Composition of Certain Balance Sheet Captions - Composition of Certain Balance Sheet Captions (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 29, 2013	Mar. 30, 2012
Accounts receivable, net:
Accounts receivable, Billed	$ 134,206	$ 108,758
Accounts receivable, Unbilled	134,198	103,929
Allowance for doubtful accounts	(1,434)	(997)
Accounts receivable, net	266,970	211,690
Inventories:
Raw materials	40,308	46,208
Work in process	21,298	23,932
Finished goods	44,675	57,506
Inventories	106,281	127,646
Prepaid expenses and other current assets:
Prepaid expenses	34,257	25,103
Other	6,562	5,814
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	40,819	30,917
Satellites, net:
Capital lease of satellite capacity - Anik F2 (estimated useful life of 10 years)	99,090	99,090
Satellites Gross	658,184	657,957
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	(123,094)	(72,226)
Satellites, net	535,090	585,731
Property and equipment, net:
Property and equipment	661,481	504,017
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	(282,790)	(209,044)
Property and equipment, net	378,691	294,973
Other assets:
Capitalized software costs, net	60,596	41,992
Patents, orbital slots and other licenses, net	11,100	11,194
Deferred income taxes	97,238	53,602
Other	36,314	30,007
Other assets	205,248	136,795
Accrued liabilities:
Collections in excess of revenues and deferred revenues	65,822	88,114
Accrued employee compensation	23,925	21,384
Accrued vacation	19,252	17,573
Warranty reserve, current portion	8,840	6,238
Other	44,070	26,453
Accrued liabilities	161,909	159,762
Other liabilities:
Deferred revenue, long-term portion	15,360	11,414
Deferred rent, long-term portion	8,964	8,237
Warranty reserve, long-term portion	5,267	5,413
Deferred income taxes, long-term portion	1,547	3,073
Unrecognized tax position liabilities	493	1,306
Satellite performance incentives obligation, long-term portion	21,009	20,910
Other liabilities	52,640	50,353
Satellite - WildBlue-1 [Member]
Satellites, net:
Satellite	195,890	195,890
Satellite - ViaSat-1 [Member]
Satellites, net:
Satellite	363,204	362,977
Machinery and equipment [Member]
Property and equipment, net:
Property and equipment	226,884	195,975
Computer equipment and software [Member]
Property and equipment, net:
Property and equipment	154,202	127,596
Customer Premise Equipment [Member]
Property and equipment, net:
Property and equipment	170,934	85,271
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	(51,500)	(33,100)
Furniture and fixtures [Member]
Property and equipment, net:
Property and equipment	15,716	14,093
Leasehold Improvements [Member]
Property and equipment, net:
Property and equipment	57,691	51,205
Building [Member]
Property and equipment, net:
Property and equipment	8,923	8,923
Land [Member]
Property and equipment, net:
Land held for sale	2,846	3,124
Property and equipment	1,260	1,260
Construction in progress [Member]
Property and equipment, net:
Property and equipment	$ 23,025	$ 16,570