v3.3.1.900
Related Party Transactions - Tax Sharing and Patent Cross-License Agreements (Details)
$ in Thousands
 1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2015
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
USD ($)
Apr. 30, 2011
USD ($)
item
Dec. 31, 2015
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2013
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2013
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2013
USD ($)
Related party transactions                  
Net amount of the allocated tax attributes receivable   $ 90,241   $ 90,966 $ 90,241        
Tax credit charge recorded in additional paid-in capital       3,048 5,269        
Cash paid for property, plant and equipment       809,270 680,026 $ 391,873      
Charge to additional-paid-in-capital, net of related deferred income taxes due to transfers of assets between companies         9,569        
Patent Cross-License Agreements                  
Related party transactions                  
Maximum aggregate payments required under cross license agreements             $ 10,000    
Maximum additional aggregate payments required under cross license agreements if options are exercised             $ 3,000    
Personalized Media Communications, Inc.                  
Related party transactions                  
One-time payment towards settlement under the agreements $ 5,000                
DISH Network                  
Related party transactions                  
Tax credit charge recorded in additional paid-in capital       $ 3,000 $ 5,300        
DISH Network | TiVo vs. Dish Network and Echostar Corporation                  
Related party transactions                  
Settlement amount     $ 500,000            
Initial settlement amount paid     300,000            
Aggregate of six annual installment amounts between 2012 and 2017     $ 200,000            
Litigation settlement, number of annual installments | item     6            
Portion of the $300 million initial settlement agreement payment paid by EchoStar     $ 10,000            
Estimated percentage of annual future payments payable by EchoStar     5.00%            
DISH Network | Tax Sharing Agreement | Other noncurrent assets, net                  
Related party transactions                  
Net amount of the allocated tax attributes receivable               $ 83,200  
DISH Network | Tax Sharing Agreement | Noncurrent deferred tax liabilities                  
Related party transactions                  
Federal tax benefits reflected as a deferred tax asset for depreciation and amortization                 $ 83,200
DISH Network | T2 Development Agreement                  
Related party transactions                  
Cash paid for property, plant and equipment   55,000              
Charge to additional-paid-in-capital, net of related deferred income taxes due to transfers of assets between companies   $ 9,600