Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Related Party Transactions - Liberty Media, Sirius XM Canada - Additional Information (Details)

v3.8.0.1
Related Party Transactions - Liberty Media, Sirius XM Canada - Additional Information (Details)
CAD / shares in Units, $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands
5 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
May 25, 2017
USD ($)
May 24, 2017
shareholder
Sep. 30, 2017
USD ($)
director
executive
$ / shares
shares
Sep. 30, 2016
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2017
CAD / shares
May 25, 2017
CAD
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]              
Payments to acquire equity method investments     $ 132,205 $ 0      
Preferred stock liquidation preference per share (in dollars per share) | $ / shares     $ 0.001        
Current portion of deferred revenue     $ 1,846,285       $ 1,832,609
Deferred revenue, noncurrent     $ 178,180       176,319
Common Stock              
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]              
Issuance of common stock as part of investment in Sirius XM Canada (in shares) | shares     35,000        
Management | Liberty Media | Executives              
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]              
Number of related party members on the board of directors | executive     2        
Management | Liberty Media | Director              
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]              
Number of related party members on the board of directors | director     1        
Management | Liberty Media | Common Stock              
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]              
Related party ownership percentage     69.00%        
Equity Method Investee              
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]              
Notes receivable, related parties $ 130,794            
Notes receivable, maturity period 15 years            
Interest rate 7.62%            
Annual principal repayment period 60 days            
Annual prepayment cash threshold | CAD           CAD 10,000,000  
Current portion of deferred revenue     $ 2,776       2,776
Deferred revenue, noncurrent     $ 5,782       7,867
Equity Method Investee | Services Agreement              
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]              
Period of agreement 30 years            
Equity Method Investee | Services Agreement, Years 1 Through 5              
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]              
Percent of gross revenue receivable 25.00%            
Equity Method Investee | Services Agreement, Years 6 Through 30              
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]              
Percent of gross revenue receivable 30.00%            
Equity Method Investee | Advisory Services Agreement              
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]              
Percent of gross revenue receivable 5.00%            
Equity Method Investee | Common Stock              
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]              
Issuance of common stock as part of investment in Sirius XM Canada (in shares) | shares     35,000        
Equity Method Investee | Sirius XM Canada              
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]              
Equity method investment, equity interest 70.00%         70.00%  
Equity method investment, voting interest 33.00%         33.00%  
Number of shareholders | shareholder   2          
Consideration transferred     $ 308,526        
Payments to acquire equity method investments     129,676        
Issuance of common stock for investment in Sirius XM Canada     $ 178,850        
Number of preferred shares owned (in shares) | shares     590,950        
Preferred stock liquidation preference per share (in dollars per share) | CAD / shares         CAD 1    
Notes receivable, related parties     $ 141,189        
Equity method investments     $ 323,593       $ 8,615