Acquisitions (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended					6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012 Wireless Spectrum Assets	Jun. 30, 2012 Wireless Spectrum Assets	Jun. 30, 2012 Wireless Spectrum Assets Maximum	Jun. 30, 2012 Wireless Spectrum Assets Maximum	Jun. 30, 2012 Sprint Settlement Agreement	Mar. 09, 2012 Sprint Settlement Agreement	Mar. 09, 2012 DBSD North America (ICO)	Dec. 31, 2011 DBSD North America (ICO)	Jun. 30, 2012 DBSD North America (ICO) 7.5% Convertible Senior Secured Notes due 2009	Dec. 31, 2011 DBSD North America (ICO) 7.5% Convertible Senior Secured Notes due 2009	Mar. 09, 2012 TerreStar Networks, Inc. ("TerreStar")
Spectrum Investments
Payments to acquire wireless spectrum assets	$ 2,860,000,000		$ 2,860,000,000
Purchase price											114,000,000	1,364,000,000				1,382,000,000
Investment in DBSD North America (Note 8)					1,297,614,000					114,000,000			839,009,000		839,000,000
Net purchase price	2,859,648,000		2,859,648,000
Cash purchase price paid														2,761,000,000
Gain on conversion of senior secured notes														99,000,000
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(19,063,000)		(19,063,000)		82,043,000									78,000,000
Revenue	3,571,766,000	3,590,161,000	7,153,635,000	6,814,292,000				1,000,000	1,000,000
Operating expenses						$ 18,000,000	$ 26,000,000