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	32,950	1		32,949
Employee benefits	11,200			11,200
Employee Stock Purchase Plan	4,540			4,540
Stock-based compensation	3,908			3,908
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	(320)			(320)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	23,789				23,789
Unrealized gains (losses) and impairment on available-for-sale securities, net	14,921				14,921
Net income	44,474					44,655		(655)	474
Other	25				25
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest at Jun. 30, 2017	3,856,724	101	0	3,654,139	(86,068)	373,410	(98,162)	0	13,304
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	4,045			4,045
Employee benefits	7,605			7,605
Employee Stock Purchase Plan	4,886			4,886
Stock-based compensation	5,110			5,110
R&D tax credits utilized by DISH Network	(1,798)			(1,798)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(35,135)				(34,336)				(799)
Unrealized gains (losses) and impairment on available-for-sale securities, net	253				253
Net income	56,513					55,671			842
Other	263			(129)	(241)	633
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest at Jun. 30, 2018	$ 4,244,252	$ 102	$ 0	$ 3,689,180	$ (154,011)	$ 792,278	$ (98,162)	$ 0	$ 14,865