Debt and Capital Lease Obligations - Schedule of Debt and Capital Leases (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations
Carrying Amount	$ 1,890,803	$ 2,001,240
Fair Value	2,026,478	2,172,740
Capital lease obligations	332,838	366,447
Total debt and capital lease obligations	2,223,641	2,367,687
Less: Current portion	(35,698)	(41,912)
Long-term portion of debt and capital lease obligations	$ 2,187,943	2,325,775
6 1/2% Senior Secured Notes due 2019
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations
Interest rate (as a percent)	6.50%
Carrying Amount	$ 990,000	1,100,000
Fair Value	1,071,675	1,177,000
6 1/2% Senior Secured Notes due 2019 \| Hughes Satellite Systems Corporation ("HSSC")
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations
Carrying Amount	$ 990,000
7 5/8% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations
Interest rate (as a percent)	7.625%
Carrying Amount	$ 900,000	900,000
Fair Value	954,000	994,500
7 5/8% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021 \| Hughes Satellite Systems Corporation ("HSSC")
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations
Carrying Amount	900,000
Other
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations
Carrying Amount	803	1,240
Fair Value	$ 803	$ 1,240
Other \| Minimum
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.50%
Other \| Maximum
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations
Interest rate (as a percent)	13.25%

Amount equal to the present value (the principal) at the beginning of the lease term of minimum lease payments during the lease term (excluding that portion of the payments representing executory costs such as insurance, maintenance, and taxes to be paid by the lessor, together with any profit thereon) net of payments or other amounts applied to the principal through the balance sheet date.

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Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of all debt, including all short-term borrowings, long-term debt, and capital lease obligations.

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Amount of long-term debt before deduction of unamortized discount or premium. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, with initial maturities beyond one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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Fair value portion of debt instrument payable, including, but not limited to, notes payable and loans payable.

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Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

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Amount of long-term debt and capital lease obligation due after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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