6,577,000
Discontinued Operation, Alternative Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Expenditures for property and equipment from our discontinued operations		$ 12,500,000
EchoStar Technologies Business | DISH Network | Share Exchange Agreement
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Ownership interest acquired by related party				100.00%