Property and Equipment and Intangible Assets (Details 2) (USD $)	9 Months Ended		9 Months Ended					9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013 item satellite	Oct. 31, 2013 EchoStar and Ariane EchoStar XVIII Launch Service	Sep. 30, 2013 Wireless	Sep. 30, 2013 AWS-4 Satellites satellite	Jun. 30, 2013 T2	Jun. 30, 2013 D1	Sep. 30, 2013 T1	Sep. 30, 2013 EchoStar XII
Property and equipment
Number of satellites added				3
Number of satellites in-orbit				2
Number of satellites under construction				1
Net book value of long-lived assets before impairment					$ 270,000,000	$ 358,000,000
Net book value of long-lived assets					40,000,000	150,000,000	359,000,000
Amount payable for launch contract		120,000,000
Impairment of long-lived assets	$ 437,575,000		$ 438,000,000
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
Useful life								18 months