|
Property and Equipment (Details 5) (USD $)
|
3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Dec. 31, 2012
|
Dec. 31, 2011
|
Dec. 31, 2012
|
Dec. 31, 2011
|
Dec. 31, 2012
SPACEWAY 3
|
Dec. 31, 2012
EchoStar XVII
|
Dec. 31, 2011
EchoStar XVII
|
Dec. 31, 2012
EchoStar III - fully depreciated
item
|
Mar. 31, 2012
EchoStar VI
item
|
Dec. 31, 2012
EchoStar VI
item
|
Dec. 31, 2012
EchoStar VIII
item
|
Dec. 31, 2012
EchoStar IX
|
Dec. 31, 2012
EchoStar XII
item
|
Dec. 31, 2012
EchoStar XVI
|
Dec. 31, 2011
EchoStar XVI
|
Dec. 31, 2012
AMC-15
item
|
Dec. 31, 2011
AMC-15
|
Dec. 31, 2012
AMC-16
item
|
Dec. 31, 2011
AMC-16
|
Dec. 31, 2010
AMC-16
|
Dec. 31, 2012
Nimiq 5
|
Dec. 31, 2012
QuetzSat-1
|
Dec. 31, 2011
CMBStar
|
|
| Property and equipment | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciable Life | 12 years | 15 years | 12 years | 12 years | 12 years | 12 years | 10 years | 15 years | 10 years | 10 years | 15 years | 10 years | |||||||||||
| Estimated fair value | $ 455,186,000 | $ 716,486,000 | $ 455,186,000 | $ 716,486,000 | $ 365,721,000 | $ 345,090,000 | $ 232,364,000 | $ 19,000,000 | |||||||||||||||
| Loss of TWTAs | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total number of TWTAs lost on the satellite | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of transponders, option one | 32 | 32 | 13 | 24 | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Watts per channel, option one | 120 | 120 | 270 | 120 | 120 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Number of transponders available, option two | 16 | 16 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Watts per channel, option two | 230 | 240 | 135 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of traveling wave tubes | 44 | 48 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of transponders available for use | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Watts per channel, option three | 65 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gain recognized due to decrease in capital lease obligation | 13,000,000 | 7,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Reduction in asset's carrying amount due to reduction in capital lease obligation | 20,000,000 | 39,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Decrease in capital lease obligations | 20,000,000 | 13,000,000 | 7,000,000 | 39,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Impairment charge | $ 33,000,000 | $ 33,000,000 | $ 32,765,000 | $ 32,964,000 | $ 32,964,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Number of spot beams | 22 | 12 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||