CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current Assets:
Allowance for doubtful accounts on trade accounts receivable (in dollars)	$ 16,051	$ 16,894
Allowance for doubtful accounts on trade accounts receivable - DISH Network (in dollars)	0	0
Property and equipment, accumulated depreciation (in dollars)	$ 2,361,258	$ 2,261,699
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
Common stock
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	1,600,000,000	1,600,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	46,348,988	45,449,362
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	40,816,670	39,917,044
Class B common stock
Common stock
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	800,000,000	800,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	47,687,039	47,687,039
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	47,687,039	47,687,039
Class C common stock
Common stock
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	800,000,000	800,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	0	0
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	0	0
Class D common stock
Common stock
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	800,000,000	800,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	0	0
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	0	0