CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Revenue:
Subscriber-related revenue	$ 3,352,550	$ 3,224,465
Equipment and merchandise sales, rental and other revenue	200,534	350,737
Equipment sales, services and other revenue - EchoStar	2,140	6,667
Total revenue	3,555,224	3,581,869
Costs and Expenses (exclusive of depreciation shown separately below - Note 7):
Subscriber-related expenses	1,911,593	1,761,252
Satellite and transmission expenses:
EchoStar	112,933	109,854
Other	10,248	11,679
Cost of sales - equipment, merchandise, services, rental and other	99,526	142,262
Subscriber acquisition costs:
Cost of sales - subscriber promotion subsidies	77,487	84,769
Other subscriber acquisition costs	386,413	314,769
Total subscriber acquisition costs	463,900	399,538
General and administrative expenses - EchoStar	18,880	12,082
General and administrative expenses	251,564	364,093
Depreciation and amortization (Note 7)	234,327	208,698
Total costs and expenses	3,102,971	3,009,458
Operating income (loss)	452,253	572,411
Other Income (Expense):
Interest income	37,494	7,089
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized	(161,386)	(138,013)
Other, net	9,740	110,282
Total other income (expense)	(114,152)	(20,642)
Income (loss) before income taxes	338,101	551,769
Income tax (provision) benefit, net	(127,425)	(191,643)
Net income (loss)	210,676	360,126
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(4,922)	(184)
Net income (loss) attributable to DISH Network	215,598	360,310
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - Class A and B common stock:
Basic (in shares)	453,242	447,289
Diluted (in shares)	456,192	449,880
Earnings per share - Class A and B common stock:
Basic net income (loss) per share attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share)	$ 0.48	$ 0.81
Diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to DISH Network (in dollars per share)	$ 0.47	$ 0.80
Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Net income (loss)	210,676	360,126
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments	2,737	3,253
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities	17,783	51,021
Recognition of previously unrealized (gains) losses on available-for-sale securities included in net income (loss)	1,362	(80,887)
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit	(6,996)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	14,886	(26,613)
Comprehensive income (loss)	225,562	333,513
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(4,922)	(184)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to DISH Network	$ 230,484	$ 333,697