Intangible Assets (Details 1)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011
SIRIUS FM-1 satellite [Member]
Years in which licenses expires
Year in which our FCC license expires	2017
SIRIUS FM-2 satellite [Member]
Years in which licenses expires
Year in which our FCC license expires	2017
SIRIUS FM-3 satellite [Member]
Years in which licenses expires
Year in which our FCC license expires	2017
SIRIUS FM 4 satellite [Member]
Years in which licenses expires
Year in which our FCC license expires	2017
SIRIUS FM-5 satellite [Member]
Years in which licenses expires
Year in which our FCC license expires	2017
SIRIUS FM-6 satellite [Member]
Years in which licenses expires
Year in which our FCC license expires
Intangible Assets (Textual) [Abstract]
Expected FCC License Expiration Description	P8Y from launch
XM-1 satellite [Member]
Years in which licenses expires
Year in which our FCC license expires	2014
XM-2 satellite [Member]
Years in which licenses expires
Year in which our FCC license expires	2014
XM-3 satellite [Member]
Years in which licenses expires
Year in which our FCC license expires	2013
XM-4 satellite [Member]
Years in which licenses expires
Year in which our FCC license expires	2014
XM-5 satellite [Member]
Years in which licenses expires
Year in which our FCC license expires	2018