Related Party Transactions (Details 3) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014 EchoStar XVI	Sep. 30, 2014 EchoStar	Sep. 30, 2013 EchoStar	Sep. 30, 2014 EchoStar	Sep. 30, 2013 EchoStar	Jan. 02, 2012 EchoStar Prior Broadcast Agreement Minimum	May 31, 2010 EchoStar Certain Sports Related Programming Broadcast Agreement	May 31, 2013 EchoStar EchoStar VIII	Dec. 21, 2012 EchoStar EchoStar XVI	Sep. 30, 2014 EchoStar EchoStar XVI	Dec. 31, 2009 EchoStar EchoStar XVI	Dec. 31, 2009 EchoStar DISH Nimiq 5 Agreement transponder	Sep. 30, 2012 EchoStar QuetzSat-1 Lease Agreement transponder	Dec. 31, 2008 EchoStar QuetzSat-1 Lease Agreement transponder	May 31, 2012 EchoStar 103 degree orbital location member	Sep. 30, 2014 EchoStar TT&C Agreement
Related Party Transactions
Required notice period for termination by the reporting entity						60 days										60 days
General and administrative expenses		$ 25	$ 17	$ 74	$ 50
Agreement term							10 years					10 years			10 years
Notice period for termination of agreement								30 days
Agreement term from commencement of service date									4 years		10 years
Notice period to exercise option to extend agreement	6 years									6 years
Additional term of renewal option										5 years
Agreement term with third party												15 years		10 years
Number of DBS transponders available to receive services												32
Number of DBS transponders currently used												32		32
Number of DBS transponders expected to receive services														24
Number of transponders subleased													5