Property and Equipment (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012 Satellite	Dec. 31, 2011
Property and equipment
Number of other satellites to be relocated in the event of failure or loss of any satellite	1
FCC authorizations	$ 3,340,441,000	$ 1,391,441,000
Increase in FCC authorizations	1,949,000,000
148 degree orbital location
Property and equipment
Write down in value license agreement if FCC decides to revoke license	$ 68,000,000
EchoStar G1
Property and equipment
Depreciable Life of lives of assets (in years)	15 years
EchoStar T1
Property and equipment
Depreciable Life of lives of assets (in years)	15 years
EchoStar XI
Property and equipment
Depreciable Life of lives of assets (in years)	12 years
EchoStar XIV
Property and equipment
Depreciable Life of lives of assets (in years)	15 years
S-band satelllites
Property and equipment
Number of satellites added	3
Number of satellites in-orbit	2
Number of satellites under construction	1
EchoStar I
Property and equipment
Depreciable Life of lives of assets (in years)	12 years
EchoStar VI
Property and equipment
Loss of Travelling wave tube amplifiers("TWTAs")	2
Increase in loss of TWTAs	5