Intangible Assets (Details 1)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012
SIRIUS FM-1 [Member]
Years in which licenses expires
Year in which our FCC license expires	2017
SIRIUS FM-2 [Member]
Years in which licenses expires
Year in which our FCC license expires	2017
SIRIUS FM-3 [Member]
Years in which licenses expires
Year in which our FCC license expires	2017
SIRIUS FM-5 [Member]
Years in which licenses expires
Year in which our FCC license expires	2017
SIRIUS FM-6 [Member]
Years in which licenses expires
Year in which our FCC license expires		[1]
Intangible Assets (Textual) [Abstract]
Expected FCC license expiration term from date of launch	8 years
XM-1 [Member]
Years in which licenses expires
Year in which our FCC license expires	2014
XM-2 [Member]
Years in which licenses expires
Year in which our FCC license expires	2014
XM-3 [Member]
Years in which licenses expires
Year in which our FCC license expires	2013
XM-4 [Member]
Years in which licenses expires
Year in which our FCC license expires	2014
XM-5 [Member]
Years in which licenses expires
Year in which our FCC license expires	2018

[1] We hold an FCC license for our FM-6 satellite, which will expire eight years from when this satellite is launched and placed into operation.