CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 440,113	$ 499,400
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	433,661	476,733
Realized and unrealized losses (gains) on investments		(1,751)
Non-cash, stock-based compensation	14,776	28,844
Deferred tax expense (benefit)	12,922	58,640
Other, net	10,756	4,047
Change in noncurrent assets	21,845	20,920
Change in long-term deferred revenue, distribution and carriage payments and other long-term liabilities	(67,462)	(27,619)
Changes in advances to affiliates	(355,447)	(691)
Changes in current assets and current liabilities, net	82,783	218,457
Net cash flows from operating activities	593,947	1,276,980
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Purchases of marketable investment securities	(3,373,406)	(1,327,003)
Sales and maturities of marketable investment securities	1,562,239	579,056
Purchases of property and equipment	(449,823)	(370,925)
Change in restricted cash and marketable investment securities	43,081	(1,262)
Other	5,632	(2,404)
Net cash flows from investing activities	(2,212,277)	(1,122,538)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	2,300,000	1,900,000
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
Debt issuance costs	(11,427)	(9,564)
Repayment of long-term debt and capital lease obligations	(19,131)	(17,954)
Other	9,227	5,523
Net cash flows from financing activities	2,278,690	1,878,005
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	660,360	2,032,447
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	3,424,387	399,072
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	4,084,747	2,431,519
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:
Cash paid for interest	403,925	268,627
Cash received for interest	16,516	5,932
Cash paid for income taxes	717	18,262
Cash paid for income taxes to DISH Network	228,660	249,214
Transfer of regulatory authorization from EchoStar	$ 23,148