CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Class A and B Common Stock	Hughes Retail Preferred Tracking Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Earnings	Treasury Stock	Noncontrolling Interest in HSS Tracking Stock	Other Noncontrolling Interests
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 4,006,805	$ 100	$ 6	$ 3,828,677	$ (124,803)	$ 314,247	$ (98,162)	$ 73,910	$ 12,830
Cumulative Effect on Retained Earnings, Net of Tax	14,508					14,508
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest at Jan. 01, 2017	4,021,313	100	6	3,828,677	(124,803)	328,755	(98,162)	73,910	12,830
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest at Dec. 31, 2016	4,006,805	100	6	3,828,677	(124,803)	314,247	(98,162)	73,910	12,830
Exercise of stock options	28,038	1		28,037
Employee benefits	11,199			11,199
Employee Stock Purchase Plan	2,409			2,409
Stock-based compensation	956			956
Reacquisition and retirement of Tracking Stock pursuant to Share Exchange Agreement (Note 1)	(300,076)		(6)	(226,815)				(73,255)
R&D tax credits utilized by DISH Network	(93)			(93)
Other	101				101
Net income (loss)	37,352					37,715		(655)	292
Foreign currency translation adjustments	24,038				24,038
Unrealized gains (losses) and impairment on available-for-sale securities, net	20,473				20,473
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest at Mar. 31, 2017	3,845,710	101	0	3,644,370	(80,191)	366,470	(98,162)	0	13,122
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest at Dec. 31, 2017	4,177,385	102	0	3,669,461	(130,154)	721,316	(98,162)	0	14,822
Cumulative Effect on Retained Earnings, Net of Tax	25,125				10,467	14,658
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest at Jan. 01, 2018	4,202,510	102	0	3,669,461	(119,687)	735,974	(98,162)	0	14,822
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest at Dec. 31, 2017	4,177,385	102	0	3,669,461	(130,154)	721,316	(98,162)	0	14,822
Exercise of stock options	3,456			3,456
Employee benefits	7,605			7,605
Employee Stock Purchase Plan	2,636			2,636
Stock-based compensation	2,765			2,765
R&D tax credits utilized by DISH Network	(218)			(218)
Other	(228)			(128)	(100)
Net income (loss)	(21,171)					(21,551)			380
Foreign currency translation adjustments	8,592				8,806				(214)
Unrealized gains (losses) and impairment on available-for-sale securities, net	(432)				(432)
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest at Mar. 31, 2018	$ 4,205,515	$ 102	$ 0	$ 3,685,577	$ (111,413)	$ 714,423	$ (98,162)	$ 0	$ 14,988