Investments in Affiliates (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Telesat Holdings Inc. [Member]
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Data
Revenues	$ 199,852	$ 207,139	$ 395,875	$ 412,861
Operating expenses	(52,207)	(47,041)	(135,947)	(93,816)
Depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation	(61,009)	(62,768)	(121,497)	(124,959)
Loss on disposition of long lived asset	(18)	(5)	(76)	(764)
Operating income (loss)	86,618	97,325	138,355	193,322
Interest expense	(61,592)	(54,373)	(113,282)	(110,685)
Expense of refinancing	(57,541)		(79,403)
Foreign exchange (losses) gains	(56,178)	15,238	6,312	98,568
Financial instruments gains (losses)	25,770	(11,171)	(655)	(40,894)
Other income	241	494	965	1,590
Income tax provision	(6,748)	(9,158)	(4,319)	(24,883)
Net (loss) income	(69,430)	38,355	(52,027)	117,018
Current assets	218,161		218,161		351,802
Total assets	5,253,525		5,253,525		5,347,174
Current liabilities	248,740		248,740		289,351
Long-term debt, including current portion	3,307,511		3,307,511		2,817,857
Promissory note	140,393		140,393
Total liabilities	4,712,677		4,712,677		4,045,619
Redeemable preferred stock					138,485
Shareholders' equity/Members' equity	540,848		540,848		1,163,070
XTAR, LLC [Member]
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Data
Revenues	6,821	8,457	14,672	17,327
Operating expenses	(8,279)	(8,625)	(16,603)	(17,129)
Depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation	(2,345)	(2,403)	(4,750)	(4,808)
Operating income (loss)	(3,803)	(2,571)	(6,681)	(4,610)
Net (loss) income	(4,572)	(3,723)	(8,243)	(6,860)
Current assets	7,276		7,276		10,558
Total assets	80,000		80,000		88,033
Current liabilities	45,530		45,530		45,704
Total liabilities	54,824		54,824		54,614
Shareholders' equity/Members' equity	$ 25,176		$ 25,176		$ 33,419