Investments In Affiliates (Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Data) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
XTAR, LLC [Member]
Statement of Operations Data:
Revenues	$ 32,674	$ 37,055	$ 37,907
Operating expenses	(33,332)	(34,734)	(35,724)
Depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation	(9,298)	(9,617)	(9,618)
Operating income (loss)	(9,956)	(7,296)	(7,435)
Net income (loss)	(14,651)	(11,882)	(12,435)
Current assets	7,838	10,558
Total assets	74,721	88,033
Current liabilities	46,296	45,704
Total liabilities	55,953	54,614
Shareholder' equity/Members' equity	18,768	33,419
Telesat Holdings Inc [Member]
Statement of Operations Data:
Revenues	846,148	817,269	797,283
Operating expenses	(242,705)	(188,119)	(190,632)
Depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation	(249,134)	(248,012)	(249,318)
Gain on issuance of proceeds		136,507
Impairment of intangible assets		(1,112)
(Loss) gain on disposition of long lived asset	(778)	(1,499)	3,714
Operating income (loss)	353,531	515,034	361,047
Interest expense	(236,398)	(220,598)	(234,556)
Expense of refinancing	(80,104)
Foreign exchange gains (losses)	81,073	(80,991)	159,191
(Losses) gains on financial instruments	(25,755)	50,731	(76,937)
Other income	1,362	1,964	619
Income tax provision	(28,154)	(65,271)	(41,177)
Net income (loss)	65,555	200,869	168,187
Current assets	289,614	351,802
Total assets	5,342,313	5,347,174
Current liabilities	237,739	289,351
Long-term debt, including current portion	3,519,872	2,817,857
Total liabilities	4,770,966	4,045,619
Redeemable preferred stock		138,485
Shareholder' equity/Members' equity	$ 571,347	$ 1,163,070