Basis of Presentation - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jan. 02, 2015	Jan. 03, 2014	Jan. 02, 2015	Jan. 03, 2014	Apr. 04, 2014
Company And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Forward loss related to loss contracts	$ 300,000	$ 1,700,000	$ 400,000	$ 2,700,000
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 concluded for fiscal year 2011 and subsequent fiscal years. During the second quarter of fiscal year 2015, the DCAA completed its incurred cost audit for fiscal year 2004 and approved the Company’s incurred cost claims for fiscal years 2005 through 2010 without further audit. Although the Company has recorded contract revenues subsequent to fiscal year 2010 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.
Advertising expenses	5,700,000	5,400,000	13,000,000	14,500,000
Capitalized interest expense	4,100,000	2,500,000	10,800,000	5,400,000
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	15,000,000		15,000,000		13,500,000
Accumulated amortization of patents and other licenses	1,300,000		1,300,000		1,000,000
Amortization expense related to patents and other licenses	0	0	300,000	0
Write off costs due to abandonment or impairment	0	0	0	0
Property Plant and Equipment - Excluding Satellites [Member]
Company And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property and equipment	845,490,000		845,490,000		781,752,000
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	431,638,000		431,638,000		360,086,000
CPE leased equipment [Member] | Property Plant and Equipment - Excluding Satellites [Member]
Company And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property and equipment	238,062,000		238,062,000		221,017,000
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	99,800,000		99,800,000		79,800,000
Unfavorable Regulatory Action [Member]
Company And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Total U.S. government contract-related reserves balance	$ 5,200,000		$ 5,200,000		$ 6,700,000
Minimum [Member]
Company And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, equipment and satellites, estimated useful life (years)			2 years
Minimum [Member] | CPE leased equipment [Member] | Property Plant and Equipment - Excluding Satellites [Member]
Company And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, equipment and satellites, estimated useful life (years)			4 years
Maximum [Member]
Company And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, equipment and satellites, estimated useful life (years)			24 years
Maximum [Member] | CPE leased equipment [Member] | Property Plant and Equipment - Excluding Satellites [Member]
Company And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, equipment and satellites, estimated useful life (years)			5 years