Discontinued Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Feb. 28, 2017
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Income Statement Disclosures [Abstract]
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	$ 0	$ (654)	$ 0	$ 6,454
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		(45)		10,344
Total revenue		(45)		153,407
Cost of equipment, services and other		19		121,973
Selling, general and administrative expenses		(590)		5,502
Research and development expenses		0		4,635
Depreciation and amortization		0		11,659
Total costs and expenses		(571)		143,769
Operating income (expense)		526		9,638
Interest expense		0		(15)
Equity in losses of unconsolidated affiliates, net		0		(1,159)
Other, net		2		(61)
Total income (expense), net		2		(1,235)
Income from discontinued operations before income taxes		528		8,403
Income tax provision, net		(1,182)		(1,949)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations		$ (654)		6,454
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%