Shareholders' Equity (Narrative) (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2019 $ / shares shares
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Unconverted restricted stock units | shares	98,917	75,262
Common stock dividends paid | $	$ 216,529
Common dividend paid per share	$ 7.00
Increase in RSUs outstanding under the Stock Incentive Plan | shares	23,655
Series A Preferred Stock [Member]
Preferred share purchase rights dividend date declared	Nov. 23, 2020
Preferred share purchase rights dividend date of record	Dec. 04, 2020
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.01
Preferred share purchase right ratio	0.001
Preferred stock, shares issued | shares	0
Preferred stock issue terms	The Series A Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be redeemable. Each share of Series A Preferred Stock would entitle the holder thereof to a quarterly dividend payment of 1,000 times the dividend declared per share of the Company’s common stock (if any).
Series A Preferred Stock [Member] | Preferred Stock Rights [Member]
Preferred stock issue price per share	$ 120.48
Series A Preferred Stock [Member] | Liquidation [Member]
Preferred stock, redemption preference	In the event of a liquidation of Loral, the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock would be entitled to an aggregate payment of 1,000 times the aggregate payment made per share of the Company’s common stock. Each share of Series A Preferred Stock has 1,000 votes and is entitled to vote together with the shares of the Company’s common stock.
Series A Preferred Stock [Member] | Merger, Consolidation or Other Transaction [Member]
Preferred stock, redemption preference	In the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which shares of the Company’s common stock are exchanged, each share of Series A Preferred Stock would be entitled to receive 1,000 times the amount received per share of the Company’s common stock.
Series B Preferred Stock [Member]
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares issued | shares	5	0
Preferred stock issue price per share	$ 20.08
Preferred stock issue terms	The Series B Preferred Stock is nonvoting, provided if no shares of the Company’s common stock and no shares of any series of Preferred Stock holding voting rights equivalent to the voting rights of shares of the Company’s common stock are issued and outstanding, each share of the Series B Preferred Stock shall be entitled to one vote with respect to all matters submitted to a vote of the Company’s stockholders.
Preferred stock, redemption preference	The Series B Preferred Stock is redeemable at the Company’s option at any time for an amount per share of Series B Preferred Stock of $20.08 (adjusted for any stock splits or stock dividends) plus all declared and unpaid dividends, if any, with respect to such share (for purposes of this paragraph, the “liquidation value”).
Series B Preferred Stock [Member] | Liquidation [Member]
Preferred stock, redemption preference	In the event of a liquidation of the Company, the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock would be entitled to a payment, before any payment would be made to holders of the Company’s common stock or preferred stock specifically designated as junior to the Series B Preferred Stock, equal to the liquidation value per share of Series B Preferred Stock.