Property and Equipment (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Construction in progress
Construction in progress	$ 365,827	$ 297,771
Satellite system [Member]
Construction in progress
Construction in progress	330,320	262,744
Terrestrial repeater network [Member]
Construction in progress
Construction in progress	19,306	19,239
Other [Member]
Construction in progress
Construction in progress	$ 16,201	$ 15,788

Gross amount, at the balance sheet date, of long-lived assets under construction that include construction costs to date on capital projects that have not been completed and assets being constructed that are not ready to be placed into service.

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

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 12

-Paragraph 5

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 360

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391035&loc=d3e2868-110229

Name:	us-gaap_ConstructionInProgressGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant