CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 585,722	$ 884,164
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	507,817	466,746
Realized and unrealized losses (gains) on investments	(101,638)	7,776
Non-cash, stock-based compensation	30,199	18,895
Deferred tax expense (benefit)	68,683	405,185
Other, net	7,841	3,535
Change in noncurrent assets	27,230	(92,723)
Change in long-term deferred revenue, distribution and carriage payments and other long-term liabilities	(29,170)	(12,555)
Changes in current assets and current liabilities, net	251,380	(422,678)
Net cash flows from operating activities	1,348,064	1,258,345
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Purchases of marketable investment securities	(1,996,257)	(3,635,968)
Sales and maturities of marketable investment securities	1,221,341	3,297,028
Purchases of property and equipment	(420,185)	(402,744)
Change in restricted cash and marketable investment securities	(1,535)	19,861
DBSD North America Transaction, less cash acquired of $5,230 (Note 8)	(40,015)	(1,115,960)
TerreStar Transaction (Note 8)	(36,942)	(68,750)
Purchase of Blockbuster assets, net of cash acquired of $107,061		(126,523)
Purchase of other strategic investments		(9,275)
Proceeds from sale of strategic investments		11,327
Other	(15,867)	4,973
Net cash flows from investing activities	(1,289,460)	(2,026,031)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	1,900,000	2,000,000
Debt issuance costs	(9,564)	(27,167)
Repayment of long-term debt and capital lease obligations	(18,949)	(17,600)
Net proceeds from Class A common stock options exercised and stock issued under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan	49,852	23,897
Other	5,770	3,930
Net cash flows from financing activities	1,927,109	1,983,060
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents	873	(796)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	1,986,586	1,214,578
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	609,108	640,672
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	2,595,694	1,855,250
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:
Cash paid for interest (including capitalized interest)	268,800	234,693
Capitalized interest	38,643
Cash received for interest	19,383	14,912
Cash paid for income taxes	243,861	22,062
Employee benefits paid in Class A common stock	22,280	24,768
Satellites and other assets financed under capital lease obligations		$ 3,583