Related Party Transactions (Details Textual) |
3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sep. 30, 2011
USD ($)
|
Sep. 30, 2010
USD ($)
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Sep. 30, 2011
USD ($)
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Sep. 30, 2010
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2010
USD ($)
|
Sep. 30, 2011
SIRIUS XM Canada [Member]
USD ($)
|
Jun. 30, 2011
SIRIUS XM Canada [Member]
USD ($)
|
Sep. 30, 2011
SIRIUS XM Canada [Member]
USD ($)
|
Sep. 30, 2011
SIRIUS XM Canada [Member]
CAD
|
Jun. 21, 2011
SIRIUS XM Canada [Member]
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2010
SIRIUS XM Canada [Member]
USD ($)
|
Sep. 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 ($)
|
Sep. 30, 2011
Liberty Media [Member]
USD ($)
|
Sep. 30, 2010
Liberty Media [Member]
USD ($)
|
Sep. 30, 2011
Liberty Media [Member]
USD ($)
|
Sep. 30, 2010
Liberty Media [Member]
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2010
Liberty Media [Member]
USD ($)
|
Sep. 30, 2010
SIRIUS Canada [Member]
USD ($)
|
Sep. 30, 2011
SIRIUS Canada [Member]
USD ($)
|
Sep. 30, 2010
SIRIUS Canada [Member]
USD ($)
|
Jun. 21, 2011
SIRIUS Canada [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2010
SIRIUS Canada [Member]
USD ($)
|
Sep. 30, 2010
XM Canada [Member]
USD ($)
|
Sep. 30, 2011
XM Canada [Member]
USD ($)
|
Sep. 30, 2010
XM Canada [Member]
USD ($)
|
Jun. 21, 2011
XM Canada [Member]
USD ($)
|
Jun. 21, 2011
XM Canada [Member]
CAD
|
Dec. 31, 2010
XM Canada [Member]
USD ($)
|
Jul. 31, 2008
XM Canada [Member]
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2005
XM Canada [Member]
USD ($)
|
Sep. 30, 2011
Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B-1
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2010
Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B-1
USD ($)
|
Sep. 30, 2011
8.75% Senior Notes due 2015 [Member]
|
Mar. 31, 2010
8.75% Senior Notes due 2015 [Member]
|
Sep. 30, 2011
9.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2015 [Member]
|
Aug. 31, 2009
9.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2015 [Member]
|
Sep. 30, 2011
13% Senior Notes due 2013 [Member]
|
Jul. 31, 2008
13% Senior Notes due 2013 [Member]
|
Sep. 30, 2011
7% Exchangeable Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014 [Member]
|
Aug. 31, 2008
7% Exchangeable Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014 [Member]
|
Sep. 30, 2011
7.625% Senior Notes due 2018 [Member]
|
Oct. 31, 2010
7.625% Senior Notes due 2018 [Member]
|
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| 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 | $ 78,925,000 | $ 78,925,000 | $ 72,453,000 | $ 10,461,000 | $ 10,461,000 | $ 9,765,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deferred financing costs with Liberty Media to Related party long-term assets | 69,943,000 | 69,943,000 | 33,475,000 | 68,643,000 | 68,643,000 | 0 | 1,300,000 | 1,300,000 | 1,571,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31,904,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense associated with debt | 75,316,000 | 68,559,000 | 229,730,000 | 223,230,000 | 8,934,000 | 10,574,000 | 26,718,000 | 30,538,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Class A shares received from Sirius XM Canada | 46,700,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Economic interest related parties | 38.00% | 49.90% | 21.50% | 21.50% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Voting interest | 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Return of capital from investment in unconsolidated entity | 10,117,000 | 10,117,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dividend | 4,849,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non interest bearing notes of CSR with a two year term | 5,207,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gain on merger on unconsolidated entities | 84,855,000 | 84,855,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Investment | 50,728,000 | 50,728,000 | 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 | 5,228,000 | 5,228,000 | 6,719,000 | 5,228,000 | 5,228,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5,613,000 | 0 | 1,106,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Carrying values of the host contract | 3,445,000 | 3,445,000 | 3,302,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Carrying values of embedded derivative related to investment in debentures | 0 | 0 | 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 | 2,498,000 | 5,253,000 | 7,333,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other related party current liability | 1,804,000 | 1,804,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Company's share of related party net loss | 4,214,000 | 4,214,000 | 3,361,000 | 9,717,000 | 6,579,000 | 2,926,000 | 6,045,000 | 9,416,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Payment received from related party in excess of carrying value | 546,000 | 6,748,000 | 4,256,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 | 219,344,000 | 219,344,000 | 273,973,000 | 26,711,000 | 26,711,000 | 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% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Related party current liabilities | 16,541,000 | 16,541,000 | 15,845,000 | 6,080,000 | 6,080,000 | 0 | 10,461,000 | 10,461,000 | 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deferred programming costs and accrued interest related to XM Canada | $ 9,263,000 | $ 9,263,000 | $ 7,201,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||