Investments in Affiliates (Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Data) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Telesat Holdings Inc [Member]
Summary Financial Data:
Revenues		$ 172,336	$ 187,937	$ 522,849	$ 557,313
Operating expenses		(34,626)	(34,032)	(102,853)	(102,918)
Depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation		(49,816)	(46,239)	(147,207)	(145,067)
Gain (loss) on disposition of long lived asset		(19)	(7)	(1,932)	(28)
Operating income (loss)		87,875	107,659	270,857	309,300
Interest expense		(34,311)	(34,533)	(104,662)	(104,804)
Foreign exchange gains (losses)		(33,639)	(164,235)	120,632	(333,076)
Gains (losses) on financial instruments		2,587	2,968	(3,364)	4,164
Other income (expense)		1,518	857	3,301	2,232
Income tax provision		(13,556)	(16,289)	(39,625)	(54,368)
Net income (loss)		10,474	(103,573)	247,139	(176,552)
Current assets		656,254		656,254		$ 568,324
Total assets		4,248,874		4,248,874		3,991,301
Current liabilities		1,282,027		1,282,027		180,462
Long-term debt, including current portion		2,917,704		2,917,704		2,950,726
Total liabilities		3,626,535		3,626,535		3,617,867
Shareholders' equity/Members' equity		622,339		622,339		373,434
XTAR, LLC [Member]
Summary Financial Data:
Revenues		3,815	6,552	14,115	19,249
Operating expenses	[1]	(1,882)	(8,079)	(18,075)	(24,185)
Depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation		(2,191)	(2,190)	(6,575)	(6,682)
Operating income (loss)		(258)	(3,717)	(10,535)	(11,618)
Net income (loss)		(706)	$ (5,177)	(12,745)	$ (14,444)
Current assets		6,983		6,983		7,533
Total assets		37,668		37,668		44,793
Current liabilities		49,723		49,723		41,712
Total liabilities		72,655		72,655		68,126
Shareholders' equity/Members' equity		$ (34,987)		$ (34,987)		$ (23,333)

[1] During the three months ended September 30, 2016, pursuant to the Spainsat Lease Agreement, as amended, XTAR recorded a $6 million reduction in transponder lease charges of which $4 million relates to the six months ended June 30, 2016.