Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Stockholders' Equity (Details Textual)

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Stockholders' Equity (Details Textual) (USD $)
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2011
Feb. 28, 2011
Apr. 30, 2009
Jul. 31, 2008
Jan. 31, 2004
Sep. 30, 2009
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Dec. 31, 2009
Additional Stockholder's Equity (Textual) [Abstract]                  
Common stock, shares authorized             9,000,000,000 9,000,000,000  
Common stock, shares issued             3,753,201,929 3,933,195,112  
Common stock, shares outstanding             3,753,201,929 3,933,195,112  
Common stock reserved for issuance             3,342,818,000    
Common stock, par value             $ 0.001 $ 0.001  
Number of common shares exchanged under share lending agreements       262,400,000          
Exchange fee per common share for loaned shares       $ 0.001          
Number of share common shares returned on common stock borrowed 202,400,000         60,000,000      
Shares of common stock loaned under share lending agreements               202,400,000  
Amortization of costs related to share-lending arrangement and other issuance costs             $ 11,189 $ 10,095 $ 9,248
Unamortized, debt issuance costs             40,054 51,243  
Unamortized, debt issuance costs recorded in deferred financing fees, net             39,253 50,218  
Unamortized, debt issuance costs recorded in long-term related party assets             801 1,025  
Estimated fair value of remaining loaned shares               329,912  
Common stock delivered under seven agreement with programming provider         15,173,070        
Value of common stock delivered under agreement with sports programming provider         40,967        
Share-based payment expense related to seven year agreement with sports programming provider             1,568 5,852 5,852
Remaining value of common stock included in other current assets related to the seven year agreement with sports provider             0 1,568  
Undesignated preferred stock, shares authorized             50,000,000 50,000,000  
Number of outstanding warrants to acquire common stock             22,506,000 42,421,000  
Average exercise price of warrant             $ 2.63 $ 2.66  
Warrants exercised to purchase common stock   16,500,000              
Issuance of shares of common stock resulting from the exercise of warrants based on the exercise price   7,122,951              
The Rights Plan is intended to act as a deterrent to any person or group acquiring this percentage or more of our outstanding common stock     4.90%            
Warrants expired             3,415,000    
Warrants issuance related expense             0 0 2,522
Rights Plan Expiration Date     Aug. 01, 2011            
Increase in paid-in capital for the beneficial conversion feature                 186,188
Increase to additional paid-in capital, excluding issuance costs                 $ 227,716
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock
                  
Class of Stock [Line Items]                  
Issuance of Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock                    
Preferred stock, shares outstanding                    
Preferred Stock, Series C Junior
                  
Class of Stock [Line Items]                  
Issuance of Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock                    
Preferred stock, shares outstanding                    
Preferred Stock Reserved for Issuance in Accordance with Rights Plan                 9,000
Series B Preferred Stock [Member]
                  
Class of Stock [Line Items]                  
Issuance of Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock             12,500,000 12,500,000  
Preferred stock, shares outstanding             12,500,000 12,500,000  
The rate Series B Preferred Stock is convertible into shares of our common stock             206.9581409    
Percentage of shares Liberty Media would own of our common stock after conversion of Series B Preferred Stock             40.00%