CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Revenue:
Subscriber-related revenue	$ 13,085,910	$ 12,976,009	$ 12,543,794
Equipment and merchandise sales, rental and other revenue	1,162,664	1,035,910	59,770
Equipment sales, services and other revenue - EchoStar	17,918	36,474	37,180
Total revenue	14,266,492	14,048,393	12,640,744
Costs and Expenses (exclusive of depreciation shown separately below - Note 8):
Subscriber-related expenses	7,254,458	6,845,611	6,676,145
Satellite and transmission expenses:
EchoStar	424,543	441,541	418,358
Other	41,697	39,806	40,249
Cost of sales - equipment, merchandise, services, rental and other	569,626	448,686	76,406
Subscriber acquisition costs:
Cost of sales - subscriber promotion subsidies - EchoStar	267,133	249,440	175,777
Other subscriber acquisition costs	1,420,194	1,255,737	1,477,717
Total subscriber acquisition costs	1,687,327	1,505,177	1,653,494
General and administrative expenses - EchoStar	69,803	49,485	47,457
General and administrative expenses	1,283,697	1,185,009	578,386
Litigation expense (Note 16)	730,457	(316,949)	225,456
Depreciation and amortization (Note 8)	983,049	922,073	983,965
Total costs and expenses	13,044,657	11,120,439	10,699,916
Operating income (loss)	1,221,835	2,927,954	1,940,828
Other Income (Expense):
Interest income	99,522	34,354	25,158
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized	(536,879)	(557,910)	(454,777)
Other, net	148,291	6,186	30,996
Total other income (expense)	(289,066)	(517,370)	(398,623)
Income (loss) before income taxes	932,769	2,410,584	1,542,205
Income tax (provision) benefit, net (Note 12)	(307,029)	(895,006)	(557,473)
Net income (loss)	625,740	1,515,578	984,732
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(10,947)	(329)	3
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network	636,687	1,515,907	984,729
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - Class A and B common stock:
Basic (in shares)	450,264	445,434	445,865
Diluted (in shares)	452,899	446,865	446,597
Earnings per share - Class A and B common stock:
Basic net income (loss) per share attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share)	$ 1.41	$ 3.40	$ 2.21
Diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share)	$ 1.41	$ 3.39	$ 2.20
Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Net income (loss)	625,740	1,515,578	984,732
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments	4,106	(9,139)	(13,476)
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities	265,785	(13,965)	50,348
Recognition of previously unrealized (gains) losses on available-for-sale securities included in net income (loss)	(150,239)	11,790	(3,852)
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit	(12,892)		5,067
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	106,760	(11,314)	38,087
Comprehensive income (loss)	732,500	1,504,264	1,022,819
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(10,947)	(329)	3
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to DISH Network	$ 743,447	$ 1,504,593	$ 1,022,816