Related Party Transactions (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Related Party Transaction
Related party current assets	$ 5,228	$ 6,719
Related party long-term assets	69,943	33,475
Related party current liabilities	16,541	15,845
Related party long-term liabilities	22,435	24,517
Related party long-term debt	328,029	325,907
Liberty Media [Member]
Related Party Transaction
Related party current assets	0	0
Related party long-term assets	1,300	1,571
Related party current liabilities	10,461	9,765
Related party long-term liabilities	0	0
Related party long-term debt	328,029	325,907
SIRIUS XM Canada [Member]
Related Party Transaction
Related party current assets	5,228	0
Related party long-term assets	68,643	0
Related party current liabilities	6,080	0
Related party long-term liabilities	22,435	0
Related party long-term debt	0	0
SIRIUS Canada [Member]
Related Party Transaction
Related party current assets	0	5,613
Related party long-term assets	0	0
Related party current liabilities	0	1,805
Related party long-term liabilities	0	0
Related party long-term debt	0	0
XM Canada [Member]
Related Party Transaction
Related party current assets	0	1,106
Related party long-term assets	0	31,904
Related party current liabilities	0	4,275
Related party long-term liabilities	0	24,517
Related party long-term debt	$ 0	$ 0