v2.4.0.8

Related Party Transactions (Details) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended |  |  | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  | 1 Months Ended |  | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |  | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |  | 12 Months Ended |
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Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2013 DISH Digital | Dec. 31, 2012 DISH Digital | Dec. 31, 2013 EchoStar XVI | Dec. 31, 2011 Patent Cross-License Agreements | Oct. 31, 2012 Hughes Broadband Distribution Agreement | Dec. 31, 2013 Hughes Broadband Distribution Agreement | Dec. 31, 2013 DBSD North America Agreement item | Dec. 31, 2013 DISH Network DISH Digital | Apr. 30, 2011 DISH Network TiVo vs. Dish Network and Echostar Corporation item | Apr. 29, 2011 DISH Network TiVo vs. Dish Network and Echostar Corporation | Dec. 31, 2013 DISH Network 2012 Receiver Agreement | Dec. 31, 2013 DISH Network Broadcast Agreement | May 31, 2010 DISH Network Broadcast Agreement for Certain Sports Related Programming | Dec. 31, 2013 DISH Network EchoStar VIII capacity leased to Dish Network | Dec. 31, 2012 DISH Network EchoStar XVI | Dec. 31, 2013 DISH Network EchoStar XVI | Dec. 31, 2009 DISH Network EchoStar XVI | Mar. 02, 2014 DISH Network Satellite and Tracking Stock Transaction Subsequent event | Mar. 02, 2014 DISH Network Satellite and Tracking Stock Transaction EchoStar and HSSC Subsequent event item | May 31, 2012 DISH Network Service agreement to lease certain satellite capacity Ciel | Dec. 31, 2013 DISH Network TT&C Agreement | Dec. 31, 2013 DISH Network Inverness Lease Agreement | Dec. 31, 2013 DISH Network Santa Fe Lease Agreement | Dec. 31, 2013 DISH Network Gilbert Lease Agreement | Dec. 31, 2013 DISH Network Product Support Agreement | Nov. 30, 2013 DISH Network DISH Online.com Services Agreement | Jan. 31, 2010 DISH Network DISH Online.com Services Agreement | Dec. 31, 2013 DISH Network DISH Online.com Services Agreement item | Feb. 28, 2010 DISH Network DISH Remote Access Services Agreement | Dec. 31, 2013 DISH Network DISH Remote Access Services Agreement | Feb. 28, 2010 DISH Network SlingService Services Agreement | Dec. 31, 2013 DISH Network SlingService Services Agreement | Jan. 31, 2013 DISH Network Management Services Agreement | Dec. 31, 2013 DISH Network RUS Service Implementation Agreement | Mar. 09, 2012 DISH Network DBSD North America Agreement | May 31, 2013 DISH Network EchoStar XV capacity leased from Dish Network | Dec. 31, 2013 DISH Network Remanufactured Receiver Agreement | Dec. 31, 2012 DISH Network Remanufactured Receiver Agreement | Dec. 31, 2011 DISH Network Remanufactured Receiver Agreement | Sep. 30, 2013 DISH Network Tax Sharing Agreement Other receivable | Jun. 30, 2013 DISH Network Tax Sharing Agreement Noncurrent deferred tax liabilities | Dec. 31, 2013 DISH Network Set-Top Box Application Development Agreement | Dec. 31, 2013 DISH Network XiP Encryption Agreement | Dec. 31, 2009 DISH Network DISH Telesat Agreement item | Dec. 31, 2013 DISH Network El Paso Lease Agreement item | Jan. 31, 2013 DISH Network Professional Services Agreement | Dec. 31, 2013 DISH Network Professional Services Agreement | Dec. 31, 2013 DISH Network QuetzSat-1 Transponder item | Sep. 30, 2012 DISH Network QuetzSat-1 Transponder item | Dec. 31, 2013 DISH Network Prior Receiver Agreement | Dec. 31, 2013 DISH Network Prior Broadcast Agreement | Dec. 31, 2013 DISH Network Prior TT&C Agreement | Dec. 31, 2009 Telesat Canada Nimiq 5 Agreement item | Dec. 31, 2008 SES Latin America QuetzSat-1 Lease Agreement item | Dec. 31, 2013 Hughes Systique Corporation | Dec. 31, 2013 NagraStar | Dec. 31, 2012 NagraStar | Dec. 31, 2011 NagraStar | Dec. 31, 2013 Dish Mexico | Dec. 31, 2012 Dish Mexico | Dec. 31, 2011 Dish Mexico | Dec. 31, 2013 Deluxe | Dec. 31, 2012 Deluxe | Dec. 31, 2011 Deluxe | Dec. 31, 2013 Blockbuster | Sep. 30, 2010 DISH Broadband RUS Service Implementation Agreement Maximum
Related party transactions |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Minimum required notice period for termination of agreement by related party |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 30 days |  |  |  | 60 days | 60 days |  | 30 days |  |  |  |  |  |  | 60 days |  |  |  | 60 days |  |  | 120 days |  | 120 days |  | 120 days |  | 45 days |  | 30 days |  |  |  |  |  |  | 30 days |  |  |  |  |  |  | 60 days | 60 days | 60 days |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Agreement term |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 years |  | 1 year |  |  |  |  |  | 10 years |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10 years |  |  |  |  |  | 1 year | 2 years |  | 5 years |  | 5 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 year |  |  |  |  |  |  | 15 years | 10 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Agreement term from commencement of service date |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4 years |  | 10 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Additional term of renewal option |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 year |  |  |  |  | 5 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of DBS transponders available to receive services |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 32 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 32 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of DBS transponders expected to receive services |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 32 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of DBS transponders currently receiving services |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 24 | 24 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of DBS transponders currently receiving services subleased back from related party |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Automatic renewal period |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 year |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 year |  | 1 year |  | 1 year | 1 year |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 