CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Revenue:
Subscriber-related revenue	$ 3,225,069	$ 3,184,203	$ 9,727,738	$ 9,359,805
Equipment sales and other revenue	14,518	11,849	46,432	42,183
Equipment sales, services and other revenue - EchoStar	11,218	10,319	29,052	28,960
Total revenue	3,250,805	3,206,371	9,803,222	9,430,948
Costs and Expenses (exclusive of depreciation shown separately below - Note 5):
Subscriber-related expenses	1,700,457	1,684,341	5,119,856	4,971,770
Satellite and transmission expenses
EchoStar	108,433	107,478	332,785	316,063
Other	9,657	9,981	29,427	29,837
Equipment, services and other cost of sales	19,807	14,950	60,071	53,856
Subscriber acquisition costs:
Cost of sales - subscriber promotion subsidies - EchoStar	69,003	57,173	186,297	123,809
Other subscriber promotion subsidies	234,480	286,206	673,229	866,317
Subscriber acquisition advertising	91,024	102,930	232,051	273,458
Total subscriber acquisition costs	394,507	446,309	1,091,577	1,263,584
General and administrative expenses - EchoStar	10,449	12,396	34,921	35,365
General and administrative expenses	150,778	141,746	436,454	422,306
Litigation expense (Note 8)		91,097	(316,949)	151,999
Depreciation and amortization (Note 5)	224,507	242,687	686,771	746,547
Total costs and expenses	2,618,595	2,750,985	7,474,913	7,991,327
Operating income (loss)	632,210	455,386	2,328,309	1,439,621
Other Income (Expense):
Interest income	2,682	3,217	9,056	10,591
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized	(152,409)	(112,400)	(413,587)	(354,256)
Other, net	(1,049)	142	10,450	393
Total other income (expense)	(150,776)	(109,041)	(394,081)	(343,272)
Income (loss) before income taxes	481,434	346,345	1,934,228	1,096,349
Income tax (provision) benefit, net	(184,433)	(114,052)	(739,061)	(390,301)
Net income (loss)	297,001	232,293	1,195,167	706,048
Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net of tax	(7,761)	868	(7,257)	(374)
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ 289,240	$ 233,161	$ 1,187,910	$ 705,674