CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011 6 3/8% Senior Notes Due 2011
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 789,746	$ 625,740	$ 1,515,578
Less: Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(47,343)	(37,179)	(6,796)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	837,089	662,919	1,522,374
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	1,054,026	964,484	912,203
Impairment of long-lived assets	437,575
Realized and unrealized losses (gains) on investments	(387,675)	(172,314)	(8,019)
Non-cash, stock-based compensation	29,730	39,327	31,213
Deferred tax expense (benefit) (Note 12)	126,194	369,224	607,813
Other, net	65,987	8,241	45,003
Changes in current assets and current liabilities:
Trade accounts receivable - other	(69,086)	(64,364)	19,175
Allowance for doubtful accounts	2,147	1,919	(17,735)
Advances (to) from discontinued operations	48,803	(34,075)	94,013
Prepaid income taxes	26,397	(110,608)	72,638
Trade accounts receivable - EchoStar	(28,142)	(2,284)	(2,031)
Inventory	(12,654)	85,321	(61,809)
Other current assets	(71,324)	27,222	1,241
Trade accounts payable	35,895	90,303	(31,204)
Trade accounts payable - EchoStar	73,157	54,636	(16,136)
Deferred revenue and other	3,497	22,425	5,989
Litigation expense accrual (Note 16 and Note 20)		5,419	(316,949)
Litigation settlement payments (Note 20)	(70,999)		(350,000)
Accrued programming and other accrued expenses	208,580	55,923	111,381
Net cash flows from operating activities from continuing operations	2,309,197	2,003,718	2,619,160
Net cash flows from operating activities from discontinued operations, net	(36,732)	8,157	(45,282)
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Purchases of marketable investment securities	(6,356,136)	(3,971,451)	(5,407,328)
Sales and maturities of marketable investment securities	4,999,639	2,046,648	6,210,191
Purchases of derivative financial instruments (Note 2)	(805,996)
Settlement of derivative financial instruments (Note 2)	718,847
Purchases of property and equipment	(1,253,499)	(945,334)	(760,158)
Change in restricted cash and marketable investment securities	38,782	(2,177)	12,831
DBSD North America Transaction, less cash acquired of $5,230 (Note 9)		(40,015)	(1,139,201)
TerreStar Transaction (Note 9)		(36,942)	(1,345,000)
Purchase of Blockbuster assets, excludes cash acquired of $107,061			(233,584)
Sprint Settlement Agreement (Note 9)			(114,150)
Other, net	(376,494)	(54,811)	(6,773)
Net cash flows from investing activities from continuing operations	(3,034,857)	(3,004,082)	(2,783,172)
Net cash flows from investing activities from discontinued operations, net, including $1,782, $12,232, and $18,747 of purchases of property and equipment, respectively	13,773	(15,132)	87,844
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	2,300,000	4,400,000	2,000,000
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
Repurchases and redemption of Senior Notes				(1,000,000)
Debt issuance costs	(11,146)	(13,246)	(27,261)
Repayment of long-term debt and capital lease obligations	(37,869)	(36,090)	(32,236)
Net proceeds from Class A common stock options exercised and stock issued under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan	76,512	94,852	39,995
Cash dividend on Class A and Class B common stock		(452,890)	(893,278)
Other	24,422	11,307	6,293
Net cash flows from financing activities from continuing operations	1,851,940	4,003,933	93,513
Net cash flows from financing activities from discontinued operations, net	(435)	(1,449)	484
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents from discontinued operations	156	1,887	(4,111)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents from continuing operations	1,126,280	3,003,569	(70,499)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period from continuing operations	3,573,742	570,173	640,672
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period from continuing operations	4,700,022	3,573,742	570,173
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents related to discontinued operations	(23,238)	(6,537)	38,935
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period from discontinued operations	32,398	38,935
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period from discontinued operations	$ 9,160	$ 32,398	$ 38,935