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
Beginning balance 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
Ending balance at Jan. 01, 2017	4,021,313	100	6	3,828,677	(124,803)	328,755	(98,162)	73,910	12,830
Beginning balance 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	34,106	2		34,104
Employee benefits	11,200			11,200
Employee Stock Purchase Plan	6,938			6,938
Stock-based compensation	7,169			7,169
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	(577)			(577)
Other comprehensive loss	36,071				36,071
Net income	79,675					79,324		(655)	1,006
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2017	3,895,819	102	0	3,660,696	(88,732)	408,079	(98,162)	0	13,836
Beginning balance at Jun. 30, 2017	3,856,724	101		3,654,139	(86,068)	373,410	(98,162)		13,304
Exercise of stock options	1,156	1		1,155
Employee Stock Purchase Plan	2,398			2,398
Stock-based compensation	3,261			3,261
R&D tax credits utilized by DISH Network	(257)			(257)
Other comprehensive loss	(2,664)				(2,664)
Net income	35,201					34,669			532
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2017	3,895,819	102	0	3,660,696	(88,732)	408,079	(98,162)	0	13,836
Beginning balance 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
Ending balance at Jan. 01, 2018	4,202,510	102	0	3,669,461	(119,687)	735,974	(98,162)	0	14,822
Beginning balance 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	4,405			4,405
Employee benefits	7,605			7,605
Employee Stock Purchase Plan	7,428			7,428
Stock-based compensation	7,771			7,771
R&D tax credits utilized by DISH Network	(1,859)			(1,859)
Other comprehensive loss	(42,649)				(41,260)				(1,389)
Net income	73,015					71,723			1,292
Other	504			(129)	0	633
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2018	4,258,730	102	0	3,694,682	(160,947)	808,330	(98,162)	0	14,725
Beginning balance at Jun. 30, 2018	4,244,252	102		3,689,180	(154,011)	792,278	(98,162)		14,865
Exercise of stock options	360			360
Employee Stock Purchase Plan	2,542			2,542
Stock-based compensation	2,661			2,661
R&D tax credits utilized by DISH Network	(61)			(61)
Other comprehensive loss	(7,526)				(6,936)				(590)
Net income	16,502					16,052			450
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2018	$ 4,258,730	$ 102	$ 0	$ 3,694,682	$ (160,947)	$ 808,330	$ (98,162)	$ 0	$ 14,725