Property and Equipment and Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified			12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended				3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended						12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012 Minimum	Dec. 31, 2012 Maximum	Dec. 31, 2012 Equipment leased to customers	Dec. 31, 2011 Equipment leased to customers	Dec. 31, 2012 Equipment leased to customers Minimum	Dec. 31, 2012 Equipment leased to customers Maximum	Dec. 31, 2012 EchoStar I	Dec. 31, 2011 EchoStar I	Dec. 31, 2012 EchoStar VII	Sep. 30, 2012 EchoStar VII	Dec. 31, 2011 EchoStar VII	Dec. 31, 2012 EchoStar VII Maximum	Dec. 31, 2012 EchoStar X	Sep. 30, 2012 EchoStar X	Dec. 31, 2011 EchoStar X	Dec. 31, 2012 EchoStar XI	Sep. 30, 2012 EchoStar XI	Dec. 31, 2011 EchoStar XI	Dec. 31, 2012 EchoStar XI Maximum	Dec. 31, 2012 EchoStar XIV	Dec. 31, 2011 EchoStar XIV	Dec. 31, 2012 EchoStar XIV Maximum	Dec. 31, 2012 EchoStar XV	Dec. 31, 2011 EchoStar XV	Dec. 31, 2012 D1	Dec. 31, 2012 D1 Minimum	Dec. 31, 2012 T1	Dec. 31, 2012 T1 Minimum	Dec. 31, 2012 Satellites acquired under capital lease agreements	Dec. 31, 2011 Satellites acquired under capital lease agreements	Dec. 31, 2012 Satellites acquired under capital lease agreements Minimum	Dec. 31, 2012 Satellites acquired under capital lease agreements Maximum	Dec. 31, 2012 Furniture, fixtures, equipment and other	Dec. 31, 2011 Furniture, fixtures, equipment and other	Dec. 31, 2012 Furniture, fixtures, equipment and other Minimum	Dec. 31, 2012 Furniture, fixtures, equipment and other Maximum	Dec. 31, 2012 Buildings and improvements	Dec. 31, 2011 Buildings and improvements	Dec. 31, 2012 Buildings and improvements Minimum	Dec. 31, 2012 Buildings and improvements Maximum	Dec. 31, 2012 Land	Dec. 31, 2011 Land	Dec. 31, 2012 Construction in progress	Dec. 31, 2011 Construction in progress	Dec. 31, 2012 Construction in progress Satellite	Dec. 31, 2012 Construction in progress DBSD and TerreStar ground equipment	Dec. 31, 2012 Construction in progress Software related projects	Dec. 31, 2011 Construction in progress Software related projects	Dec. 31, 2012 Construction in progress Other	Dec. 31, 2011 Construction in progress Other
Property and equipment
Total property and equipment	$ 7,445,969	$ 6,032,517			$ 3,467,037	$ 3,496,154			$ 201,607	$ 201,607	$ 177,000		$ 177,000		$ 177,192		$ 177,192	$ 200,198		$ 200,198		$ 316,541	$ 316,541		$ 277,658	$ 277,658	$ 358,141		$ 401,721		$ 499,819	$ 499,819			$ 732,687	$ 522,330			$ 102,442	$ 99,346			$ 16,671	$ 15,893	$ 517,255	$ 48,779	$ 306,697	$ 184,663	$ 7,049	$ 21,519	$ 18,846	$ 27,260
Accumulated depreciation	(3,043,609)	(2,862,626)
Property and equipment, net	$ 4,402,360	$ 3,169,891
Depreciable life of assets			1 year	40 years			2 years	5 years	12 years		15 years	12 years		15 years	15 years	12 years		15 years	12 years		15 years	15 years		15 years	15 years		15 years	15 years	15 years	15 years			10 years	15 years			1 year	10 years			1 year	40 years