Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Related Party Transactions (Details Textual)

v2.4.0.6
Related Party Transactions (Details Textual)
12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2010
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2009
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
8.75% Senior Notes due 2015 [Member]
Mar. 31, 2010
8.75% Senior Notes due 2015 [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
9.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2015 [Member]
Aug. 31, 2009
9.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2015 [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
13% Senior Notes due 2013 [Member]
Jul. 31, 2008
13% Senior Notes due 2013 [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
7% Exchangeable Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014 [Member]
Aug. 31, 2008
7% Exchangeable Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014 [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
7.625% Senior Notes due 2018 [Member]
Oct. 31, 2010
7.625% Senior Notes due 2018 [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Series B Preferred Stock [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2010
Series B Preferred Stock [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2011
SIRIUS XM Canada [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
SIRIUS XM Canada [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
SIRIUS XM Canada [Member]
CAD
Jun. 21, 2011
SIRIUS XM Canada [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2010
SIRIUS XM Canada [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
SIRIUS XM Canada [Member]
8% Convertible Unsecured Subordinated Debentures [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Liberty Media [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2010
Liberty Media [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2009
Liberty Media [Member]
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2009
Liberty Media [Member]
Series B Preferred Stock [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
SIRIUS Canada [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2010
SIRIUS Canada [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2009
SIRIUS Canada [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 21, 2011
SIRIUS Canada [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
XM Canada [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2010
XM Canada [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2009
XM Canada [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2005
XM Canada [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 21, 2011
XM Canada [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 21, 2011
XM Canada [Member]
CAD
Jul. 31, 2008
XM Canada [Member]
USD ($)
Related Party Transactions (Textual) [Abstract]                                                                        
Issuance of Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock                           12,500,000 12,500,000                   12,500,000                      
Preferred stock Series B, liquidation preference                           $ 0.001 $ 0.001                   $ 0.001                      
Number of shares of common stock into which Series B Preferred Stock is convertible                                                 2,586,976,000                      
Increase to additional paid-in capital, excluding issuance costs     $ 227,716,000                                         $ 227,716,000                        
Increase in paid-in capital for the beneficial conversion feature     186,188,000                                         186,188,000                        
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.                            
Accrued interest with Liberty Media to related party current liabilities 70,405,000 72,453,000                                       9,722,000 9,765,000                          
Interest expense associated with debt 304,938,000 295,643,000 315,668,000                                     35,681,000 40,169,000 79,640,000                        
Class A shares received from Sirius XM Canada                                 46,700,000   46,700,000                                  
Economic interest related parties                                 38.00%   38.00%             49.90%     49.90% 21.50%       21.50% 21.50%  
Voting interest                                 25.00%   25.00%                                  
Cash received as repayment of the XM Canada credit facility and consideration for company's preferred stock in SIRIUS Canada                               53,781,000 53,781,000                                      
Return of capital from investment in unconsolidated entity 10,117,000                             10,117,000 10,117,000                                      
Dividend                               4,849,000 4,849,000                                      
Non interest bearing notes of CSR with a two year term                                 5,208,000   5,208,000                                  
Amounts due for chip sets and other services                                 7,404,000                                      
Amount of CSR notes that reported as related party current assets                                 4,798,000                                      
Net gain recognized in Interest and investment income for reverse acquisition 75,768,000                               75,768,000                                      
Amortization expense related to equity method intangible assets 1,556,000                                                                      
Investment                                 45,061,000                   0       0          
Equity Method Investment Goodwill and Intangible Assets                                 28,589,000                                      
Deferred programming costs and accrued interest attributable to Related party                                 7,280,000                           7,201,000          
Deferred programming costs and accrued interest due from related parties reported as Related party long-term assets                                 4,780,000                                      
Face value of 8% convertible unsecured subordinated debentures                                   4,000,000                                    
Carrying values of the host contract                                 3,490,000     3,302,000                                
Carrying values of embedded derivative related to investment in debentures                                 0     11,000                                
Royalty percentage of gross revenue minimum                                                   5.00%                    
Royalty percentage of gross revenue maximum                                                   15.00%                    
Costs that have been or will be reimbursed by Sirius Canada                                                   5,253,000 12,185,000 11,031,000                
Other related party current liability                                 1,804,000                                      
The Company's share or related party net income (loss)                                 1,081,000                 (9,717,000) (10,257,000) (6,636,000)   (6,045,000) (12,147,000) (2,292,000)        
Payment received from related party in excess of carrying value                                                   6,748,000 10,281,000 13,738,000                
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 198,135,000 273,973,000                                                       24,517,000 28,792,000          
Credit facility extended to XM Canada                                                                     45,000,000  
Interest rate on instrument       8.75% 8.75% 9.75% 9.75% 13.00% 13.00% 7.00% 7.00% 7.625% 7.625%               8.00%                              
Related party current liabilities 14,302,000 15,845,000                             4,580,000     0   9,772,000 9,765,000     0 1,805,000     0 4,275,000          
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    
Related party long-term assets $ 54,953,000 $ 33,475,000                             $ 53,741,000     $ 0   $ 1,212,000 $ 1,571,000     $ 0 $ 0     $ 0 $ 31,904,000