| Property and equipment, net | 
        
   
   
   
   
   |   | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
    
   
   |   | 
     | 
   December 31, 2011 | 
     | 
     | 
   December 31, 2010 | 
     | 
    
   
   
   
   | 
    Satellite system 
    | 
     | 
   $ | 
   1,943,537 | 
     | 
     | 
   $ | 
   1,943,537 | 
     | 
    
   
   | 
    Terrestrial repeater network 
    | 
     | 
     | 
   112,440 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   109,582 | 
     | 
    
   
   | 
    Leasehold improvements 
    | 
     | 
     | 
   43,455 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   43,567 | 
     | 
    
   
   | 
    Broadcast studio equipment 
    | 
     | 
     | 
   53,903 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   51,985 | 
     | 
    
   
   | 
    Capitalized software and hardware 
    | 
     | 
     | 
   193,301 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   163,689 | 
     | 
    
   
   | 
    Satellite telemetry, tracking and control facilities 
    | 
     | 
     | 
   60,539 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   57,665 | 
     | 
    
   
   | 
    Furniture, fixtures, equipment and other 
    | 
     | 
     | 
   60,283 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   63,265 | 
     | 
    
   
   | 
    Land 
    | 
     | 
     | 
   38,411 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   38,411 | 
     | 
    
   
   | 
    Building 
    | 
     | 
     | 
   57,185 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   56,685 | 
     | 
    
   
   | 
    Construction in progress 
    | 
     | 
     | 
   372,508 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   297,771 | 
     | 
    
   
   |   | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
    
   
   | 
    Total property and equipment 
    | 
     | 
     | 
   2,935,562 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   2,826,157 | 
     | 
    
   
   | 
    Accumulated depreciation and amortization 
    | 
     | 
     | 
   (1,261,643 | 
   )  | 
     | 
     | 
   (1,064,883 | 
   )  | 
    
   
   |   | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
    
   
   | 
    Property and equipment, net 
    | 
     | 
   $ | 
   1,673,919 | 
     | 
     | 
   $ | 
   1,761,274 | 
     | 
    
   
   |   | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
    
   
    
 | 
      
      
        | Construction in progress | 
        
   
   
   
   
   |   | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
    
   
   |   | 
     | 
   December 31, 2011 | 
     | 
     | 
   December 31, 2010 | 
     | 
    
   
   
   
   | 
    Satellite system 
    | 
     | 
   $ | 
   343,932 | 
     | 
     | 
   $ | 
   262,744 | 
     | 
    
   
   | 
    Terrestrial repeater network 
    | 
     | 
     | 
   19,194 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   19,239 | 
     | 
    
   
   | 
    Other 
    | 
     | 
     | 
   9,382 | 
     | 
     | 
     | 
   15,788 | 
     | 
    
   
   |   | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
    
   
   | 
    Construction in progress 
    | 
     | 
   $ | 
   372,508 | 
     | 
     | 
   $ | 
   297,771 | 
     | 
    
   
   |   | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
     | 
   
      
    | 
   
      
    | 
     | 
    
   
    
 |