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Investment Securities (Details 2) (USD $)
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Realized gains on marketable investment securities and other investments        
Realized gains on marketable investment securities and other investments   $ 177,558,000 $ 13,666,000 $ 2,923,000
Other Investment Securities - Noncurrent        
Equity Method 155,500,000 155,500,000 114,246,000  
Equity in the net loss of joint venture   (438,000) 11,860,000 (2,813,000)
Contribution to Dish Digital   44,712,000    
Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Marketable Investment Securities        
Amortized cost 788,117,000 788,117,000 906,594,000  
Unrealized Gains 35,670,000 35,670,000 182,467,000  
Unrealized Losses (307,000) (307,000) (2,715,000)  
Estimated Fair Value 823,480,000 823,480,000 1,086,346,000  
Estimated Fair Value 655,000,000 655,000,000    
Dividend income from a strategic investment 29,000,000 46,000,000    
DISH Digital
        
Other Investment Securities - Noncurrent        
Equity Method 35,000,000 35,000,000    
Equity in the net loss of joint venture   10,000,000    
Contribution to Dish Digital   45,000,000    
Equity interest in joint venture 33.00% 33.00%    
Corporate Bonds
        
Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Marketable Investment Securities        
Amortized cost 653,812,000 653,812,000 563,625,000  
Unrealized Gains 591,000 591,000 228,000  
Unrealized Losses (307,000) (307,000) (2,704,000)  
Estimated Fair Value 654,096,000 654,096,000 561,149,000  
VRDNs
        
Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Marketable Investment Securities        
Amortized cost 66,145,000 66,145,000 218,665,000  
Estimated Fair Value 66,145,000 66,145,000 218,665,000  
Other (including restricted)
        
Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Marketable Investment Securities        
Amortized cost 46,946,000 46,946,000 90,428,000  
Unrealized Gains 5,000 5,000 25,000  
Unrealized Losses     (11,000)  
Estimated Fair Value 46,951,000 46,951,000 90,442,000  
Equity securities - Strategic
        
Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Marketable Investment Securities        
Amortized cost 21,214,000 21,214,000 33,876,000  
Unrealized Gains 35,074,000 35,074,000 182,214,000  
Estimated Fair Value 56,288,000 56,288,000 216,090,000  
Dividend income from a strategic investment   $ 46,000,000