CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2016
Jun. 30, 2015
Jun. 30, 2016
Jun. 30, 2015
Revenue:        
Subscriber-related revenue $ 3,826,216 $ 3,801,416 $ 7,601,694 $ 7,494,946
Equipment sales and other revenue 10,820 31,009 22,577 61,707
Total revenue 3,837,036 3,832,425 7,624,271 7,556,653
Costs and Expenses (exclusive of depreciation shown separately below - Note 8):        
Subscriber-related expenses 2,242,253 2,235,536 4,463,573 4,407,255
Satellite and transmission expenses:        
Satellite and transmission expenses 178,893 194,444 354,538 381,284
Cost of sales - equipment and other 11,697 23,805 23,684 54,300
Subscriber acquisition costs:        
Cost of sales - subscriber promotion subsidies 42,032 55,464 104,510 108,389
Other subscriber acquisition costs 181,276 218,396 373,780 427,572
Subscriber acquisition advertising 129,769 131,841 258,132 275,431
Total subscriber acquisition costs 353,077 405,701 736,422 811,392
General and administrative expenses 187,672 176,066 388,841 375,474
Depreciation and amortization (Note 8) 249,619 262,886 483,246 509,098
Total costs and expenses 3,223,211 3,298,438 6,450,304 6,538,803
Operating income (loss) 613,825 533,987 1,173,967 1,017,850
Other Income (Expense):        
Interest income 8,988 3,616 12,941 12,110
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized (3,371) (152,751) (4,038) (309,064)
Other, net 43,941 135,478 111,006 255,767
Total other income (expense) 49,558 (13,657) 119,909 (41,187)
Income (loss) before income taxes 663,383 520,330 1,293,876 976,663
Income tax (provision) benefit, net (245,077) (188,004) (480,610) (291,085)
Net income (loss) 418,306 332,326 813,266 685,578
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax 7,842 7,903 13,512 9,670
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network $ 410,464 $ 324,423 $ 799,754 $ 675,908
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - Class A and B common stock:        
Basic (in shares) 464,803 462,929 464,589 462,512
Diluted (in shares) 465,640 464,635 465,429 464,400
Earnings per share - Class A and B common stock:        
Basic net income (loss) per share attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share) $ 0.88 $ 0.70 $ 1.72 $ 1.46
Diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share) $ 0.88 $ 0.70 $ 1.72 $ 1.46
Comprehensive Income (Loss):        
Net income (loss) $ 418,306 $ 332,326 $ 813,266 $ 685,578
Other comprehensive income (loss):        
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities 2,497 39,405 (104) 46,827
Recognition of previously unrealized (gains) losses on available-for-sale securities included in net income (loss) (28,953) (34,310) (93,643) (93,797)
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit, net 9,239 (1,961) 34,156 (45,372)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax (17,217) 3,134 (59,591) (92,342)
Comprehensive income (loss) 401,089 335,460 753,675 593,236
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax 7,842 7,903 13,512 9,670
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to DISH Network $ 393,247 $ 327,557 $ 740,163 $ 583,566