Segment Reporting (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013 item	Mar. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting
Number of business segments	3
Segment Reporting
Total revenue	$ 795,454	$ 764,780
Capital expenditures	72,620	114,007
EBITDA	171,634	276,115
Interest expense, net	(47,123)	(35,742)
Depreciation and amortization	(126,699)	(114,090)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	40	(87)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(2,148)	126,196
EchoStar Technologies Business
Segment Reporting
Total revenue	426,994	408,579
Capital expenditures	12,311	8,076
EBITDA	29,925	24,487
Hughes Business
Segment Reporting
Total revenue	289,399	274,218
Capital expenditures	44,340	74,800
EBITDA	63,981	69,202
EchoStar Satellite Services Business
Segment Reporting
Total revenue	74,202	73,583
Capital expenditures	12,272	28,116
EBITDA	64,806	52,200
All Other and Eliminations
Segment Reporting
Total revenue	4,859	8,400
Capital expenditures	3,697	3,015
EBITDA	$ 12,922	$ 130,226

Earnings before interest tax depreciation and amortization

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- Definition

EBITDA adjustment for net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The current period expense charged against earnings on long-lived, physical assets not used in production, and which are not intended for resale, to allocate or recognize the cost of such assets over their useful lives; or to record the reduction in book value of an intangible asset over the benefit period of such asset; or to reflect consumption during the period of an asset that is not used in production.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

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-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

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This element represents the income or loss from continuing operations attributable to the economic entity which may also be defined as revenue less expenses from ongoing operations, after income or loss from equity method investments, but before income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 10

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- Definition

The net amount of operating interest income (expense).

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-SubTopic 225

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Number of segments reported by the entity. A reportable segment is a component of an entity for which there is an accounting requirement to report separate financial information on that component in the entity's financial statements.

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The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale; includes cash outflows to pay for construction of self-constructed assets.

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-Glossary Investing Activities

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Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

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