Related Party Transactions (Details Textual)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended						3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended				3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2010 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2011 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2010 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2011 SIRIUS XM Canada [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2011 SIRIUS XM Canada [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2011 SIRIUS XM Canada [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2011 SIRIUS XM Canada [Member] CAD	Jun. 21, 2011 SIRIUS XM Canada [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 SIRIUS XM Canada [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2011 SIRIUS XM Canada [Member] 8% Convertible Unsecured Subordinated Debentures [Member]	Mar. 31, 2009 Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B-1 Liberty Media [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2011 Liberty Media [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2010 Liberty Media [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2011 Liberty Media [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2010 Liberty Media [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 Liberty Media [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2010 SIRIUS Canada [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2011 SIRIUS Canada [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2010 SIRIUS Canada [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 21, 2011 SIRIUS Canada [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 SIRIUS Canada [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2010 XM Canada [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2011 XM Canada [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2010 XM Canada [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 21, 2011 XM Canada [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 21, 2011 XM Canada [Member] CAD	Dec. 31, 2010 XM Canada [Member] USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2008 XM Canada [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2005 XM Canada [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2011 Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B-1 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B-1 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2011 8.75% Senior Notes due 2015 [Member]	Mar. 31, 2010 8.75% Senior Notes due 2015 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 9.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2015 [Member]	Aug. 31, 2009 9.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2015 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 13% Senior Notes due 2013 [Member]	Jul. 31, 2008 13% Senior Notes due 2013 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 7% Exchangeable Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014 [Member]	Aug. 31, 2008 7% Exchangeable Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 7.625% Senior Notes due 2018 [Member]	Oct. 31, 2010 7.625% Senior Notes due 2018 [Member]
Related Party Transactions (Textual) [Abstract]
Issuance of Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock													12,500,000																			12,500,000	12,500,000
Preferred stock Series B, liquidation preference													$ 0.001																			$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Number of shares of common stock into which Series B Preferred Stock is convertible													2,586,976,000
Percentage ownership limit of outstanding common stock by Liberty Media per the Investment Agreement																Liberty Media has agreed not to acquire more than 49.9% of our outstanding common stock prior to March 2012, except that Liberty Media may acquire more than 49.9% of our outstanding common stock at any time pursuant to any cash tender offer for all of the outstanding shares of our common stock that are not beneficially owned by Liberty Media or its affiliates at a price per share greater than the closing price of the common stock on the trading day preceding the earlier of the public announcement or commencement of such tender offer.
Accrued interest with Liberty Media to related party current liabilities	$ 78,925,000		$ 78,925,000		$ 72,453,000									$ 10,461,000		$ 10,461,000		$ 9,765,000
Deferred financing costs with Liberty Media to Related party long-term assets	69,943,000		69,943,000		33,475,000	68,643,000		68,643,000			0			1,300,000		1,300,000		1,571,000		0			0		0				31,904,000
Interest expense associated with debt	75,316,000	68,559,000	229,730,000	223,230,000										8,934,000	10,574,000	26,718,000	30,538,000
Class A shares received from Sirius XM Canada										46,700,000
Economic interest related parties							38.00%															49.90%					21.50%	21.50%
Voting interest							25.00%
Cash received as repayment of the XM Canada credit facility and consideration for company's preferred stock in SIRIUS Canada							53,781,000
Return of capital from investment in unconsolidated entity			10,117,000				10,117,000
Dividend							4,849,000
Non interest bearing notes of CSR with a two year term										5,207,000
Gain on merger on unconsolidated entities			84,855,000					84,855,000
Investment						50,728,000		50,728,000															0						0
Equity Method Investment Goodwill and Intangible Assets						30,000,000		30,000,000
Face value of 8% convertible unsecured subordinated debentures									4,000,000
Amounts due for chipsets and other services	5,228,000		5,228,000		6,719,000	5,228,000		5,228,000			0			0		0		0		0			5,613,000		0				1,106,000
Carrying values of the host contract						3,445,000		3,445,000			3,302,000
Carrying values of embedded derivative related to investment in debentures						0		0			11,000
Royalty percentage of gross revenue minimum																				5.00%
Royalty percentage of gross revenue maximum																				$ 0.15
Costs that have been or will be reimbursed by Sirius Canada																			2,498,000	5,253,000	7,333,000
Other related party current liability						1,804,000		1,804,000
The Company's share of related party net loss						4,214,000		4,214,000											3,361,000	9,717,000	6,579,000			2,926,000	6,045,000	9,416,000
Payment received from related party in excess of carrying value																			546,000	6,748,000	4,256,000
Initial agreement period with XM Canada																									10 years
Number of additional years XM Canada has to extend the agreements under unilateral option																									5 years
Royalty for all subscriber fees earned by related party																									15.00%
Obligation of XM Canada to pay us for the rights to broadcast and market National Hockey League games																															70,300,000
Term of Obligation of XM Canada for the rights to broadcast and market the National Hockey League																															10 years
Estimated fair value of deferred revenue from XM Canada																														34,000,000
Carrying value of deferred revenue	219,344,000		219,344,000		273,973,000	26,711,000		26,711,000																					28,792,000
Credit facility extended to XM Canada																												45,000,000
Interest rate on instrument												8.00%																						8.75%	8.75%	9.75%	9.75%	13.00%	13.00%	7.00%	7.00%	7.625%	7.625%
Related party current liabilities	16,541,000		16,541,000		15,845,000	6,080,000		6,080,000			0			10,461,000		10,461,000		9,765,000		0			1,805,000		0				4,275,000
Amount received as settlement for the standby credit facility																											38,815
Valuation allowance related to absorption of our share of net loss from our investment in XM Canada																											15,649,000
Deferred programming costs and accrued interest related to XM Canada						$ 9,263,000		$ 9,263,000																					$ 7,201,000