Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Schedule of New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles

The cumulative effects of changes to the impacted line items on our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of January 1, 2018 for the adoption of these standards were as follows:

	Balance at December 31, 2017			Adjustments Due to the						Balance at January 1, 2018
				New Revenue Standard			New Investment Standard
	(In thousands)
Assets:
Trade accounts receivable and contract assets, net	$	196,840		$	(7,103	)	$	—		$	189,737
Other current assets	$	91,671		$	533		$	—		$	92,204
Investments in unconsolidated entities	$	161,427		$	6,917		$	—		$	168,344
Other noncurrent assets, net	$	214,814		$	22,545		$	—		$	237,359
Total assets	$	8,750,014		$	22,892		$	—		$	8,772,906
Liabilities:
Contract liabilities	$	65,959		$	(1,542	)	$	—		$	64,417
Accrued expenses and other	$	82,647		$	255		$	—		$	82,902
Deferred tax liabilities, net	$	436,023		$	5,124		$	—		$	441,147
Other noncurrent liabilities	$	128,503		$	(4,068	)	$	—		$	124,435
Total liabilities	$	4,572,629		$	(231	)	$	—		$	4,572,398
Stockholders’ Equity:
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	$	(130,154	)	$	—		$	10,467		$	(119,687	)
Accumulated earnings (losses)	$	721,316		$	23,123		$	(10,467	)	$	733,972
Total stockholders’ equity	$	4,177,385		$	23,123		$	—		$	4,200,508
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	8,750,014		$	22,892		$	—		$	8,772,906

Our adoption of these standards impacted the referenced line items on our Consolidated Balance Sheets, Statement of Operations and Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) as follows:

	As of December 31, 2018
	As Reported			Adjustments Due to the						Balances If We Had Not Adopted the New Standards
Balance Sheet				New Revenue Standard			New Investment Standard
	(In thousands)
Assets:
Trade accounts receivable and contract assets, net	$	201,096		$	8,379		$	—		$	209,475
Other current assets	$	18,539		$	(533	)	$	—		$	18,006
Investments in unconsolidated entities	$	262,473		$	(5,639	)	$	—		$	256,834
Other noncurrent assets, net	$	263,892		$	(35,314	)	$	—		$	228,578
Total assets	$	8,661,294		$	(33,107	)	$	—		$	8,628,187
Liabilities:
Contract liabilities	$	72,284		$	878		$	—		$	73,162
Accrued expenses and other	$	72,470		$	(255	)	$	—		$	72,215
Deferred tax liabilities, net	$	465,933		$	(6,976	)	$	—		$	458,957
Other noncurrent liabilities	$	121,546		$	1,635		$	—		$	123,181
Total liabilities	$	4,505,820		$	(4,718	)	$	—		$	4,501,102
Stockholders’ Equity:
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	$	(125,100	)	$	—		$	20,064		$	(105,036	)
Accumulated earnings (losses)	$	694,129		$	(28,389	)	$	(20,064	)	$	645,676
Total stockholders’ equity	$	4,155,474		$	(28,389	)	$	—		$	4,127,085
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	8,661,294		$	(33,107	)	$	—		$	8,628,187

	For the year ended December 31, 2018
	As Reported			Adjustments Due to the						Balances If We Had Not Adopted the New Standards
Statement of Operations				New Revenue Standard			New Investment Standard
	(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Revenue:
Services and other revenue - other	$	1,507,259		$	2,323		$	—		$	1,509,582
Total revenue	$	2,091,363		$	2,323		$	—		$	2,093,686
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales - services and other (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	$	604,305		$	2,738		$	—		$	607,043
Selling, general and administrative expenses	$	436,247		$	8,520		$	—		$	444,767
Total costs and expenses	$	1,908,120		$	11,258		$	—		$	1,919,378
Operating income (loss)	$	183,243		$	(8,935	)	$	—		$	174,308
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized	$	(248,568	)	$	539		$	—		$	(248,029	)
Gains and losses on investments, net	$	(12,207	)	$	—		$	(30,531	)	$	(42,738	)
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated affiliates, net	$	(5,954	)	$	1,278		$	—		$	(4,676	)
Total other income (expense), net	$	(191,203	)	$	1,817		$	(30,531	)	$	(219,917	)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	$	(7,960	)	$	(7,118	)	$	(30,531	)	$	(45,609	)
Income tax benefit (provision)	$	(30,673	)	$	1,852		$	—		$	(28,821	)
Net income (loss)	$	(38,633	)	$	(5,266	)	$	(30,531	)	$	(74,430	)
Net income (loss) attributable to EchoStar Corporation common stock	$	(40,475	)	$	(5,266	)	$	(30,531	)	$	(76,272	)
Earnings (losses) per share:
Basic	$	(0.42	)	$	(0.05	)	$	(0.32	)	$	(0.79	)
Diluted	$	(0.42	)	$	(0.05	)	$	(0.32	)	$	(0.79	)

	For the year ended December 31, 2018
	As Reported			Adjustments Due to the						Balances If We Had Not Adopted the New Standards
Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss)				New Revenue Standard			New Investment Standard
	(In thousands)
Net income (loss)	$	(38,633	)	$	(5,266	)	$	(30,531	)	$	(74,430	)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities and other	$	(2,872	)	$	—		$	(6,485	)	$	(9,357	)
Other-than-temporary impairment loss on available-for-sale securities in net income	$	—		$	—		$	37,016		$	37,016
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	$	(5,413	)	$	—		$	30,531		$	25,118
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	(44,046	)	$	(5,266	)	$	—		$	(49,312	)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to EchoStar Corporation	$	(44,499	)	$	(5,266	)	$	—		$	(49,765	)