Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Related Party Transactions - Liberty Media, Sirius XM Canada - Additional Information (Details)

v3.10.0.1
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 9 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
May 25, 2017
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2018
USD ($)
director
executive
$ / shares
shares
Sep. 30, 2017
USD ($)
May 24, 2017
shareholder
Sep. 30, 2018
USD ($)
director
executive
$ / shares
shares
Sep. 30, 2017
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2017
USD ($)
shares
Sep. 30, 2018
$ / shares
Jan. 01, 2018
USD ($)
May 25, 2017
CAD ($)
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]                    
Preferred stock liquidation preference per share (in Canadian dollars per share) | $ / shares   $ 0.001     $ 0.001          
Current portion of deferred revenue   $ 1,921,517     $ 1,921,517   $ 1,881,825   $ 1,839,923  
Deferred revenue, noncurrent   $ 154,145     $ 154,145   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     2          
Management | Liberty Media | Director                    
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]                    
Number of related party members on the board of directors | director   1     1          
Management | Liberty Media | Common Stock                    
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]                    
Related party ownership percentage   71.00%     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   2,776      
Deferred revenue, noncurrent   $ 3,006     $ 3,006   $ 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     590,950          
Preferred stock liquidation preference per share (in Canadian dollars per share) | $ / shares               $ 1    
Notes receivable, related parties   $ 133,157     $ 133,157   140,073      
Equity method investments   331,231     331,231   $ 341,214      
Equity method investment, dividends, including reduction of investment   $ 402 $ 0   $ 1,840 $ 3,796