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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details Textual) (USD $)
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12 Months Ended | ||
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Dec. 31, 2011
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Dec. 31, 2010
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Dec. 31, 2009
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| Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) [Abstract] | |||
| Goodwill, Impairment Loss | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 |
| Impairment of Intangible Assets, Indefinite-lived (Excluding Goodwill) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Impairment of Intangible Assets, Finite-lived | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Advertising costs | 116,694,000 | 110,050,000 | 128,784,000 |
| Research and development costs | 48,574,000 | 40,043,000 | 38,852,000 |
| Weighting assigned to historical volatility | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| Total debt | 3,013,974,000 | 3,217,578,000 | |
| Fair value approximated | $ 3,506,546,000 | $ 3,722,905,000 | |
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Subscriber relationships [Member]
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| Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) [Abstract] | |||
| Estimated term of a subscriber relationship | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 |
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FCC Licenses [Member]
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| Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Additional Textual) [Abstract] | |||
| Satellite network operation period from inception | 5 years | ||
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- Definition
Estimated term of a subscriber relationship. No definition available.
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- Definition
Satellite network operational period from inception. No definition available.
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- Details
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- Details
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- Definition
Weighting assigned to historical volatility. No definition available.
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- Definition
Amount charged to advertising expense for the period, which are expenses incurred with the objective of increasing revenue for a specified brand, product or product line. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
Loss recognized during the period that results from the write-down of goodwill after comparing the implied fair value of reporting unit goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. Goodwill is assessed at least annually for impairment. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
The amount of impairment loss recognized in the period resulting from the write-down of the carrying amount of a finite-lived intangible asset to fair value. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
The amount of impairment loss recognized in the period resulting from the write-down of the carrying amount of an indefinite-lived intangible asset, other than goodwill, to fair value. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
Including current and noncurrent portions, aggregate carrying amount of long-term borrowings as of the balance sheet date. May include notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, which had initial maturities beyond one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer, and after deducting unamortized discount or premiums, if any. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
The aggregate costs incurred (1) in a planned search or critical investigation aimed at discovery of new knowledge with the hope that such knowledge will be useful in developing a new product or service, a new process or technique, or in bringing about a significant improvement to an existing product or process; or (2) to translate research findings or other knowledge into a plan or design for a new product or process or for a significant improvement to an existing product or process whether intended for sale or the entity's use, during the reporting period charged to research and development projects, including the costs of developing computer software up to the point in time of achieving technological feasibility, and costs allocated in accounting for a business combination to in-process projects deemed to have no alternative future use. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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