CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Revenue:
Total revenue	$ 532,953	$ 481,233	$ 1,560,702	$ 1,379,460
Costs and expenses:
Selling, general and administrative expenses	107,490	91,003	313,839	263,820
Research and development expenses	6,544	8,302	20,328	23,444
Depreciation and amortization	150,555	134,822	444,558	379,939
Total costs and expenses	462,918	424,819	1,357,892	1,225,505
Operating income	70,035	56,414	202,810	153,955
Other income (expense):
Interest income	21,349	12,012	56,237	30,342
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized	(62,086)	(55,646)	(186,371)	(156,498)
Gains and losses on investments, net	4,693	20,090	33,426	30,664
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated affiliates, net	416	4,381	(2,651)	15,620
Other, net	(5,069)	4,686	(5,201)	8,211
Total other income (expense), net	(40,697)	(14,477)	(104,560)	(71,661)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	29,338	41,937	98,250	82,294
Income tax provision, net	(12,836)	(6,082)	(25,235)	(9,073)
Net income from continuing operations	16,502	35,855	73,015	73,221
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	0	(654)	0	6,454
Net income	16,502	35,201	73,015	79,675
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	450	532	1,292	351
Net income attributable to EchoStar Corporation	16,052	34,669	71,723	79,324
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	$ 16,052	$ 34,669	$ 71,723	$ 80,533
Earnings Per Share, Basic [Abstract]
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.17	$ 0.37	$ 0.75	$ 0.78
Total basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	0.17	0.36	0.75	0.84
Earnings Per Share, Diluted [Abstract]
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	0.17	0.36	0.74	0.77
Total diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.17	$ 0.36	$ 0.74	$ 0.83
Service [Member]
Revenue:
Total revenue	$ 388,248	$ 310,973	$ 1,118,733	$ 865,817
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales - services and other (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	152,011	143,048	451,913	416,463
Product [Member]
Revenue:
Total revenue	56,846	59,125	150,134	173,819
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales - services and other (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	46,318	47,644	127,254	141,839
DISH Network | Service [Member]
Revenue:
Total revenue	$ 87,859	$ 111,135	$ 291,835	$ 339,824