Subscriber Revenue (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Subscriber Revenue
Subscription fees	$ 657,245	$ 607,738	$ 1,912,787	$ 1,780,557
Activation fees	3,592	4,381	10,130	12,701
Total subscriber revenue	$ 660,837	$ 612,119	$ 1,922,917	$ 1,793,258

Revenue from sale of subscriptions (such as subscriptions to a magazine or newspaper).

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1(a))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688

Name:	us-gaap_SubscriptionRevenue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration