Investments in Affiliates (Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Data) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
XTAR, LLC [Member]
Statement of Operations Data:
Revenues	$ 7,613	$ 8,553	$ 22,285	$ 25,880
Operating expenses	(8,239)	(8,925)	(24,842)	(26,054)
Depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation	(2,345)	(2,405)	(7,095)	(7,213)
Operating income	(2,971)	(2,777)	(9,652)	(7,387)
Net income (loss)	(3,804)	(3,903)	(12,047)	(10,763)
Current assets	5,978		5,978		10,558
Total assets	76,358		76,358		88,033
Current liabilities	45,500		45,500		45,704
Total liabilities	54,986		54,986		54,614
Shareholder' equity/Members' equity	21,372		21,372		33,419
Telesat Holdings Inc [Member]
Statement of Operations Data:
Revenues	220,361	204,403	616,236	617,264
Operating expenses	(50,372)	(47,174)	(186,319)	(140,990)
Depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation	(65,291)	(63,131)	(186,788)	(188,090)
Loss on disposition of long lived asset	(53)	(99)	(129)	(863)
Operating income	104,645	93,999	243,000	287,321
Interest expense	(59,020)	(56,339)	(172,302)	(167,024)
Expense of refinancing	(270)		(79,673)
Foreign exchange gains (losses)	94,424	(267,443)	100,736	(168,875)
(Losses) gains on financial instruments	(40,900)	125,605	(41,555)	84,711
Other income	179	258	1,144	1,848
Income tax provision	(14,333)	(5,952)	(18,652)	(30,835)
Net income (loss)	84,725	(109,872)	32,698	7,146
Current assets	237,948		237,948		351,802
Total assets	5,387,975		5,387,975		5,347,174
Current liabilities	270,900		270,900		289,351
Long-term debt, including current portion	3,324,726		3,324,726		2,817,857
Promissory note	145,156		145,156
Total liabilities	4,811,425		4,811,425		4,045,619
Redeemable preferred stock					138,485
Shareholder' equity/Members' equity	$ 576,550		$ 576,550		$ 1,163,070