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Property and Equipment - Schedule of PP&E (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2014
Property and equipment      
Total property and equipment $ 6,411,064   $ 6,094,146
Accumulated depreciation (2,998,074)   (2,899,353)
Property and equipment, net 3,412,990   3,194,793
Accumulated depreciation on satellites acquired under capital leases 268,100   481,500
Impairment loss related to building and equipment 2,400 $ 38,415  
EchoStar Technologies Business      
Property and equipment      
Impairment loss related to building and equipment $ 2,400    
Minimum      
Property and equipment      
Depreciable Life 1 year    
Maximum      
Property and equipment      
Depreciable Life 40 years    
Land      
Property and equipment      
Total property and equipment $ 41,457   42,826
Buildings and improvements      
Property and equipment      
Total property and equipment $ 367,947   375,920
Buildings and improvements | Minimum      
Property and equipment      
Depreciable Life 1 year    
Buildings and improvements | Maximum      
Property and equipment      
Depreciable Life 40 years    
Furniture, fixtures, equipment and other      
Property and equipment      
Total property and equipment $ 1,254,325   1,223,807
Furniture, fixtures, equipment and other | Minimum      
Property and equipment      
Depreciable Life 1 year    
Furniture, fixtures, equipment and other | Maximum      
Property and equipment      
Depreciable Life 12 years    
Customer rental equipment      
Property and equipment      
Total property and equipment $ 588,430   498,180
Customer rental equipment | Minimum      
Property and equipment      
Depreciable Life 2 years    
Customer rental equipment | Maximum      
Property and equipment      
Depreciable Life 4 years    
Satellites      
Property and equipment      
Total property and equipment $ 2,381,120   2,381,120
Satellites | Minimum      
Property and equipment      
Depreciable Life 2 years    
Satellites | Maximum      
Property and equipment      
Depreciable Life 15 years    
Satellites acquired under capital leases      
Property and equipment      
Total property and equipment $ 665,518   935,104
Satellites acquired under capital leases | Minimum      
Property and equipment      
Depreciable Life 10 years    
Satellites acquired under capital leases | Maximum      
Property and equipment      
Depreciable Life 15 years    
Construction in progress      
Property and equipment      
Total property and equipment $ 1,112,267   $ 637,189