CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 210,676	$ 360,126
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	234,327	208,698
Realized and unrealized losses (gains) on investments	(11,262)	(110,062)
Non-cash, stock-based compensation	11,320	23,182
Deferred tax expense (benefit)	46,795	3,597
Other, net	18,427	6,273
Change in noncurrent assets	11,994	15,567
Change in long-term deferred revenue, distribution and carriage payments and other long-term liabilities	32,357	(6,014)
Changes in current assets and current liabilities, net	131,828	357,183
Net cash flows from operating activities	686,462	858,550
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Purchases of marketable investment securities	(1,316,229)	(289,168)
Sales and maturities of marketable investment securities	817,230	428,300
Purchases and prepaid funding of derivative financial instruments (Note 2)	(550,000)
Purchases of property and equipment	(311,527)	(168,928)
Change in restricted cash and marketable investment securities	42,948	(1,581)
DBSD North America Transaction, less cash acquired of $5,230		(40,015)
TerreStar Transaction		(36,942)
Other	(47,158)	(903)
Net cash flows from investing activities	(1,364,736)	(109,237)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Repayment of long-term debt and capital lease obligations	(8,527)	(8,458)
Net proceeds from Class A common stock options exercised and stock issued under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan	10,887	5,751
Other	388	1,045
Net cash flows from financing activities	2,748	(1,662)
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents	228	1,909
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(675,298)	749,560
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	3,606,140	609,108
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	2,930,842	1,358,668
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:
Cash paid for interest (including capitalized interest)	219,959	114,226
Capitalized interest	35,290
Cash received for interest	15,292	10,108
Cash paid for income taxes	$ 2,025	$ 13,788