CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Revenue:
Subscriber-related revenue	$ 3,295,831	$ 3,311,340	$ 6,520,296	$ 6,510,439
Equipment and merchandise sales, rental and other revenue	270,257	270,018	620,994	286,019
Equipment sales, services and other revenue - EchoStar	5,678	8,803	12,345	17,834
Total revenue	3,571,766	3,590,161	7,153,635	6,814,292
Costs and Expenses (exclusive of depreciation shown separately below - Note 7):
Subscriber-related expenses	1,825,808	1,728,959	3,588,561	3,422,654
Satellite and transmission expenses:
EchoStar	107,082	115,358	216,936	224,271
Other	9,178	9,819	20,857	20,019
Cost of sales - equipment, merchandise, services, rental and other	130,061	89,403	272,323	111,670
Subscriber acquisition costs:
Cost of sales - subscriber promotion subsidies - EchoStar	51,580	62,868	133,854	117,294
Other subscriber promotion subsidies	234,300	211,949	460,689	438,790
Subscriber acquisition advertising	118,619	67,984	207,993	141,616
Total subscriber acquisition costs	404,499	342,801	802,536	697,700
General and administrative expenses - EchoStar	14,790	13,190	26,872	25,130
General and administrative expenses	312,877	312,072	676,970	461,916
Litigation expense (Note 11)		23,728		(316,949)
Depreciation and amortization (Note 7)	299,119	237,049	507,817	466,746
Total costs and expenses	3,103,414	2,872,379	6,112,872	5,113,157
Operating income (loss)	468,352	717,782	1,040,763	1,701,135
Other Income (Expense):
Interest income	20,204	8,601	27,293	14,887
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized	(109,301)	(143,564)	(247,314)	(263,743)
Other, net	(7,448)	(19,794)	102,834	(8,161)
Total other income (expense)	(96,545)	(154,757)	(117,187)	(257,017)
Income (loss) before income taxes	371,807	563,025	923,576	1,444,118
Income tax (provision) benefit, net	(146,211)	(228,187)	(337,854)	(559,954)
Net income (loss)	225,596	334,838	585,722	884,164
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(136)	78	(320)	10
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network	225,732	334,760	586,042	884,154
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - Class A and B common stock:
Basic (in shares)	450,292	445,579	448,791	444,475
Diluted (in shares)	453,077	447,297	451,425	445,794
Earnings per share - Class A and B common stock:
Basic net income (loss) per share attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share)	$ 0.50	$ 0.75	$ 1.31	$ 1.99
Diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share)	$ 0.50	$ 0.75	$ 1.30	$ 1.98
Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Net income (loss)	225,596	334,838	585,722	884,164
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(1,965)	(6,900)	1,288	(6,900)
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities	(69,393)	25,269	(18,372)	93,069
Recognition of previously unrealized (gains) losses on available-for-sale securities included in net income (loss)	(3,135)	4,658	(84,022)	(1,638)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(74,493)	23,027	(101,106)	84,531
Comprehensive income (loss)	151,103	357,865	484,616	968,695
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(136)	78	(320)	10
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to DISH Network	$ 151,239	$ 357,787	$ 484,936	$ 968,685