Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
Sep. 26, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies	BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, in the opinion of management, include all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) which Harmonic Inc. (“Harmonic,” or the “Company”) considers necessary for a fair statement of the results of operations for the interim periods covered and the consolidated financial condition of the Company at the date of the balance sheets. This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2014 (“2013 Form 10-K”). The interim results presented herein are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that may be expected for the full fiscal year ending December 31, 2014, or any other future period. The Company’s fiscal quarters are based on 13-week periods, except for the fourth quarter, which ends on December 31. The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The year-end condensed balance sheet was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”). Discontinued Operations In the first quarter of fiscal 2013, the Company completed the sale of its cable access hybrid-fiber coaxial ("HFC") business to Aurora Networks (“Aurora”). The results of operations associated with the cable access HFC business were presented as discontinued operations in its unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as described in Note 3, "Discontinued Operations". There were no operating activities associated with the cable access HFC business after December 31, 2013. Unless noted otherwise, all discussions herein with respect to the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements relate to the Company’s continuing operations. Use of Estimates The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Variable Interest Entities From time to time, the Company may enter into investments in entities that are considered variable interest entities under Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 810. If the Company is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity ("VIE"), it is required to consolidate it. To determine if the Company is the primary beneficiary of a VIE, the Company evaluates whether it has (1) the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIE's economic performance, and (2) the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The assessment of whether the Company is the primary beneficiary of its VIE requires significant assumptions and judgments. Investments in Equity Securities The Company accounts for its investments in entities that it does not have significant influence under the cost method. Investments in equity securities are carried at fair value if the fair value of the security is readily determinable. Equity investments carried at fair value are classified as long-term investments and included in "Other assets" in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. Unrealized gains and losses, net of taxes, on the long-term investments are included in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Investments in equity securities that do not qualify for fair value accounting or equity method accounting are accounted for under the cost method. In accordance with the cost method, the Company's initial investment is recorded at cost and the Company reviews all of its cost method investments quarterly to determine if impairment indicators exist. Cost method investments are classified as long-term investments and included in "Other assets" in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. Segment Reporting The Company operates its business in one reportable segment, which is the design, manufacture and sale of versatile and high performance video infrastructure products and system solutions. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise that engage in business activities for which separate financial information is available and evaluated by the chief operating decision maker (which for Harmonic is the Chief Executive Officer) in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance. More recently, the Company has started to view its business through two market segments: Video and Cable Edge. As part of its annual year-end financial planning process, the Company expects to develop internal processes, policies and controls to enable timely and reliable measuring of operating profits by these segments. The Company expects the chief operating decision maker will apply this information in deciding how to allocate resources and assess the Company's performance. As such, the Company anticipates reporting the operating results for the Video and Cable Edge business in its segment reporting in the fourth quarter of 2014. Significant Accounting Policies The Company’s significant accounting policies are described in Note 2 to its audited Consolidated Financial Statements included in its 2013 Form 10-K. There have been no significant changes to these policies during the nine months ended September 26, 2014.

BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, in the opinion of management, include all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) which Harmonic Inc. (“Harmonic,” or the “Company”) considers necessary for a fair statement of the results of operations for the interim periods covered and the consolidated financial condition of the Company at the date of the balance sheets. This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2014 (“2013 Form 10-K”). The interim results presented herein are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that may be expected for the full fiscal year ending December 31, 2014, or any other future period. The Company’s fiscal quarters are based on 13-week periods, except for the fourth quarter, which ends on December 31.

The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The year-end condensed balance sheet was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”).

Discontinued Operations

In the first quarter of fiscal 2013, the Company completed the sale of its cable access hybrid-fiber coaxial ("HFC") business to Aurora Networks (“Aurora”). The results of operations associated with the cable access HFC business were presented as discontinued operations in its unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as described in Note 3, "Discontinued Operations". There were no operating activities associated with the cable access HFC business after December 31, 2013. Unless noted otherwise, all discussions herein with respect to the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements relate to the Company’s continuing operations.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Variable Interest Entities

From time to time, the Company may enter into investments in entities that are considered variable interest entities under Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 810. If the Company is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity ("VIE"), it is required to consolidate it. To determine if the Company is the primary beneficiary of a VIE, the Company evaluates whether it has (1) the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIE's economic performance, and (2) the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The assessment of whether the Company is the primary beneficiary of its VIE requires significant assumptions and judgments.

Investments in Equity Securities

The Company accounts for its investments in entities that it does not have significant influence under the cost method. Investments in equity securities are carried at fair value if the fair value of the security is readily determinable. Equity investments carried at fair value are classified as long-term investments and included in "Other assets" in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. Unrealized gains and losses, net of taxes, on the long-term investments are included in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Investments in equity securities that do not qualify for fair value accounting or equity method accounting are accounted for under the cost method. In accordance with the cost method, the Company's initial investment is recorded at cost and the Company reviews all of its cost method investments quarterly to determine if impairment indicators exist. Cost method investments are classified as long-term investments and included in "Other assets" in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Segment Reporting

The Company operates its business in one reportable segment, which is the design, manufacture and sale of versatile and high performance video infrastructure products and system solutions. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise that engage in business activities for which separate financial information is available and evaluated by the chief operating decision maker (which for Harmonic is the Chief Executive Officer) in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance. More recently, the Company has started to view its business through two market segments: Video and Cable Edge. As part of its annual year-end financial planning process, the Company expects to develop internal processes, policies and controls to enable timely and reliable measuring of operating profits by these segments. The Company expects the chief operating decision maker will apply this information in deciding how to allocate resources and assess the Company's performance. As such, the Company anticipates reporting the operating results for the Video and Cable Edge business in its segment reporting in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Significant Accounting Policies

The Company’s significant accounting policies are described in Note 2 to its audited Consolidated Financial Statements included in its 2013 Form 10-K. There have been no significant changes to these policies during the nine months ended September 26, 2014.