Property and Equipment (Details 2) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Property and equipment
Construction in progress	$ 455,186,000	$ 716,486,000
Capitalized Interest Related to satellites under construction	45,497,000	42,743,000	25,812,000
Depreciation expense under capital leases agreements	60,000,000	34,000,000	28,000,000
EchoStar XVI
Property and equipment
Construction in progress	345,090,000	232,364,000
EchoStar XVII
Property and equipment
Construction in progress		365,721,000
Satellite under construction: Other
Property and equipment
Construction in progress	35,035,000	39,501,000
Uplinking equipment
Property and equipment
Construction in progress	37,264,000	60,233,000
Construction in progress: Other
Property and equipment
Construction in progress	37,797,000	18,667,000
CMBStar
Property and equipment
Construction in progress		$ 19,000,000