Basis of Presentation - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Oct. 04, 2013	Sep. 28, 2012	Oct. 04, 2013	Sep. 28, 2012	Mar. 29, 2013
Company And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Forward loss related to loss contracts	$ 600,000	$ 1,100,000	$ 1,000,000	$ 2,400,000
Defense contract audit agency completed cost audits			Contract costs on U.S. government contracts are subject to audit and review by the Defense Contracting Management Agency (DCMA), the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), and other U.S. government agencies, as well as negotiations with U.S. government representatives. The Company’s incurred cost audits by the DCAA have not been completed for fiscal year 2004 and subsequent fiscal years. Although the Company has recorded contract revenues subsequent to fiscal year 2003 based upon an estimate of costs that the Company believes will be approved upon final audit or review, the Company does not know the outcome of any ongoing or future audits or reviews and adjustments, and if future adjustments exceed the Company’s estimates, its profitability would be adversely affected.
Total U.S. government contract-related reserves balance	7,300,000		7,300,000		7,200,000
Advertising expenses	6,200,000	6,000,000	9,100,000	11,500,000
Capitalized interest expense	2,000,000	800,000	2,900,000	1,600,000
CPE leased equipment, total cost	206,800,000		206,800,000		170,900,000
Total capitalized costs related to patents	3,200,000		3,200,000		3,200,000
Total capitalized costs related to orbital slots and other licenses	13,500,000		13,500,000		8,600,000
Accumulated amortization of patents and other licenses	800,000		800,000		700,000
Amortization expense related to patents and other licenses	0	0	0	0
Impairment of long-lived assets (property, equipment, and satellites, and other assets) recorded	0	0	0	0
Payment of debt issuance costs	0	0	0	2,215,000
Property Plant and Equipment - Excluding Satellites [Member]
Company And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	314,366,000		314,366,000		282,790,000
Property Plant and Equipment - Excluding Satellites [Member] | CPE leased equipment [Member]
Company And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	$ 66,100,000		$ 66,100,000		$ 51,500,000
Minimum [Member]
Company And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, equipment and satellites, estimated useful life (years)			2 years
Minimum [Member] | Property Plant and Equipment - Excluding Satellites [Member] | CPE leased equipment [Member]
Company And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, equipment and satellites, estimated useful life (years)			3 years
Maximum [Member]
Company And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, equipment and satellites, estimated useful life (years)			24 years
Maximum [Member] | Property Plant and Equipment - Excluding Satellites [Member] | CPE leased equipment [Member]
Company And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, equipment and satellites, estimated useful life (years)			5 years