CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Revenue:
Subscriber-related revenue	$ 12,959,025	$ 12,538,950	$ 11,537,703
Equipment sales and other revenue	64,547	59,607	97,856
Equipment sales, services and other revenue - EchoStar	36,474	37,180	27,559
Total revenue	13,060,046	12,635,737	11,663,118
Costs and Expenses (exclusive of depreciation shown separately below - Note 6):
Subscriber-related expenses	6,841,760	6,675,095	6,359,138
Satellite and transmission expenses
EchoStar	441,613	418,286	319,752
Other	39,341	39,776	33,477
Cost of sales - equipment, services and other	79,563	76,295	121,238
Subscriber acquisition costs:
Cost of sales - subscriber promotion subsidies - EchoStar	249,440	175,777	188,793
Other subscriber promotion subsidies	925,015	1,104,652	1,071,655
Subscriber acquisition advertising	329,021	372,563	279,067
Total subscriber acquisition costs	1,503,476	1,652,992	1,539,515
General and administrative expenses - EchoStar	45,188	47,429	45,356
General and administrative expenses	570,699	573,495	554,754
Litigation expense (Note 11)	(316,949)	225,456	361,024
Depreciation and amortization (Note 6)	904,955	983,360	939,714
Total costs and expenses	10,109,646	10,692,184	10,273,968
Operating income (loss)	2,950,400	1,943,553	1,389,150
Other Income (Expense):
Interest income	13,209	13,744	13,985
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized	(552,036)	(470,890)	(407,413)
Other, net	10,957	581	(19,129)
Total other income (expense)	(527,870)	(456,565)	(412,557)
Income (loss) before income taxes	2,422,530	1,486,988	976,593
Income tax (provision) benefit, net (Note 8)	(896,847)	(538,312)	(372,938)
Net income (loss)	1,525,683	948,676	603,655
Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net of tax	(5,215)	(68)	12,625
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ 1,520,468	$ 948,608	$ 616,280