Related Party Transactions (Details 3) (SIRIUS Canada [Member], USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
SIRIUS Canada [Member]
Revenue from SIRIUS Canada
Royalty income	$ 0	$ 3,163	$ 9,945	$ 6,603
Dividend income	0	232	460	689
Total revenue from related party	$ 0	$ 3,395	$ 10,405	$ 7,292

Earned dividend income on equity securities that are part of the trading and investment portfolios owned by the entity.

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph 2

-Article 9

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

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Audit and Accounting Guide (AAG)

-Number AAG-BRD

-Chapter 4

-Paragraph 9, 51, 56

-IssueDate 2006-05-01

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 225

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882

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