CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 195,602	$ 585,722
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	534,801	507,817
Impairment of long-lived assets	437,575
Realized and unrealized losses (gains) on investments	(107,947)	(101,638)
Non-cash, stock-based compensation	15,362	30,199
Deferred tax expense (benefit)	(45,319)	68,683
Other, net	49,959	7,841
Change in noncurrent assets	17,733	27,230
Change in long-term deferred revenue, distribution and carriage payments and other long-term liabilities	25,555	(29,170)
Changes in current assets and current liabilities, net	107,946	251,380
Net cash flows from operating activities	1,231,267	1,348,064
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Purchases of marketable investment securities	(3,590,433)	(1,996,257)
Sales and maturities of marketable investment securities	1,836,573	1,221,341
Purchases and prepaid funding of derivative financial instruments (Note 2)	(696,000)
Purchases of property and equipment	(593,740)	(420,185)
Change in restricted cash and marketable investment securities	43,067	(1,535)
DBSD North America Transaction, less cash acquired of $5,230		(40,015)
TerreStar Transaction		(36,942)
Other	(57,842)	(15,867)
Net cash flows from investing activities	(3,058,375)	(1,289,460)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	2,300,000	1,900,000
Proceeds from issuance of restricted debt	2,600,000
Redemption of restricted debt	(2,600,000)
Funding of restricted debt - escrow	(2,596,750)
Release of restricted debt - escrow	2,596,771
Debt issuance costs	(11,427)	(9,564)
Repayment of long-term debt and capital lease obligations	(20,531)	(18,949)
Net proceeds from Class A common stock options exercised and stock issued under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan	37,071	49,852
Other	9,605	5,770
Net cash flows from financing activities	2,314,739	1,927,109
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents	51	873
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	487,682	1,986,586
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	3,606,140	609,108
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	4,093,822	2,595,694
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:
Cash paid for interest (including capitalized interest)	405,951	268,800
Capitalized interest	69,153	38,643
Cash received for interest	90,427	19,383
Cash paid for income taxes	115,130	243,861
Employee benefits paid in Class A common stock	24,229	22,280
Transfer of regulatory authorization from EchoStar	$ 23,148