CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Revenue:
Subscriber-related revenue	$ 3,224,465	$ 3,199,099
Equipment and merchandise sales, rental and other revenue	350,737	16,001
Equipment sales, services and other revenue - EchoStar	6,667	9,031
Total revenue	3,581,869	3,224,131
Costs and Expenses (exclusive of depreciation shown separately below - Note 7):
Subscriber-related expenses	1,762,753	1,693,695
Satellite and transmission expenses:
EchoStar	109,854	108,913
Other	11,679	10,200
Cost of sales - equipment, merchandise, services, rental and other	142,262	22,267
Subscriber acquisition costs:
Cost of sales - subscriber promotion subsidies - EchoStar	82,274	54,426
Other subscriber promotion subsidies	226,389	226,841
Subscriber acquisition advertising	89,374	73,632
Total subscriber acquisition costs	398,037	354,899
General and administrative expenses - EchoStar	12,082	11,940
General and administrative expenses	364,093	149,844
Litigation expense (Note 11)		(340,677)
Depreciation and amortization (Note 7)	208,698	229,697
Total costs and expenses	3,009,458	2,240,778
Operating income (loss)	572,411	983,353
Other Income (Expense):
Interest income	7,089	6,286
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized	(138,013)	(120,179)
Other, net	110,282	11,633
Total other income (expense)	(20,642)	(102,260)
Income (loss) before income taxes	551,769	881,093
Income tax (provision) benefit, net	(191,643)	(331,767)
Net income (loss)	360,126	549,326
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(184)	(68)
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network	360,310	549,394
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - Class A and B common stock:
Basic (in shares)	447,289	443,360
Diluted (in shares)	449,880	448,850
Earnings per share - Class A and B common stock:
Basic net income (loss) per share attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share)	$ 0.81	$ 1.24
Diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share)	$ 0.80	$ 1.22
Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Net income (loss)	360,126	549,326
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	3,253
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities	51,021	67,800
Recognition of previously unrealized (gains) losses on available-for-sale securities included in net income (loss)	(80,887)	(6,296)
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(26,613)	61,504
Comprehensive income (loss)	333,513	610,830
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(184)	(68)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to DISH Network	$ 333,697	$ 610,898