Investments In Affiliates (Narrative) (Details) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended						12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2012 CAD	Mar. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2012 Telesat Holdings Inc. [Member] USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2012 Telesat Holdings Inc. [Member] CAD	Mar. 31, 2012 XTAR, LLC [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2009 XTAR, LLC [Member] USD ($) Y	Dec. 31, 2008 XTAR, LLC [Member] USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2012 Estimated Useful Life Of Satellite (2022) [Member] USD ($)
Investments In Affiliates [Line Items]
Profits recognized on affiliate sales eliminated in earlier periods	$ 4.6
Voting interests, affiliates				33.33%	33.33%
Economic interest in affiliates				64.00%	64.00%	56.00%
Maximum borrowing under credit agreement				2,550.00
Increase in indebtedness				490
Deferred financing cost written-off on debt refinancing				22
Distributions declared to shareholders, option holders and certain employees					656.5
Distribution declared to Loral		420
Distribution to Loral	376	375
Future distribution by equity method investee to Loral		45
Promissory note issued					146
Promissory note - minimum redemption				50.00%	50.00%
Promissory note - minimum redemption date				Mar. 28, 2014	Mar. 28, 2014
Promissory note, Maturity date				Mar. 28, 2016	Mar. 28, 2016
Promissory note, stated interest rate, year 1 and 2				9.75%	9.75%
Promissory note, stated interest rate, minimum interest after year 2				11.00%	11.00%
Future distributions to executives and certain employees of equity method investee					48.6
Debt to EBITDA percent required for payment of consulting fee to investor				500.00%	500.00%
Interest expense Multiplier to determine EBITDA available for dividend distribution, percent				140.00%	140.00%
Payments received from affiliate from consulting fees and interest	1.6
Lease obligation						24
Maximum annual lease obligation									28
Useful life of the satellite estimated in year									2022
Lease agreement, Past due								32.3
Deferred lease payments							6.7
Repayment term past due and deferred lease obligation, years							12
Annual repayment past due and deferred lease obligation						5
Discount rate for prepayment of restructured past due and deferred lease obligation						9.00%
Cumulative payments of restructured past due and deferred lease obligation						$ 15.4