Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Commitments and Contingencies

Schedule of future maturities of long-term debt, capital lease and contractual obligations

	Payments due by period
	Total		2012		2013		2014		2015		2016		Thereafter
	(In thousands)
Long-term debt obligations	$	7,221,871	$	6,443	$	506,114	$	1,005,778	$	756,160	$	1,504,669	$	3,442,707
Capital lease obligations	270,893		28,187		24,541		25,207		27,339		30,024		135,595
Interest expense on long-term debt and capital lease obligations	3,257,955		537,000		534,685		497,274		399,500		313,963		975,533
Satellite-related obligations	2,224,776		220,527		248,679		248,461		248,244		248,027		1,010,838
Operating lease obligations	183,841		51,173		36,467		25,345		17,992		17,398		35,466
Purchase obligations	2,852,693		1,429,649		443,463		430,611		326,044		186,391		36,535
Total	$	16,012,029	$	2,272,979	$	1,793,949	$	2,232,676	$	1,775,279	$	2,300,472	$	5,636,674