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)
$ / shares in Units, $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands
3 Months Ended 5 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
May 25, 2017
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2018
USD ($)
director
executive
$ / shares
shares
Mar. 31, 2017
USD ($)
May 24, 2017
shareholder
Dec. 31, 2017
USD ($)
shares
Mar. 31, 2018
$ / shares
Jan. 01, 2018
USD ($)
May 25, 2017
CAD ($)
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]                
Comprehensive income, net of tax   $ 279,857 $ 207,056          
Preferred stock liquidation preference per share (in dollars per share) | $ / shares   $ 0.001            
Current portion of deferred revenue   $ 1,910,432     $ 1,881,825   $ 1,839,923  
Deferred revenue, noncurrent   $ 165,956     174,579   $ 170,589  
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   71.00%            
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               $ 10,000,000
Notes receivable, repayment from related party   $ 3,242            
Current portion of deferred revenue   2,776     2,776      
Deferred revenue, noncurrent   $ 4,394     $ 5,088      
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 recapitalization of 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      
Consideration transferred, equity interests issued and issuable         178,850      
Number of preferred shares owned (in shares) | shares   590,950            
Preferred stock liquidation preference per share (in dollars per share) | $ / shares           $ 1    
Notes receivable, related parties   $ 133,324     140,073      
Equity method investments   332,311     $ 341,214      
Equity method investment, dividends, including reduction of investment   $ 1,031 $ 3,796