v3.3.1.900
Stockholders' Equity - Preferred Stock and Common Stock (Details)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
item
$ / shares
shares
Dec. 31, 2014
$ / shares
shares
Mar. 01, 2014
shares
Feb. 28, 2014
$ / shares
shares
Preferred Stock        
Stockholders Equity (Deficit)        
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares) 20,000,000 20,000,000    
Preferred Stock, par value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 0.001 $ 0.001    
Hughes Retail Preferred Tracking Stock        
Stockholders Equity (Deficit)        
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares) 13,000,000 13,000,000   13,000,000
Preferred Stock, par value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 0.001 $ 0.001   $ 0.001
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares) 6,290,499 6,290,499    
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares) 6,290,499 6,290,499    
DISH Network | Hughes Retail Preferred Tracking Stock        
Stockholders Equity (Deficit)        
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)     6,290,499  
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares) 6,290,499      
Class A common stock        
Stockholders Equity (Deficit)        
Votes per share | item 1      
Common stock, shares outstanding 45,555,521 44,043,929    
Class B common stock        
Stockholders Equity (Deficit)        
Votes per share | item 10      
Number of shares of Class A common stock into which each share of common stock is convertible | item 1      
Common stock, shares outstanding 47,687,039 47,687,039    
Class C common stock        
Stockholders Equity (Deficit)        
Votes per share | item 1      
Number of shares of Class A common stock into which each share of common stock is convertible | item 1      
Votes per share in event of change of control | item 10      
Common stock, shares outstanding 0 0    
Class D common stock        
Stockholders Equity (Deficit)        
Common stock, shares outstanding 0 0