CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Hughes Retail Preferred Tracking Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Earnings (Losses)	Treasury Stock, at cost	Non-controlling Interest in HSS Tracking Stock	Non-controlling 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
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	(300,539)		(6)	(227,278)				(73,255)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(5,034)				(5,443)				409
Net income (loss)	393,489					392,561		(655)	1,583
Other, net	1,590			1,498	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
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(4,851)				(3,462)				(1,389)
Net income (loss)	(38,633)					(40,475)			1,842
Treasury share repurchase	(33,292)						(33,292)
Other, net	375			1,694	(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
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Exercise of stock options	67,310	3		67,307
Employee benefits	6,654			6,654
Employee Stock Purchase Plan	9,778			9,778
Stock-based compensation	9,353			9,353
Purchase of non-controlling interest	(7,313)			(833)					(6,480)
Net assets distributed pursuant to the BSS Transaction	(532,747)			(532,747)
Issuance of equity and contribution of assets pursuant to the Yahsat JV formation	102,775			29,576					73,199
Other comprehensive income (loss)	6,290				2,962				3,328
Net income (loss)	(74,252)					(62,917)			(11,335)
Other, net	2,231			(1,127)		1,597			(1,761)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 3,745,553	$ 105	$ 0	$ 3,290,483	$ (122,138)	$ 632,809	$ (131,454)	$ 0	$ 75,748