Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Components of income (loss) before income taxes
Domestic	$ 224,058	$ 172,276	$ (50,551)
Foreign	(2,486)	6,057	16,515
Income (loss) before income taxes	221,572	178,333	(34,036)
Current benefit (provision):
Federal	(165)	(2,593)	1,118
State	(9,601)	9,006	6,531
Foreign	(6,303)	(5,455)	(5,992)
Total current (provision) benefit	(16,069)	958	1,657
Deferred benefit (provision):
Federal	(62,572)	(31,905)	26,511
State	4,818	(1,283)	10,074
Foreign	1,622	1,446	(805)
Total deferred (provision) benefit	(56,132)	(31,742)	35,780
Total income tax (provision) benefit, net	$ (72,201)	$ (30,784)	$ 37,437
Actual tax provision reconciliation to the amounts computed by applying statutory Federal tax rate to income (loss) before taxes
Statutory rate (as a percent)	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
State income taxes, net of Federal benefit (as a percent)	2.10%	(0.20%)	21.00%
Permanent differences (as a percent)	3.60%	0.60%	(10.70%)
Tax credits (as a percent)	(10.10%)	(18.60%)	48.70%
Valuation allowance (as a percent)	2.80%	(0.90%)	14.20%
Other (as a percent)	(0.80%)	1.40%	1.80%
Total effective tax rate (as a percent)	32.60%	17.30%	110.00%
Deferred tax assets:
Net operating losses, credit and other carryforwards	$ 315,924	$ 412,744
Unrealized losses on investments, net	47,678	30,248
Accrued expenses	34,037	34,632
Stock-based compensation	13,345	8,445
Other asset	9,534	12,157
Total deferred tax assets	420,518	498,226
Valuation allowance	(72,131)	(73,664)
Deferred tax assets after valuation allowance	348,387	424,562
Deferred tax liabilities:
Depreciation and amortization	(993,326)	(1,014,812)
Other liabilities	(1,412)	(748)
Total deferred tax liabilities	(994,738)	(1,015,560)
Total net deferred tax liabilities	(646,351)	(590,998)
Deferred Taxes by classification
Current portion of net deferred tax assets		87,208
Noncurrent portion of net deferred tax liabilities	(646,351)	(678,206)
Total net deferred tax liabilities	(646,351)	(590,998)
Net operating loss carryforwards	768,800
Net operating loss carryforwards attributable to stock-based compensation	38,400
Provision for income and withholding taxes on undistributed earnings attributable to foreign subsidiaries	0
Reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits
Balance as of beginning of period	44,839	43,319	$ 34,677
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	11,748	3,806	81
Additions based on tax positions related to prior years	5,779	4,643	9,929
Reductions based on tax positions related to prior years		(81)	(1,253)
Reductions based on tax settlements		(6,848)	(115)
Balance as of end of period	62,366	44,839	$ 43,319
Unrecognized tax benefits if recognized, could affect our effective tax rate	62,400	$ 44,800
Federal
Deferred Taxes by classification
Tax credit available to offset future tax liabilities	96,900
State
Deferred Taxes by classification
Tax credit available to offset future tax liabilities	30,600
Foreign
Deferred Taxes by classification
Net operating loss carryforwards	$ 92,700

Deferred tax assets operating loss tax credit and other carryforwards.

No definition available.

Name:	sats_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossTaxCreditAndOtherCarryforwards
Namespace Prefix:	sats_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of an unrecognized tax benefit attributable to stock-based compensation that is directly related to a position taken in a tax year that results in a net operating loss carryforward. This amount is presented as a reduction of the related deferred tax asset in the balance sheet if that deferred tax asset is not used. This amount is presented separately from the deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward if this unrelated tax benefit is associated with a different tax position.

+ References

No definition available.