Investments in Affiliates (Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Data) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Telesat Holdings Inc [Member]
Summary Financial Data:
Revenues	$ 187,937	$ 210,163	$ 557,313	$ 636,552
Operating expenses	(34,032)	(42,827)	(102,918)	(122,402)
Depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation	(46,239)	(58,955)	(145,067)	(175,713)
Gain (loss) on disposition of long lived asset	(7)	(164)	(28)	(226)
Operating income (loss)	107,659	108,217	309,300	338,211
Interest expense	(34,533)	(47,573)	(104,804)	(142,589)
Foreign exchange gains (losses)	(164,235)	(96,093)	(333,076)	(105,177)
Gains (losses) on financial instruments	2,968	15,146	4,164	31,517
Other income (expense)	857	841	2,232	3,007
Income tax provision	(16,289)	(7,484)	(54,368)	(46,640)
Net income (loss)	(103,573)	(26,946)	(176,552)	78,329
Current assets	599,482		599,482		$ 497,287
Total assets	4,086,689		4,086,689		4,552,613
Current liabilities	185,420		185,420		227,200
Long-term debt, including current portion	2,997,755		2,997,755		3,102,635
Total liabilities	3,677,756		3,677,756		3,921,887
Shareholders' equity/Members' equity	408,933		408,933		630,726
XTAR, LLC [Member]
Summary Financial Data:
Revenues	6,552	6,642	19,249	22,363
Operating expenses	(8,079)	(7,717)	(24,185)	(23,530)
Depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation	(2,190)	(2,314)	(6,682)	(6,943)
Operating income (loss)	(3,717)	(3,389)	(11,618)	(8,110)
Net income (loss)	(5,177)	$ (3,758)	(14,444)	$ (9,822)
Current assets	7,050		7,050		4,992
Total assets	46,501		46,501		53,508
Current liabilities	38,453		38,453		28,585
Total liabilities	65,994		65,994		59,342
Shareholders' equity/Members' equity	$ (19,493)		$ (19,493)		$ (5,834)