Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Related Party Transactions (Details Textuals)

 v2.3.0.11
Related Party Transactions (Details Textuals)
3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2010
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2011
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2010
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2010
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2011
SIRIUS XM Canada [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2011
SIRIUS XM Canada [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2011
SIRIUS XM Canada [Member]
CAD
Dec. 31, 2010
SIRIUS XM Canada [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2011
SIRIUS XM Canada [Member]
8% Convertible Unsecured Subordinated Debentures [Member]
Mar. 31, 2009
Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B-1
Liberty Media [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2011
Liberty Media [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2010
Liberty Media [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2011
Liberty Media [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2010
Liberty Media [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2010
Liberty Media [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2011
SIRIUS Canada [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2010
SIRIUS Canada [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2011
SIRIUS Canada [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2010
SIRIUS Canada [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 21, 2011
SIRIUS Canada [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
SIRIUS Canada [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2011
XM Canada [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2010
XM Canada [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2011
XM Canada [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2010
XM Canada [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2011
XM Canada [Member]
CAD
Jun. 21, 2011
XM Canada [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2010
XM Canada [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2005
XM Canada [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2011
Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B-1
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2010
Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B-1
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2011
8.75% Senior Notes due 2015 [Member]
Mar. 31, 2010
8.75% Senior Notes due 2015 [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
9.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2015 [Member]
Aug. 31, 2009
9.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2015 [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
13% Senior Notes due 2013 [Member]
Jul. 31, 2008
13% Senior Notes due 2013 [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
7% Exchangeable Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014 [Member]
Aug. 31, 2008
7% Exchangeable Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014 [Member]
Jun. 30, 2011
7.625% Senior Notes due 2018 [Member]
Oct. 31, 2010
7.625% Senior Notes due 2018 [Member]
Related Party Transactions (Textuals) [Abstract]                                                                                    
Issuance of Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock                     12,500,000                                       12,500,000 12,500,000                    
Preferred stock Series B, liquidation preference                     $ 0.001                                       $ 13 $ 13                    
Number of shares of common stock into which Series B Preferred Stock is convertible                     2,586,976,000                                                              
Percentage ownership limit of outstanding common stock by Liberty Media per the Investment Agreement                           Liberty Media has agreed not to acquire more than 49.9% of our outstanding common stock prior to March 2012, except that Liberty Media may acquire more than 49.9% of our outstanding common stock at any time pursuant to any cash tender offer for all of the outstanding shares of our common stock that are not beneficially owned by Liberty Media or its affiliates at a price per share greater than the closing price of the common stock on the trading day preceding the earlier of the public announcement or commencement of such tender offer.                                                        
Accrued interest with Liberty Media to related party current liabilities $ 70,565,000   $ 70,565,000   $ 72,453,000             $ 9,723,000   $ 9,723,000   $ 9,765,000                                                    
Interest expense associated with debt 76,196,000 76,802,000 154,414,000 154,670,000               8,851,000 10,902,000 17,784,000 19,964,000                                                      
Class A shares received from Sirius XM Canada           46,700,000 46,700,000                                                                      
Economic interest related parties           38.00% 38.00%                           49.90%             21.50%                            
Voting interest           25.00% 25.00%                                                                      
Repayment of XM Canada credit facility             53,781,000                                                                      
Return of capital from investment in unconsolidated entity     10,117,000                                                                              
Dividend     4,849,000                                                                              
Non interest bearing notes of CSR with a two year term           4,100 4,100                                                                      
Gain on merger on unconsolidated entities     83,718,000     83,718 83,718                                                                      
Investment           54,800,000 54,800,000                             0             0                          
Equity Method Investment Goodwill and Intangible Assets           30,000,000 30,000,000                                                                      
Face value of 8% convertible unsecured subordinated debentures               4,000,000                                                                    
Amounts due for chipsets and other services 6,264,000   6,264,000   6,719,000 6,264,000 6,264,000   0     0   0   0 0   0     5,613,000 0   0       1,106,000                          
Carrying values of the host contract           3,537,000 3,537,000   3,302,000                                                                  
Carrying values of embedded derivative related to investment in debentures           4,000 4,000   11,000                                                                  
Royalty percentage of gross revenue minimum                                     5.00%                                              
Royalty percentage of gross revenue maximum                                     $ 0.15                                              
Costs that have been or will be reimbursed by Sirius Canada                                 2,763,000 2,393,000 5,253,000 4,835,000                                            
The Company's share of related party net loss                                 5,259,000 1,316,000 9,717,000 3,218,000     3,992,000 3,339,000 6,045,000 6,490,000                                
Payment received from related party in excess of carrying value                                 3,868,000 3,710,000 6,748,000 3,710,000                                            
Percentage of cumulative dividend of Investment in Sirus Canada                                 8.00%   8.00%                                              
Initial agreement period with XM Canada                                                 10 years                                  
Number of additional years XM Canada has to extend the agreements under unilateral option                                                 5 years                                  
Royalty for all subscriber fees earned by related party                                                 15.00%                                  
Obligation of XM Canada to pay us for the rights to broadcast and market National Hockey League games                                                 70,300,000                                  
Term of Obligation of XM Canada for the rights to broadcast and market the National Hockey League                                                 10 years                                  
Estimated fair value of deferred revenue from XM Canada                                                           34,000,000                        
Carrying value of deferred revenue 244,573,000   244,573,000   273,973,000                                   27,405,000   27,405,000       28,792,000                          
Credit facility extended to XM Canada                                                     45,000,000                              
Interest rate on instrument                   8.00%                                             8.75% 8.75% 9.75% 9.75% 13.00% 13.00% 7.00% 7.00% 7.625% 7.625%
Amount received as settlement for the standby credit facility                                                       38,815                            
Valuation allowance related to absorption of our share of net loss from our investment in XM Canada                                                       15,649,000                            
Deferred programming costs and accrued interest related to XM Canada           $ 7,576,000 $ 7,576,000                                           $ 7,201,000