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           Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation 
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        6 Months Ended | 
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           Jun. 30, 2011 
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| Business and Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation [Abstract] | |
| Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation | 
   
    
(2) Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation
    
        Principles of Consolidation
    
             The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Sirius XM Radio Inc. and
   subsidiaries have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles
   (“GAAP”), the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X of the United States
   Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for interim financial reporting. Accordingly, these
   interim financial statements do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP
   for complete financial statements. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated
   in consolidation.
    
        Basis of Presentation
    
             In the opinion of management, all normal recurring adjustments necessary for the fair
   presentation of our unaudited consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2011 and for the
   three and six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 have been made.
    
             Interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for a full
   year. This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read together with our Annual Report on Form
   10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, which was filed with the SEC on February 16, 2011.
    
             We have evaluated events subsequent to the balance sheet date and prior to the filing of this
   Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 and have determined
   that no events have occurred that would require adjustment to our unaudited consolidated financial
   statements.
    
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- Definition 
          The entire disclosure for organization, consolidation and basis of presentation of financial statements disclosure. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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