Number of owned satellites.

No definition available.

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- Details

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- Definition

The amount of expense recognized in the current period that reflects the allocation of the cost of tangible assets over the assets' useful lives. Includes production and non-production related depreciation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) on sale or disposal of property, plant and equipment assets, excluding oil and gas property and timber property.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 360

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391110&loc=d3e2941-110230

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6360339&loc=d3e1361-107760

+ Details

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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentAbstract
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- Definition

Amount of acquisition of long-lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of divestiture of long-lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Property and Equipment (Details Textual) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 Satellites	Sep. 30, 2012
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Depreciation expense on property and equipment	$ 46,426	$ 53,373	$ 155,923	$ 158,706
Disposal of property and equipment			13,130	4,633
(Loss) on disposal of assets			(128)	(567)
Property and equipment (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of owned satellites			9
Boeing Satellite Systems International [Member]
Property and equipment (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of owned satellites			4
Space Systems/Loral [Member]
Property and equipment (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of owned satellites			5
Sirius system [Member]
Property and equipment (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of owned satellites			4
XM system [Member]
Property and equipment (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of owned satellites			5
SIRIUS FM-6 [Member]
Property and equipment (Textual) [Abstract]
Capitalized expenditures, including interest	$ 28,608	$ 8,219	$ 44,982	$ 25,224