Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Other intangible assets
Amount received from exchange of spectrum rights			$ 23,148,000
Cost	709,977,000		709,977,000		710,092,000
Accumulated Amortization	(426,574,000)		(426,574,000)		(362,596,000)
Carrying Amount	283,403,000		283,403,000		347,496,000
Total amortization expense	21,700,000	23,400,000	65,000,000	71,000,000
Canadian regulatory authorization | DISH Network
Other intangible assets
Amount received from exchange of spectrum rights	23,100,000
Customer relationships
Other intangible assets
Cost	293,932,000		293,932,000		293,932,000
Accumulated Amortization	(142,962,000)		(142,962,000)		(113,906,000)
Carrying Amount	150,970,000		150,970,000		180,026,000
Weighted Average Useful life			8 years
Contract-based
Other intangible assets
Cost	255,366,000		255,366,000		255,366,000
Accumulated Amortization	(198,161,000)		(198,161,000)		(178,138,000)
Carrying Amount	57,205,000		57,205,000		77,228,000
Weighted Average Useful life			10 years
Technology-based
Other intangible assets
Cost	126,272,000		126,272,000		126,387,000
Accumulated Amortization	(79,240,000)		(79,240,000)		(66,338,000)
Carrying Amount	47,032,000		47,032,000		60,049,000
Weighted Average Useful life			7 years
Trademark portfolio
Other intangible assets
Cost	29,700,000		29,700,000		29,700,000
Accumulated Amortization	(3,465,000)		(3,465,000)		(2,351,000)
Carrying Amount	26,235,000		26,235,000		27,349,000
Weighted Average Useful life			20 years
Favorable leases
Other intangible assets
Cost	4,707,000		4,707,000		4,707,000
Accumulated Amortization	(2,746,000)		(2,746,000)		(1,863,000)
Carrying Amount	$ 1,961,000		$ 1,961,000		$ 2,844,000
Weighted Average Useful life			4 years