CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Revenue:
Subscriber-related revenue	$ 3,289,376	$ 3,307,003	$ 6,508,322	$ 6,502,669
Equipment sales and other revenue	22,567	16,021	44,180	31,914
Equipment sales, services and other revenue - EchoStar	5,678	8,803	12,345	17,834
Total revenue	3,317,621	3,331,827	6,564,847	6,552,417
Costs and Expenses (exclusive of depreciation shown separately below - Note 5):
Subscriber-related expenses	1,827,204	1,727,091	3,591,639	3,419,399
Satellite and transmission expenses:
EchoStar	106,635	115,466	215,756	224,352
Other	9,611	9,692	20,185	19,770
Cost of sales - equipment, services and other	19,680	18,192	42,628	40,264
Subscriber acquisition costs:
Cost of sales - subscriber promotion subsidies - EchoStar	51,580	62,868	133,854	117,294
Other subscriber promotion subsidies	234,828	211,927	461,217	438,749
Subscriber acquisition advertising	118,293	67,669	207,349	141,027
Total subscriber acquisition costs	404,701	342,464	802,420	697,070
General and administrative expenses - EchoStar	12,273	12,532	22,701	24,472
General and administrative expenses	155,841	137,816	316,577	285,676
Litigation expense (Note 8)		23,727		(316,949)
Depreciation and amortization (Note 5)	279,438	234,138	476,733	462,264
Total costs and expenses	2,815,383	2,621,118	5,488,639	4,856,318
Operating income (loss)	502,238	710,709	1,076,208	1,696,099
Other Income (Expense):
Interest income	4,250	2,734	5,942	6,374
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized	(148,830)	(141,205)	(283,116)	(261,178)
Other, net	(797)	(1,069)	1,908	11,499
Total other income (expense)	(145,377)	(139,540)	(275,266)	(243,305)
Income (loss) before income taxes	356,861	571,169	800,942	1,452,794
Income tax (provision) benefit, net	(134,951)	(221,877)	(301,542)	(554,628)
Net income (loss)	221,910	349,292	499,400	898,166
Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Net income (loss)	221,910	349,292	499,400	898,166
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net of tax of zero, respectively	(1,879)	(1,895)	2,856	504
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ 220,031	$ 347,397	$ 502,256	$ 898,670