Related Party Transactions (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)		3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Apr. 11, 2011	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2009
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Amounts due under the transaction		$ 741,000			$ 381,000
Telesat Holdings Inc [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Economic interest in affiliates		62.70%
Common stock, percentage acquired by an unaffiliated third party		90.00%
Duration for shares to be paid, days		10 days
Xtar [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Percentage of ownership interest		56.00%
MHR Funds [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Percentage of outstanding voting common stock		39.90%			38.00%
Percentage of combined ownership of voting and non-voting common stock		58.40%			57.10%
Transaction, Consulting Agreement [Member] | Telesat Holdings Inc [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related party transaction, date		Oct. 31, 2007
Transaction term		7 years
Consulting agreement, renewal term		7 years
Related party annual transaction rate		7.00%
Transaction income during the period		$ 1,250,000	$ 1,250,000
Transaction payments received during the period		1,200,000	1,200,000
Transaction, notes receivable		$ 0			$ 0
Transaction, Consulting Agreement [Member] | Director [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related party transaction, date		Dec. 14, 2012
Transaction fee		$ 360,000	360,000
Transaction income during the period		15,750	15,750
Transaction, Supplemental Capacity Revenue Share [Member] | Viasat and Telesat [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Transaction term	4 years
Transaction income during the period			$ 200,000
Amounts due under the transaction					200,000
Duration of contract assigned to Telesat	15 years
Percentage of entity's entitlement to net revenue of related party	50.00%
Transaction, Management Agreement [Member] | Xtar [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Amounts due under the transaction - Noncurrent		7,300,000			6,800,000
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Noncurrent		6,600,000			$ 6,600,000
Management fee charged as a percentage of revenue				3.70%
Annual Fee [Member] | Transaction, Consulting Agreement [Member] | Telesat Holdings Inc [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Transaction fee		5,000,000
Annual Fee [Member] | Transaction, Welfare Plan Participation Administrative Fee [Member] | Telesat Holdings Inc [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Transaction fee		100,000
Monthly Fee [Member] | Transaction, Consulting Agreement [Member] | Director [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Transaction fee		$ 120,000
Years 2003 to 2006 [Member] | Telesat Holdings Inc [Member] | Brazil [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Tax assessment imposed audit						$ 2,000,000