Stock-Based Compensation (Details 7) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 Long-Term Performance Based Plans	Sep. 30, 2012 Long-Term Performance Based Plans	Sep. 30, 2013 Long-Term Performance Based Plans	Sep. 30, 2012 Long-Term Performance Based Plans	Dec. 31, 2005 LTIP 2005	Sep. 30, 2013 LTIP 2005	Sep. 30, 2012 LTIP 2008	Sep. 30, 2013 LTIP 2008	Sep. 30, 2012 LTIP 2008	Jun. 30, 2013 LTIP 2008	Sep. 30, 2013 2013 LTIP	Sep. 30, 2013 2013 LTIP	Sep. 30, 2013 Other Employee Performance Awards	Sep. 30, 2012 Other Employee Performance Awards	Sep. 30, 2013 Other Employee Performance Awards	Sep. 30, 2012 Other Employee Performance Awards	Sep. 30, 2013 DISH Network Awards Long-Term Performance Based Plans	Sep. 30, 2013 DISH Network Awards 2013 LTIP	Sep. 30, 2013 DISH Network Awards Other Employee Performance Awards	Sep. 30, 2013 DISH Network Awards Held by DISH DBS employees LTIP 2005	Sep. 30, 2013 EchoStar awards Held by DISH DBS employees LTIP 2005	Sep. 30, 2013 Stock Options DISH Network Awards	Dec. 31, 2012 Stock Options DISH Network Awards	Sep. 30, 2013 Stock Options DISH Network Awards Long-Term Performance Based Plans	Sep. 30, 2013 Stock Options DISH Network Awards LTIP 2005	Sep. 30, 2013 Stock Options DISH Network Awards 2013 LTIP	Sep. 30, 2013 Stock Options DISH Network Awards Other Employee Performance Awards	Sep. 30, 2013 Stock Options DISH Network Awards Held by DISH DBS employees	Sep. 30, 2013 Stock Options EchoStar awards Held by DISH DBS employees	Sep. 30, 2013 Restricted Stock Units DISH Network Awards	Dec. 31, 2012 Restricted Stock Units DISH Network Awards	Sep. 30, 2013 Restricted Stock Units DISH Network Awards Long-Term Performance Based Plans	Sep. 30, 2013 Restricted Stock Units DISH Network Awards LTIP 2005	Sep. 30, 2013 Restricted Stock Units DISH Network Awards 2013 LTIP	Sep. 30, 2013 Restricted Stock Units DISH Network Awards Other Employee Performance Awards	Sep. 30, 2013 Restricted Stock Units DISH Network Awards Held by DISH DBS employees	Sep. 30, 2013 Restricted Stock Units EchoStar awards Held by DISH DBS employees
2005 LTIP Terms
Awards vesting period									7 years
Percentage awards vesting per annum during first four years									10.00%
Percentage awards vesting per annum after first four years									20.00%
Share-based expense
Unrecognized compensation expense relating to long-term performance based incentive awards										$ 37,912														$ 32,321	$ 5,591
Unrecognized non-cash stock-based compensation expense on vested portion										36,031														30,629	5,402
Share-based compensation additional disclosures
Portion vested (as a percent)														100.00%
Percentage of performance goals probable of achievement															20.00%
Recognized non-cash stock-based compensation expense
Non-cash stock-based compensation expense recognized	10,552	6,092	25,328	34,936	7,753	3,497	13,335	15,526			2,218	2,719	9,675		6,567	6,567	1,186	1,279	4,049	5,851
Estimated Remaining Non-Cash, Stock-Based Compensation Expense
Remaining expense estimated to be recognized during 2013																						2,234	231
Estimated contingent expense subsequent to 2013																						58,223	41,929
Total estimated remaining expense over the term of plan																						$ 60,457	$ 42,160
Outstanding awards pursuant to performance-based stock incentive plans
Performance Based Stock Options (in shares)																					6,483,500					12,321,736	13,018,490	6,483,500	1,878,500	1,935,000	2,670,000	12,321,736	547,361							1,878,998	42,288
Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)																					$ 24.94					$ 22.33	$ 18.99	$ 24.94	$ 20.83	$ 36.48	$ 19.46
Restricted Performance Units (in shares)																																		1,878,998	1,076,748	1,878,998	211,498	967,500	700,000