Debt (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations
Carrying amount	$ 2,001,467	$ 2,002,041
Fair Value	2,234,947	2,238,491
Capital lease obligations	461,211	486,458
Total debt and capital lease obligations	2,462,678	2,488,499
Less: Current portion	(65,136)	(67,706)
Long-term portion of debt and capital lease obligations	2,397,542	2,420,793
6 1/2% Senior Secured Notes due 2019
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations
Interest rate (as a percent)	6.50%
6 1/2% Senior Secured Notes due 2019 \| Hughes Satellite Systems Corporation ("HSSC")
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations
Carrying amount	1,100,000	1,100,000
Fair Value	1,205,050	1,210,000
7 5/8% Senior Notes due 2021
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations
Interest rate (as a percent)	7.625%
7 5/8% Senior Notes due 2021 \| Hughes Satellite Systems Corporation ("HSSC")
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations
Carrying amount	900,000	900,000
Fair Value	1,028,430	1,026,450
Other
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations
Carrying amount	1,467	2,041
Fair Value	$ 1,467	$ 2,041

Amount equal to the present value (the principal) at the beginning of the lease term of minimum lease payments during the lease term (excluding that portion of the payments representing executory costs such as insurance, maintenance, and taxes to be paid by the lessor, together with any profit thereon) net of payments or other amounts applied to the principal through the balance sheet date.

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Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of all debt, including all short-term borrowings, long-term debt, and capital lease obligations.

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Including current and noncurrent portions, aggregate carrying amount of long-term borrowings as of the balance sheet date before deducting unamortized discount or premiums (if any). May include notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, which had initial maturities beyond one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission.

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Interest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement.

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Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of all long-term debt, which is debt initially having maturities due after one year from the balance sheet date or beyond the operating cycle, if longer, but excluding the portions thereof scheduled to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer plus capital lease obligations due to be paid more than one year after the balance sheet date.

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Obligation related to long-term debt (excluding convertible debt) and capital leases, the portion which is due in one year or less in the future.

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