Discontinued Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Feb. 28, 2017
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Income Statement Disclosures [Abstract]
Net income from discontinued operations	$ 0	$ 531	$ 0	$ 7,108
Discontinued Operations
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Income Statement Disclosures [Abstract]
Equipment, services and other revenue - DISH Network		0		143,063
Equipment, services and other revenue - other		225		10,389
Total revenue		225		153,452
Cost of equipment, services and other		111		121,954
Selling, general and administrative expenses		239		6,092
Research and development expenses		0		4,635
Depreciation and amortization		0		11,659
Total costs and expenses		350		144,340
Operating income (expense)		(125)		9,112
Interest expense		0		(15)
Equity in losses of unconsolidated affiliates, net		0		(1,159)
Other, net		2		(63)
Total income (expense), net		2		(1,237)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations before income taxes		(123)		7,875
Income tax benefit (provision)		654		(767)
Net income from discontinued operations		$ 531		7,108
Discontinued Operation, Alternative Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Expenditures for property and equipment from our discontinued operations				$ 12,500
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Balance Sheet Disclosures [Abstract]
Total assets of discontinued operations					$ 100
Total liabilities of discontinued operations					$ 500
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%