Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Business & Basis of Presentation (Details)

v3.8.0.1
Business & Basis of Presentation (Details)
$ in Thousands
9 Months Ended
Sep. 22, 2017
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2017
USD ($)
segment
satellite_radio_system
Sep. 30, 2016
USD ($)
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]      
Number of satellite radio systems | satellite_radio_system   2  
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]      
Investment in convertible preferred stock   $ 480,000 $ 0
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]      
Number of reportable segments | segment   1  
Pandora | Investee      
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]      
Investment in convertible preferred stock $ 480,000 $ 480,000  
Liberty Media | Common Stock | Management      
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]      
Related party ownership percentage   69.00%  
Minimum      
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]      
Length of prepaid subscriptions, term   3 months  
Maximum      
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]      
Length of prepaid subscriptions, term   12 months