CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 884,164	$ 487,899
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	466,746	504,108
Realized and unrealized losses (gains) on investments	7,776	(3,701)
Non-cash, stock-based compensation	18,895	9,210
Deferred tax expense (benefit)	405,185	39,903
Other, net	3,535	10,775
Change in noncurrent assets	(92,723)	(1,227)
Change in long-term deferred revenue, distribution and carriage payments and other long-term liabilities	(12,555)	(34,131)
Changes in current assets and current liabilities, net	(422,678)	103,025
Net cash flows from operating activities	1,258,345	1,115,861
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Purchases of marketable investment securities	(3,635,968)	(3,008,617)
Sales and maturities of marketable investment securities	3,297,028	2,746,086
Purchases of property and equipment	(402,744)	(537,279)
Launch service assigned from EchoStar (Note 13)		(102,913)
Change in restricted cash and marketable investment securities	19,861	(3,280)
Investment in DBSD North America	(1,115,960)
Acquisition of Blockbuster, net of cash acquired of $112,804	(120,780)
Deposit - TerreStar auction	(68,750)
Purchase of other strategic investments	(9,275)
Proceeds from sale of strategic investments	11,327	16,413
Other	(770)	(227)
Net cash flows from investing activities	(2,026,031)	(889,817)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	2,000,000
Deferred debt issuance costs	(27,167)
Repayment of long-term debt and capital lease obligations	(17,600)	(12,780)
Class A common stock repurchases		(14,497)
Net proceeds from Class A common stock options exercised and stock issued under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan	23,897	3,836
Other	3,930
Net cash flows from financing activities	1,983,060	(23,441)
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents	(796)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	1,214,578	202,603
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	640,672	105,844
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	1,855,250	308,447
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:
Cash paid for interest (including capitalized interest)	234,693	237,977
Capitalized interest		14,803
Cash received for interest	14,912	20,610
Cash paid for income taxes	22,062	232,059
Employee benefits paid in Class A common stock	24,768	29,127
Vendor financing		22,000
Satellites and other assets financed under capital lease obligations	$ 3,583	$ 786