SCHEDULE I - Parent Company Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 731,614	$ 614,035	$ 141,814	$ 23,330
Marketable investment securities	815,951	1,082,407
Other current assets	66,201	76,284
Total current assets	2,214,649	2,307,737
Noncurrent Assets:
Restricted cash and marketable investment securities	29,045	24,286
Intangible assets, net	347,496	466,452
Other investment securities	183,211	140,439
Total noncurrent assets	4,385,584	4,236,000
Total assets	6,600,233	6,543,737
Current Liabilities:
Trade accounts payable - DISH Network	26,960	16,374
Accrued expenses and other	142,245	174,828
Total current liabilities	587,325	583,722
Noncurrent Liabilities:
Long-term deferred revenue and other long-term liabilities	68,441	70,818
Total noncurrent liabilities	2,862,681	2,908,389
Total liabilities	3,450,006	3,492,111
Commitments and Contingencies
Stockholders' Equity:
Preferred Stock, $.001 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding
Additional paid-in capital	3,394,646	3,360,301
Accumulated other comprehensive income	18,752	165,771
Accumulated deficit	(174,439)	(385,487)
Treasury stock, at cost	(98,162)	(98,162)
Total EchoStar stockholders' equity	3,140,890	3,042,516
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	6,600,233	6,543,737
Preferred Stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Preferred Stock, shares authorized	20,000,000	20,000,000
Preferred Stock, shares issued	0	0
Preferred Stock, shares outstanding	0	0
Class A common stock
Stockholders' Equity:
Common stock	45	45
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common stock, shares authorized	1,600,000,000	1,600,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	45,449,362	44,500,440
Common stock, shares outstanding	39,917,044	38,968,122
Class B common stock
Stockholders' Equity:
Common stock	48	48
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common stock, shares authorized	800,000,000	800,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	47,687,039	47,687,039
Common stock, shares outstanding	47,687,039	47,687,039
Class C common stock
Stockholders' Equity:
Common stock
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common stock, shares authorized	800,000,000	800,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	0	0
Common stock, shares outstanding	0	0
Class D common stock
Stockholders' Equity:
Common stock
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common stock, shares authorized	800,000,000	800,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	0	0
Common stock, shares outstanding	0	0
Echostar Corporation
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	471,820	433,110	100,502
Marketable investment securities	773,529	821,325
Other current assets	16,678
Total current assets	1,262,027	1,254,435
Noncurrent Assets:
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries, including intercompany balances	1,819,699	1,720,591
Restricted cash and marketable investment securities	979	746
Deferred tax assets	112,619	7,206
Intangible assets, net	56,113	73,009
Other investment securities	54,324	24,257
Total noncurrent assets	2,043,734	1,825,809
Total assets	3,305,761	3,080,244
Current Liabilities:
Trade accounts payable - DISH Network	70
Accrued expenses and other	159,177	37,728
Deferred tax liabilities	3,712
Total current liabilities	162,959	37,728
Noncurrent Liabilities:
Long-term deferred revenue and other long-term liabilities	1,912
Total noncurrent liabilities	1,912
Total liabilities	164,871	37,728
Stockholders' Equity:
Preferred Stock, $.001 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding
Additional paid-in capital	3,394,646	3,360,301
Accumulated other comprehensive income	18,752	165,771
Accumulated deficit	(174,439)	(385,487)
Treasury stock, at cost	(98,162)	(98,162)
Total EchoStar stockholders' equity	3,140,890	3,042,516
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	3,305,761	3,080,244
Preferred Stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Preferred Stock, shares authorized	20,000,000	20,000,000
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)		$ 0.001
Common stock, shares authorized		1,600,000,000
Echostar Corporation | Class A common stock
Stockholders' Equity:
Common stock	45	45
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common stock, shares authorized	1,600,000,000	1,600,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	45,449,362	44,500,440
Common stock, shares outstanding	39,917,044	38,968,122
Echostar Corporation | Class B common stock
Stockholders' Equity:
Common stock	$ 48	$ 48
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common stock, shares authorized	800,000,000	800,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	47,687,039	47,687,039
Common stock, shares outstanding	47,687,039	47,687,039
Echostar Corporation | Class C common stock
Stockholders' Equity:
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common stock, shares authorized	800,000,000	800,000,000
Echostar Corporation | Class D common stock
Stockholders' Equity:
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common stock, shares authorized	800,000,000	800,000,000