SCHEDULE I - Parent Company Information (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net income	$ 211,013	$ 4,274	$ 204,358
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	457,326	385,894	228,911
Equity in losses (earnings) of unconsolidated affiliates	438	(11,860)	2,813
Realized gains on marketable investment securities and other investments	(177,558)	(13,666)	(2,923)
Gains on investments accounted for at fair value, net		(15,871)	(144,473)
Deferred tax benefit	(1,075)	(8,974)	103,569
Other, net	14,610	2,171	(3,067)
Change in noncurrent assets and noncurrent liabilities, net	(42,302)	2,058	19,715
Net cash flows from operating activities	505,149	447,018	404,015
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Purchases of marketable investment securities	(971,154)	(2,051,444)	(2,300,631)
Sales and maturities of marketable investment securities	1,248,748	1,981,197	2,253,819
Distribution received from investments in affiliates	7,500
Change in restricted cash and marketable investment securities	(4,759)	(1,624)	577
Purchase of strategic investment securites	(2,608)	(73,047)	(69,072)
Proceeds from sale of strategic investments		712,935	15,609
Other, net	(13,026)	(3,177)	(46)
Net cash flows from investing activities	(346,781)	(1,888,045)	(238,558)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Net proceeds from Class A common stock options exercised and issued under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan	15,398	28,718	4,014
Other	(764)	2,147	(655)
Net cash flows from financing activities	(43,976)	1,913,547	(46,973)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	117,579	472,221	118,484
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	614,035	141,814	23,330
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	731,614	614,035	141,814
Echostar Corporation
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net income	211,048	3,639
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	16,965	15,982
Equity in losses (earnings) of unconsolidated affiliates	7,224	(3,325)
Equity in losses (earnings) of consolidated subsidiaries, net	(16,033)	2,010
Realized gains on marketable investment securities and other investments	(162,257)	(6,518)
Gains on investments accounted for at fair value, net		(15,871)
Deferred tax benefit	(95,982)	(49,353)
Other, net	16,893	10,173
Change in noncurrent assets and noncurrent liabilities, net	1,912
Changes in current assets and current liabilities, net	101,434	119,472
Net cash flows from operating activities	81,204	76,209
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Purchases of marketable investment securities	(878,427)	(1,746,577)
Sales and maturities of marketable investment securities	931,317	1,470,904
Contributions to subsidiaries and affiliates, net	(118,049)	(135,060)
Distribution received from investments in affiliates	7,500
Change in restricted cash and marketable investment securities	(233)	105
Purchase of strategic investment securites		(59,475)
Proceeds from sale of strategic investments		697,498
Other, net		(1,596)
Net cash flows from investing activities	(57,892)	225,799
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Net proceeds from Class A common stock options exercised and issued under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan	15,398	28,718
Other		1,882
Net cash flows from financing activities	15,398	30,600
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	38,710	332,608
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	433,110	100,502
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 471,820	$ 433,110