Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	0 Months Ended				3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended			0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 28, 2014 Wireless	Dec. 20, 2013 Wireless	Dec. 17, 2013 Wireless	Oct. 29, 2013 Wireless	Mar. 31, 2014 Wireless segment	Dec. 31, 2008 Wireless	Feb. 27, 2014 Wireless	Mar. 31, 2014 Wireless Minimum	Mar. 31, 2014 Wireless UTAM Inc.	Mar. 31, 2014 Wireless Sprint	Mar. 09, 2012 DBSD North America and TerreStar Transactions Wireless	Mar. 31, 2014 DBSD North America and TerreStar Transactions Wireless
Spectrum Investments
Payment to acquire certain 700 MHz wireless licenses							$ 712,000,000
700 MHz Interim Build-out Requirement (as a percent)							35.00%
700 MHz Final Build-out Requirement (as a percent)							70.00%
Modified 700 MHz Interim Build-out Requirement (as a percent)					40.00%
Modified 700 MHz Final Build-out Requirement (as a percent)					70.00%
Purchase price												2,860,000,000
AWS-4 Interim Build-out Requirement (as a percent)													40.00%
AWS-4 Final Build-out Requirement (as a percent)													70.00%
Accelerated period to meet Final Build-Out Requirement on failure to meet Interim Build-Out Requirement	1 year					2 years							1 year
Aggregate reserve price of H Block wireless spectrum			1,564,000,000
Number of wireless spectrum licenses						176
Aggregate bid price						1,564,000,000		1,564,000,000
H Block FCC license depsoit	1,235,866,000	1,236,000,000		328,000,000
Clearance costs associated with H Block spectrum										$ 13,000,000	$ 95,000,000
H Block Interim Build-out Requirement (as a percent)									40.00%
H Block Final Build-out Requirement (as a percent)									75.00%