v3.3.1.900
Investment Securities - Other Investments and Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Marketable Investment Securities (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Aug. 08, 2014
Aug. 01, 2014
Sep. 30, 2014
Dec. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2008
Jul. 02, 2012
Other Investments - Noncurrent                  
Equity Method Investments       $ 128,090 $ 128,788        
Equity in losses of unconsolidated affiliates, net       1,895 8,198 $ (5,024)      
Carrying amount of distributed assets         34,075        
Amount in excess of carrying amount of existing equity method investment         8,843        
Capital contribution         18,569 7,000      
Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Marketable Investment Securities                  
Amortized cost       608,199 1,142,861        
Unrealized Gains       7,758 12,883        
Unrealized Losses       (735) (4,929)        
Total       615,222 1,150,815        
Sling TV Holding                  
Other Investments - Noncurrent                  
Equity Method Investments           18,000      
Contribution to Sling TV Holding           44,700      
Equity interest in joint venture (as a percentage)                 33.00%
Equity in losses of unconsolidated affiliates, net           $ 16,500 $ 10,200    
Non-voting interest in cost method investment (as a percentage)   10.00%              
Carrying amount of distributed assets   $ 34,100              
Fair value of non-voting interest   1,100              
Amount in excess of carrying amount of existing equity method investment   $ 8,800              
Capital contribution     $ 18,600            
Dish Mexico                  
Other Investments - Noncurrent                  
Equity interest in joint venture (as a percentage) 49.00%             49.00%  
Equity in losses of unconsolidated affiliates, net $ 10,300                
Equity interest for which an option to acquire was provided for an unrelated party (as a percentage) 51.00%                
Equity interest accounted based on assumed dilution (as a percentage)               24.00%  
Corporate Bonds                  
Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Marketable Investment Securities                  
Amortized cost       562,849 1,050,803        
Unrealized Gains       10 33        
Unrealized Losses       (623) (1,697)        
Estimated Fair Value       562,236 1,049,139        
Other                  
Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Marketable Investment Securities                  
Amortized cost       24,495 59,977        
Unrealized Gains         1        
Unrealized Losses       (30) (7)        
Estimated Fair Value       24,465 59,971        
Strategic equity securities                  
Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Marketable Investment Securities                  
Amortized cost       20,855 32,081        
Unrealized Gains       7,748 12,849        
Unrealized Losses       (82) (3,225)        
Estimated Fair Value       $ 28,521 $ 41,705