Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	Jun. 30, 2011
Expected contractual cash commitments
2011	$ 411,836
2012	624,728
2013	1,310,624
2014	948,785
2015	1,364,527
Thereafter	988,427
Total	5,648,927
Long-term debt obligations [Member]
Expected contractual cash commitments
2011	25,076
2012	1,623
2013	779,636
2014	550,182
2015	1,057,000
Thereafter	700,000
Total	3,113,517
Cash interest payments [Member]
Expected contractual cash commitments
2011	144,617
2012	288,338
2013	288,208
2014	186,935
2015	113,433
Thereafter	160,125
Total	1,181,656
Satellite and transmission [Member]
Expected contractual cash commitments
2011	57,826
2012	27,150
2013	4,773
2014	13,250
2015	13,156
Thereafter	22,093
Total	138,248
Programming and content [Member]
Expected contractual cash commitments
2011	101,051
2012	223,387
2013	177,284
2014	151,881
2015	145,531
Thereafter	3,750
Total	802,884
Marketing and distribution [Member]
Expected contractual cash commitments
2011	38,086
2012	25,083
2013	17,611
2014	12,017
2015	9,804
Thereafter	11,033
Total	113,634
Satellite incentive payments [Member]
Expected contractual cash commitments
2011	4,652
2012	12,643
2013	12,790
2014	12,820
2015	12,165
Thereafter	86,185
Total	141,255
Operating lease obligations [Member]
Expected contractual cash commitments
2011	16,658
2012	31,654
2013	27,485
2014	21,313
2015	13,242
Thereafter	5,101
Total	115,453
Others [Member]
Expected contractual cash commitments
2011	23,870
2012	14,850
2013	2,837
2014	387
2015	196
Thereafter	140
Total	$ 42,280

The carrying amount of the long-term purchase obligation as of the balance sheet date, which equals the sum of all payments due.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 440
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394976&loc=d3e25383-109308

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 47
-Paragraph 6
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 47
-Paragraph 10
-Subparagraph b
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 440
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394976&loc=d3e25287-109308

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- Definition

The aggregate remaining amount of payments due after the fifth year after the balance sheet date to extinguish a recorded unconditional purchase obligation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 47
-Paragraph 10
-Subparagraph b
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 440
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394976&loc=d3e25383-109308

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- Definition

The aggregate amount of payments due in the fifth year after the balance sheet date to reduce a recorded unconditional purchase obligation.

+ References

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+ References

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The aggregate amount of payments due in the second year after the balance sheet date to reduce a recorded unconditional purchase obligation.

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The aggregate amount of payments due in the third year after the balance sheet date to reduce a recorded unconditional purchase obligation.

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