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Related Party Transactions (Details Textual)
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12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Dec. 31, 2011
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2010
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2009
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2011
8.75% Senior Notes due 2015 [Member]
|
Mar. 31, 2010
8.75% Senior Notes due 2015 [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2011
9.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2015 [Member]
|
Aug. 31, 2009
9.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2015 [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2011
13% Senior Notes due 2013 [Member]
|
Jul. 31, 2008
13% Senior Notes due 2013 [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2011
7% Exchangeable Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014 [Member]
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Aug. 31, 2008
7% Exchangeable Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014 [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2011
7.625% Senior Notes due 2018 [Member]
|
Oct. 31, 2010
7.625% Senior Notes due 2018 [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Series B Preferred Stock [Member]
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2010
Series B Preferred Stock [Member]
USD ($)
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Jun. 30, 2011
SIRIUS XM Canada [Member]
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2011
SIRIUS XM Canada [Member]
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2011
SIRIUS XM Canada [Member]
CAD
|
Jun. 21, 2011
SIRIUS XM Canada [Member]
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2010
SIRIUS XM Canada [Member]
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2011
SIRIUS XM Canada [Member]
8% Convertible Unsecured Subordinated Debentures [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Liberty Media [Member]
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2010
Liberty Media [Member]
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2009
Liberty Media [Member]
USD ($)
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Mar. 31, 2009
Liberty Media [Member]
Series B Preferred Stock [Member]
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2011
SIRIUS Canada [Member]
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2010
SIRIUS Canada [Member]
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2009
SIRIUS Canada [Member]
USD ($)
|
Jun. 21, 2011
SIRIUS Canada [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2011
XM Canada [Member]
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2010
XM Canada [Member]
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2009
XM Canada [Member]
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2005
XM Canada [Member]
USD ($)
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Jun. 21, 2011
XM Canada [Member]
USD ($)
|
Jun. 21, 2011
XM Canada [Member]
CAD
|
Jul. 31, 2008
XM Canada [Member]
USD ($)
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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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Increase to additional paid-in capital, excluding issuance costs | $ 227,716,000 | $ 227,716,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Increase in paid-in capital for the beneficial conversion feature | 186,188,000 | 186,188,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accrued interest with Liberty Media to related party current liabilities | 70,405,000 | 72,453,000 | 9,722,000 | 9,765,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense associated with debt | 304,938,000 | 295,643,000 | 315,668,000 | 35,681,000 | 40,169,000 | 79,640,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Class A shares received from Sirius XM Canada | 46,700,000 | 46,700,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Economic interest related parties | 38.00% | 38.00% | 49.90% | 49.90% | 21.50% | 21.50% | 21.50% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Voting interest | 25.00% | 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 | 53,781,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Return of capital from investment in unconsolidated entity | 10,117,000 | 10,117,000 | 10,117,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dividend | 4,849,000 | 4,849,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non interest bearing notes of CSR with a two year term | 5,208,000 | 5,208,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amounts due for chip sets and other services | 7,404,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount of CSR notes that reported as related party current assets | 4,798,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net gain recognized in Interest and investment income for reverse acquisition | 75,768,000 | 75,768,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization expense related to equity method intangible assets | 1,556,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Investment | 45,061,000 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity Method Investment Goodwill and Intangible Assets | 28,589,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deferred programming costs and accrued interest attributable to Related party | 7,280,000 | 7,201,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deferred programming costs and accrued interest due from related parties reported as Related party long-term assets | 4,780,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Face value of 8% convertible unsecured subordinated debentures | 4,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Carrying values of the host contract | 3,490,000 | 3,302,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Carrying values of embedded derivative related to investment in debentures | 0 | 11,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Royalty percentage of gross revenue minimum | 5.00% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Royalty percentage of gross revenue maximum | 15.00% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Costs that have been or will be reimbursed by Sirius Canada | 5,253,000 | 12,185,000 | 11,031,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other related party current liability | 1,804,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Company's share or related party net income (loss) | 1,081,000 | (9,717,000) | (10,257,000) | (6,636,000) | (6,045,000) | (12,147,000) | (2,292,000) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Payment received from related party in excess of carrying value | 6,748,000 | 10,281,000 | 13,738,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 | 198,135,000 | 273,973,000 | 24,517,000 | 28,792,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Credit facility extended to XM Canada | 45,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate on instrument | 8.75% | 8.75% | 9.75% | 9.75% | 13.00% | 13.00% | 7.00% | 7.00% | 7.625% | 7.625% | 8.00% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Related party current liabilities | 14,302,000 | 15,845,000 | 4,580,000 | 0 | 9,772,000 | 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Related party long-term assets | $ 54,953,000 | $ 33,475,000 | $ 53,741,000 | $ 0 | $ 1,212,000 | $ 1,571,000 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 31,904,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||