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 (Deficit)	Treasury Stock	Noncontrolling Interest in HSS Tracking Stock	Other Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 3,781,642	$ 99	$ 6	$ 3,776,451	$ (117,233)	$ 134,317	$ (98,162)	$ 74,854	$ 11,310
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Exercise of stock options	13,066	1		13,065
Employee benefits	11,126			11,126
Employee Stock Purchase Plan	14,367			14,367
Stock-based compensation	15,234			15,234
Excess tax benefit from stock option exercises	848			848
R&D tax credits utilized by DISH Network	(1,600)			(1,600)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Excluding Other Equity Components	(7,692)				(7,506)				(186)
Net income (loss)	180,692					179,930		(944)	1,706
Other, net	(878)			(814)	(64)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2016	4,006,805	100	6	3,828,677	(124,803)	314,247	(98,162)	73,910	12,830
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Exercise of stock options	36,505	2		36,503
Employee benefits	11,200			11,200
Employee Stock Purchase Plan	8,758			8,758
Stock-based compensation	10,103			10,103
Reacquisition and retirement of Tracking Stock pursuant to the Share Exchange (Note 1)	(300,539)		(6)	(227,278)				(73,255)
R&D tax credits utilized by DISH Network	1,624			1,624
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Excluding Other Equity Components	(5,034)				(5,443)				409
Net income (loss)	393,489					392,561		(655)	1,583
Other, net	(34)			(126)	92
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2017	4,177,385	102	0	3,669,461	(130,154)	721,316	(98,162)	0	14,822
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Exercise of stock options	4,404			4,404
Employee benefits	7,605			7,605
Employee Stock Purchase Plan	9,368			9,368
Stock-based compensation	9,990			9,990
R&D tax credits utilized by DISH Network	1,822			1,822
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Excluding Other Equity Components	(4,851)				(3,462)				(1,389)
Net income (loss)	(38,633)					(40,475)		0	1,842
Treasury share repurchase	(33,292)						(33,292)
Other, net	(1,447)			(128)	(1,951)	632
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 4,155,474	$ 102	$ 0	$ 3,702,522	$ (125,100)	$ 694,129	$ (131,454)	$ 0	$ 15,275