CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Revenue:
Services and other revenue - DISH Network	$ 100,171	$ 113,734	$ 203,976	$ 228,689
Services and other revenue - other	375,445	285,053	730,485	554,844
Equipment revenue - other	50,341	66,289	93,288	114,694
Total revenue	525,957	465,076	1,027,749	898,227
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales - services and other (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	151,157	138,227	299,902	273,415
Cost of sales - equipment (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	41,865	53,662	80,936	94,195
Selling, general and administrative expenses	103,074	89,826	206,349	172,817
Research and development expenses	6,647	7,437	13,784	15,142
Depreciation and amortization	148,449	130,034	294,003	245,117
Total costs and expenses	451,192	419,186	894,974	800,686
Operating income	74,765	45,890	132,775	97,541
Other income (expense):
Interest income	19,253	10,039	34,888	18,330
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized	(61,534)	(55,456)	(124,285)	(100,852)
Gains (losses) on investments, net	65,396	1,837	28,733	10,574
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated affiliates, net	(2,058)	4,831	(3,067)	11,239
Other, net	(336)	2,453	(132)	3,525
Total other income (expense), net	20,721	(36,296)	(63,863)	(57,184)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	95,486	9,594	68,912	40,357
Income tax provision, net	(17,802)	(3,003)	(12,399)	(2,991)
Net income from continuing operations	77,684	6,591	56,513	37,366
Net income from discontinued operations	0	531	0	7,108
Net income	77,684	7,122	56,513	44,474
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in HSS Tracking Stock (Note 1)	0	0	0	(655)
Less: Net income attributable to other noncontrolling interests	462	182	842	474
Net income attributable to EchoStar Corporation	77,222	6,940	55,671	44,655
Less: Net loss attributable to Hughes Retail Preferred Tracking Stock (Note 1)	0	0	0	(1,209)
Net income attributable to EchoStar Corporation common stock	$ 77,222	$ 6,940	$ 55,671	$ 45,864
Earnings Per Share, Basic [Abstract]
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.80	$ 0.07	$ 0.58	$ 0.41
Total basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	0.80	0.07	0.58	0.48
Earnings Per Share, Diluted [Abstract]
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	0.80	0.07	0.57	0.40
Total diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.80	$ 0.07	$ 0.57	$ 0.48