CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 506,592	$ 422,393
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	795,438	743,220
Impairment of long-lived assets	437,575
Realized and unrealized losses (gains) on investments	(207,592)	(171,203)
Non-cash, stock-based compensation	26,111	36,957
Deferred tax expense (benefit)	4,277	395,079
Other, net	55,239	15,902
Change in noncurrent assets	(14,559)	(77,437)
Changes in current assets and current liabilities, net	29,235	669,131
Net cash flows from operating activities	1,632,316	2,034,042
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Purchases of marketable investment securities	(5,009,859)	(3,292,823)
Sales and maturities of marketable investment securities	3,207,640	1,618,843
Purchases and prepaid funding of derivative financial instruments (Note 2)	(696,000)
Settlement of derivative financial instruments and prepaid funding (Note 2)	822,510
Purchases of property and equipment	(912,904)	(681,925)
Change in restricted cash and marketable investment securities	38,771	(1,739)
DBSD North America Transaction, less cash acquired of $5,230		(40,015)
TerreStar Transaction		(36,942)
Other	(193,051)	(56,553)
Net cash flows from investing activities	(2,742,893)	(2,491,154)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	2,300,000	2,900,000
Proceeds from issuance of restricted debt	2,600,000
Repurchases of 7% Senior Notes due 2013	(48,552)
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)	(6,681)
Repayment of long-term debt and capital lease obligations	(29,585)	(28,599)
Net proceeds from Class A common stock options exercised and stock issued under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan	66,598	61,404
Other	20,822	7,572
Net cash flows from financing activities	2,297,877	2,933,696
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents	13	1,947
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	1,187,313	2,478,531
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	3,606,140	609,108
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	4,793,453	3,087,639
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:
Cash paid for interest (including capitalized interest)	666,970	385,518
Capitalized interest	101,265	72,061
Cash received for interest	120,852	26,209
Cash paid for income taxes	235,981	270,042
Employee benefits paid in Class A common stock	24,230	22,280
Satellites and other assets financed under capital lease obligations	$ 904	$ 850