Investment Securities (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Realized gains on marketable investment securities and other investments
Realized gains on marketable investment securities and other investments		$ 177,558,000	$ 13,666,000	$ 2,923,000
Other Investment Securities - Noncurrent
Equity Method	155,500,000	155,500,000	114,246,000
Equity in the net loss of joint venture		(438,000)	11,860,000	(2,813,000)
Contribution to Dish Digital		44,712,000
Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Marketable Investment Securities
Amortized cost	788,117,000	788,117,000	906,594,000
Unrealized Gains	35,670,000	35,670,000	182,467,000
Unrealized Losses	(307,000)	(307,000)	(2,715,000)
Estimated Fair Value	823,480,000	823,480,000	1,086,346,000
Estimated Fair Value	655,000,000	655,000,000
Dividend income from a strategic investment	29,000,000	46,000,000
DISH Digital
Other Investment Securities - Noncurrent
Equity Method	35,000,000	35,000,000
Equity in the net loss of joint venture		10,000,000
Contribution to Dish Digital		45,000,000
Equity interest in joint venture	33.00%	33.00%
Corporate Bonds
Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Marketable Investment Securities
Amortized cost	653,812,000	653,812,000	563,625,000
Unrealized Gains	591,000	591,000	228,000
Unrealized Losses	(307,000)	(307,000)	(2,704,000)
Estimated Fair Value	654,096,000	654,096,000	561,149,000
VRDNs
Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Marketable Investment Securities
Amortized cost	66,145,000	66,145,000	218,665,000
Estimated Fair Value	66,145,000	66,145,000	218,665,000
Other (including restricted)
Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Marketable Investment Securities
Amortized cost	46,946,000	46,946,000	90,428,000
Unrealized Gains	5,000	5,000	25,000
Unrealized Losses			(11,000)
Estimated Fair Value	46,951,000	46,951,000	90,442,000
Equity securities - Strategic
Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Marketable Investment Securities
Amortized cost	21,214,000	21,214,000	33,876,000
Unrealized Gains	35,074,000	35,074,000	182,214,000
Estimated Fair Value	56,288,000	56,288,000	216,090,000
Dividend income from a strategic investment		$ 46,000,000