Property and Equipment and Intangible Assets (Details 2)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013 item
Property and equipment
Number of other satellites to be relocated in the event of failure or loss of any satellite	1
Number of asset groups considered for impairment of DISH branded pay-TV DBS satellite fleet	1
2 GHz satellites
Property and equipment
Number of satellites added	3
Number of satellites in-orbit	2
Number of satellites under construction	1