Duration of contract assigned to subsidiary.

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Duration shares paid upon completion of the winding up of subsidiary.

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The percentage of economic ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

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Income tax examination, amount deposited with taxing authority.

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Common stock acquired by an unaffiliated third party.

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Percentage of entity's entitlement to net revenue of related party.

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Related party transaction, management fee charged as percentage of revenue.

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Payments received from related party during the period relating to the Transaction.

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Related party transaction, percentage of combined ownership of voting and non-voting common stock.

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Related party transaction, percentage of outstanding voting common stock.

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Related party transaction, transaction term.

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Tax assessment imposed by authorities on audit open for resolution

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Tax indemnification liability upon settlement

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Tax indemnification settlement refund.

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- Definition

A valuation allowance for trade and other receivables due to an Entity within one year (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer) that are expected to be uncollectible.

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Amount of receivables due from an entity that is affiliated with the reporting entity by means of direct or indirect ownership, due within 1 year (or 1 business cycle).

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The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

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Cash dividends or other distributions received from unconsolidated subsidiaries, certain corporate joint ventures, and certain noncontrolled corporations that are returns of capital. Excludes dividends or distributions from equity method investments classified as operating activities.

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Amount of transactions with related party during the financial reporting period.

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Date of maturity or expiration of arrangements with a related party (for example, but not limited to, leasing and debt arrangements between related parties), in CCYY-MM-DD format.

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Expenses recognized resulting from transactions (excluding transactions that are eliminated in consolidated or combined financial statements) with related party.

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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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Reflects the sum of all other revenue and income realized from sales and other transactions (excluding transactions that are eliminated in consolidated or combined financial statements) with related party during the period.

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Related Party Transactions (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended				24 Months Ended
	Apr. 11, 2011	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2007	Apr. 30, 2014
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Amounts due under the transaction			$ 225,000	$ 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
Telesat Holdings Inc [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Distributions received from affiliate		$ 242,700,000
Telesat Holdings Inc [Member] \| Hong Kong [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Amount deposited with taxing authority							$ 6,500,000
Tax Indemnification settlement liability			$ 1,100,000
Tax indemnification settlement refund								$ 5,400,000
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 income during the period			$ 5,000,000	$ 5,000,000	$ 5,000,000
Transaction payments received during the period			$ 4,800,000	4,800,000	4,800,000
Transaction, Consulting Agreement [Member] \| Director [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related party transaction, date			Dec. 14, 2012
Transaction income during the period			$ 63,000	63,000	204,000
Expenses on transactions with related party			1,440,000	1,440,000	1,440,000
Transaction, Supplemental Capacity Revenue Share [Member] \| Viasat and Telesat [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Transaction term	4 years
Transaction income during the period				800,000	1,000,000
Amounts due under the transaction			0	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]
Transaction payments received during the period			0	0	$ 0
Amounts due under the transaction			6,800,000	6,800,000
Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable			$ 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 Participation In Welfare Plans 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						$ 2,300,000