Marketable Investment Securities, Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, and Other Investment (Details 7) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Other Income (Expense)
Marketable investment securities - gains (losses) on sales/exchanges	$ 4,619	$ 6,391
Marketable investment securities - unrealized gains (losses) on investments accounted for at fair value	8,479	(4,773)
Marketable investment securities - gains (losses) on conversion of DBSD North America	99,445
Other investment securities - gains (losses) on sales/exchanges		10,000
Marketable investment securities other-than-temporary impairments	(2,481)
Other	220	15
Total	110,282	11,633
Other investment securities:
Marketable investment securities - gains (losses) on conversion of DBSD North America	99,445
DBSD North America (ICO) \| 7.5% Convertible Senior Secured Notes due 2009
Other Income (Expense)
Marketable investment securities - gains (losses) on conversion of DBSD North America	99,000
Other investment securities:
Marketable investment securities - gains (losses) on conversion of DBSD North America	$ 99,000
Interest rate (as a percent)	7.50%

Represents the gains (losses) realized during the period from conversion of marketable securities.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Other nonoperating income expense other.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Interest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

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- Definition

The difference between the book value and the sale price of other nonspecific investments. This element is used when other, more specific, elements are not appropriate. This element refers to the gain (loss) included in earnings.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 28

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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-Publisher FASB

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- Definition

This item represents the total realized gain (loss) included in earnings for the period as a result of selling marketable securities categorized as trading, available-for-sale, or held-to-maturity. Additionally, this item would include any losses recognized for other than temporary impairments (OTTI) of the subject investments in debt and equity securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 10

-Subparagraph (c)

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 115

-Paragraph 16

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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- Definition

This element represents the amount of loss recognized for other than temporary impairments (OTTI) of investments in debt and equity securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 115

-Paragraph 16

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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- Definition

The aggregate net change in the difference between the fair value and the carrying value, or in the comparative fair values, of marketable securities categorized as trading held at each balance sheet date, that was included in earnings for the period, which may have arisen from (a) securities classified as trading, (b) the unrealized holding gain (loss) on held-to-maturity securities transferred to the trading security category, and (c) the cumulative unrealized gain (loss) which was included in other comprehensive income (a separate component of shareholders' equity) on available-for-sale securities transferred to trading securities during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 115

-Paragraph 13, 22

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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- Definition

The net amount of other income and expense amounts, the components of which are not separately disclosed on the income statement, resulting from ancillary business-related activities (that is, excluding major activities considered part of the normal operations of the business) also known as other nonoperating income (expense) recognized for the period. Such amounts may include: (a) dividends, (b) interest on securities, (c) net gains or losses on securities, (d) unusual costs, (e) gains or losses on foreign exchange transactions, and (f) miscellaneous other income and expense items.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 5

-Section 03

-Paragraph 9

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

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-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.9)

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