year |  |  |  |  | 1 year |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Required minimum notice for termination of agreement |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 180 days |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6 months |  | 30 days |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 90 days |  |  |  |  | 60 days |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Required minimum notice for termination of individual service |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 30 days |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Required minimum notice period for termination of agreement by the reporting entity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 30 days |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 30 days | 60 days |  |  |  |  |  | 180 days |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of successive three year renewal options |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Grants receivable by related party |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 14,100,000
Number of owned satellites transferred |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Liabilities Assumed | 18,000,000 | 24,950,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 58,900,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash paid for property, plant and equipment | 391,873,000 | 513,005,000 | 377,172,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 11,400,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Term of renewal option |  |  |  |  |  | 6 years |  |  |  | 1 year |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6 years |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 year |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 year |  | 3 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 year |
Minimum notice period required to extend the agreement term |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 180 days |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 180 days |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity interest in joint venture |  |  |  | 33.00% | 33.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of successive one year renewal options |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership interest in related party (as a percent) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 44.40% | 50.00% |  |  |  |  |  | 50.00% |  |  |  |
Ownership interest acquired by related party (as a percent) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 67.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 100.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maximum aggregate payments required under cross license agreements |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maximum additional aggregate payments required under cross license agreements if options are exercised |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage by related party |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 26.10% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Purchases from related party |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,500,000 | 100,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 14,901,000 | 13,024,000 | 16,771,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amount payable to related party | 55,743,000 | 26,960,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,211,000 | 2,694,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments to purchase from NagraStar |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5,874,000 | 7,303,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Federal tax benefits reflected as a deferred tax asset for depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 82,800,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net amount of the allocated tax attributes receivable |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 82,800,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Settlement amount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 500,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Portion of the $300 million initial settlement agreement payment paid by EchoStar |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Initial settlement amount paid |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 300,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Aggregate of six annual installment amounts between 2012 and 2017 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 200,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Litigation settlement, number of annual installments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated percentage of annual future payments payable by EchoStar |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Digital set-top boxes and related accessories |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 36,929,000 | 58,097,000 | 62,964,000 |  |  |  |  |
Sales of satellite services |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 22,638,000 | 13,320,000 | 8,520,000 |  |  |  |  |
Uplink services |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6,735,000 | 9,144,000 | 8,137,000 |  |  |  |  |
Other services |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 127,000 | 640,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Amount receivable from related party | 355,135,000 | 281,845,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,506,000 | 11,699,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue recognized from equipment and services provided to related party |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,800,000 | 1,600,000 | 200,000 |  |
Receivables from related party |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,100,000 | $ 800,000 |  |  |

X
- Definition Maximum additional aggregate payments required under cross license agreements if options are exercised. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sats_AggregateAdditionalPaymentIfOptionToExtendAgreementsIsExercisedLessThan
Namespace Prefix: | sats_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
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