Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012
Expected contractual cash commitments
2012	$ 457,229	[1]
2013	1,356,006	[1]
2014	970,157	[1]
2015	1,357,740	[1]
2016	110,864	[1]
Thereafter	1,103,767	[1]
Total	5,355,763	[1]
Reserve for Uncertain Taxes	1,537
Long-term debt obligations [Member]
Expected contractual cash commitments
2012	1,191
2013	745,382
2014	550,182
2015	1,024,428
2016	0
Thereafter	700,000
Total	3,021,183
Cash interest payments [Member]
Expected contractual cash commitments
2012	221,328
2013	280,579
2014	183,759
2015	110,257
2016	53,375
Thereafter	106,750
Total	956,048
Satellite and transmission [Member]
Expected contractual cash commitments
2012	5,624
2013	57,257
2014	13,311
2015	13,157
2016	3,597
Thereafter	18,693
Total	111,639
Programming and content [Member]
Expected contractual cash commitments
2012	135,602
2013	191,616
2014	163,131
2015	156,244
2016	13,388
Thereafter	1,125
Total	661,106
Marketing and distribution [Member]
Expected contractual cash commitments
2012	35,957
2013	22,692
2014	17,450
2015	12,129
2016	8,685
Thereafter	3,192
Total	100,105
Satellite incentive payments [Member]
Expected contractual cash commitments
2012	7,758
2013	11,864
2014	12,607
2015	11,728
2016	12,604
Thereafter	78,591
Total	135,152
Operating lease obligations [Member]
Expected contractual cash commitments
2012	26,501
2013	32,333
2014	27,005
2015	29,378
2016	19,033
Thereafter	195,416
Total	329,666
Others [Member]
Expected contractual cash commitments
2012	23,268
2013	14,283
2014	2,712
2015	419
2016	182
Thereafter	0
Total	$ 40,864

[1] The table does not include our reserve for uncertain tax positions, which at March 31, 2012 totaled $1,537, as the specific timing of any cash payments cannot be projected with reasonable certainty.