CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	$ (1,634,824)	$ 2,536,892	$ 2,521,435
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	1,597,923	1,174,895	1,213,946
Impairment of long-lived assets and goodwill	761,099	711	245
Realized and unrealized losses (gains) on investments, impairments and other	(46,888)	(72,371)	(7,541)
Realized and unrealized losses (gains) on derivatives	1,693,387	(1,015,387)	13,000
Non-cash, stock-based compensation	51,514	82,994	59,379
Deferred tax expense (benefit)	(337,222)	729,587	639,708
Changes in allowance for credit losses	14,600	6,590	(34,635)
Change in long-term deferred revenue and other long-term liabilities	15,825	83,453	65,943
Other, net	166,383	253,784	135,871
Changes in current assets and current liabilities, net
Trade accounts receivable	20,622	(74,812)	206,995
Prepaid and accrued income taxes	15,836	(36,115)	81,197
Inventory	(37,981)	16,200	(175,918)
Other current assets	(40,290)	21,737	(47,144)
Trade accounts payable	4,108	90,721	86,219
Deferred revenue and other	(78,555)	(71,709)	(62,034)
Accrued programming and other accrued expenses	267,110	(105,980)	(41,293)
Net cash flows from operating activities	2,432,647	3,621,190	4,655,373
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Purchases of marketable investment securities	(2,407,546)	(1,965,859)	(6,338,641)
Sales and maturities of marketable investment securities	3,710,544	4,159,830	4,390,903
Purchases of property and equipment	(3,100,921)	(3,050,472)	(1,619,312)
Refunds and other receipts of purchases of property and equipment	38,611
Capitalized interest related to regulatory authorizations (Note 2)	(1,162,473)	(984,309)	(777,885)
Proceeds from other debt investments	148,448
Refund of FCC authorization deposit			337,490
Purchases of FCC authorizations, including deposits	(2,009)	(7,206,865)	(122,657)
Other, net	(33,386)	(11,900)	(116,621)
Net cash flows from investing activities	(2,808,732)	(9,059,575)	(4,246,723)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Repayment of long-term debt and finance lease obligations	(121,981)	(86,229)	(89,958)
Redemption and repurchases of senior notes	(1,460,635)	(2,056,821)	(2,901,818)
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes	1,500,000	2,000,000	6,750,000
Repurchases of convertible notes	(182,834)
Early debt extinguishment gains (losses)	73,024
Net proceeds from Class A common stock options exercised and stock issued under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan	10,598	27,438	68,182
Purchase of Northstar Manager, LLC's ownership interest in Northstar Spectrum	(109,432)
Treasury share repurchase		(89,303)	(261,436)
Debt issuance costs and debt (discount) premium	21,635	(51,121)	(34,459)
Other, net	(7,496)	(18,413)	(15,507)
Net cash flows from financing activities	(277,121)	(274,449)	3,515,004
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents	3,004	(2,306)	(3,749)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents	(650,202)	(5,715,140)	3,919,905
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period (Note 5)	2,561,803	8,276,943	4,357,038
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents, end of period (Note 5)	$ 1,911,601	$ 2,561,803	$ 8,276,943