v2.4.0.8

Segment Reporting (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013 item	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting
Number of business segments									3
Segment Reporting
Total revenue	$ 808,087	$ 848,908	$ 830,003	$ 795,454	$ 786,199	$ 764,721	$ 806,004	$ 764,780	$ 3,282,452	$ 3,121,704	$ 2,761,431
Capital expenditures									391,873	513,005	377,172
EBITDA									650,097	793,898	482,806
Interest income and expense, net									(177,898)	(141,853)	(71,772)
Depreciation and amortization									(507,111)	(457,326)	(385,894)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests									876	(35)	635
Income (loss) before income taxes									(34,036)	194,684	25,775
EchoStar Technologies Business
Segment Reporting
Total revenue									1,715,579	1,658,203	1,780,491
Hughes Business
Segment Reporting
Total revenue									1,215,783	1,156,590	675,586
EchoStar Satellite Services Business
Segment Reporting
Total revenue									326,828	275,280	277,707
All Other and Eliminations
Segment Reporting
Total revenue									24,262	31,631	27,647
Operating segments | EchoStar Technologies Business
Segment Reporting
Total revenue									1,715,991	1,660,029	1,780,642
Capital expenditures									56,935	69,809	81,420
EBITDA									136,057	110,933	144,753
Operating segments | Hughes Business
Segment Reporting
Total revenue									1,218,126	1,158,714	676,222
Capital expenditures									186,561	292,222	156,768
EBITDA									281,513	265,756	167,100
Operating segments | EchoStar Satellite Services Business
Segment Reporting
Total revenue									330,177	277,985	278,125
Capital expenditures									12,700	118,998	119,004
EBITDA									235,993	212,549	197,848
Intersegment Elimination | EchoStar Technologies Business
Segment Reporting
Total revenue									412	1,826	151
Intersegment Elimination | Hughes Business
Segment Reporting
Total revenue									2,343	2,124	636
Intersegment Elimination | EchoStar Satellite Services Business
Segment Reporting
Total revenue									3,349	2,705	418
Intersegment Elimination | All Other and Eliminations
Segment Reporting
Total revenue									(6,104)	(6,655)	(1,205)
All Other and Eliminations | All Other and Eliminations
Segment Reporting
Total revenue									18,158	24,976	26,442
Capital expenditures									135,677	31,976	19,980
EBITDA									$ (3,466)	$ 204,660	$ (26,895)

X

- Definition

Represents the amount of earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization.

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- Definition

EBITDA adjustment for net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest.

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No definition available.

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The current period expense charged against earnings on long-lived, physical assets not used in production, and which are not intended for resale, to allocate or recognize the cost of such assets over their useful lives; or to record the reduction in book value of an intangible asset over the benefit period of such asset; or to reflect consumption during the period of an asset that is not used in production.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 360

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

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- Definition

This element represents the income or loss from continuing operations attributable to the economic entity which may also be defined as revenue less expenses from ongoing operations, after income or loss from equity method investments, but before income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

+ References

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- Definition

The net amount of operating interest income (expense).

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 225

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

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- Definition

Number of segments reported by the entity. A reportable segment is a component of an entity for which there is an accounting requirement to report separate financial information on that component in the entity's financial statements.

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The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale; includes cash outflows to pay for construction of self-constructed assets.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Investing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133



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- Definition

Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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