Property and Equipment (Details 4) (USD $)	9 Months Ended		9 Months Ended				6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended				3 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 Satellites item	Sep. 30, 2013 EchoStar III - fully depreciated item	Dec. 31, 2009 EchoStar III - fully depreciated	Aug. 31, 2012 EchoStar VI - fully depreciated	Jun. 30, 2013 EchoStar XII EchoStar Satellite Services DISH Network	Sep. 30, 2013 EchoStar XII EchoStar Satellite Services DISH Network	Jul. 31, 2013 EchoStar XII EchoStar Satellite Services DISH Network	Jun. 30, 2013 EchoStar XII EchoStar Satellite Services Level 3 DISH Network	Mar. 31, 2013 AMC-16	Sep. 30, 2012 AMC-16	Jun. 30, 2012 AMC-16	Dec. 31, 2010 AMC-16	Mar. 31, 2013 AMC-16 Other, net	Sep. 30, 2012 AMC-16 Other, net	Jun. 30, 2012 AMC-16 Other, net
Property and equipment
Number of satellites utilized in geostationary orbit approximately 22,300 miles above the equator			12
Number of satellites utilized under capital lease			4
Number of DBS transponders, option one				32
Number of transponders available for use				6
Carrying amount	$ 2,529,575,000	$ 2,612,284,000			$ 0	$ 0			$ 11,300,000					$ 0
Gain recognized due to decrease in capital lease obligation															6,700,000	7,900,000	4,700,000
Impairment loss	34,664,000						34,700,000
Estimated fair value										11,300,000
Remaining estimated useful life								18 months
Decrease in capital lease obligations											$ 6,700,000	$ 7,900,000	$ 4,700,000