Restructuring and Related Charges - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jul. 01, 2016 USD ($) Employee	Jul. 03, 2015 USD ($)	Jul. 01, 2016 USD ($) Employee	Jul. 03, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) Employee	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Jan. 04, 2016 USD ($)
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Costs	$ 1,909	$ 185	$ 4,492	$ 229
Business Combination, Acquisition and Integration Related Expenses	$ 3,400		6,500
Harmonic 2016 Restructuring Plan [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Charges for 2016 Harmonic Restructuring Plan			$ 4,557
Number of positions eliminated | Employee	8		21
Harmonic Two Thousand And Fifteen Restructuring [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Charges for 2016 Harmonic Restructuring Plan						$ 2,200	$ 1,500
Number of positions eliminated | Employee						56
Facility Closing [Member] | Harmonic 2016 Restructuring Plan [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Fair Value of Excess Facility Restructuring								$ 2,500
Deferred Rent Credit								$ 1,100
Restructuring Costs			$ 1,400
Charges for 2016 Harmonic Restructuring Plan	$ 1,400		1,418
Employee Severance [Member] | Harmonic 2016 Restructuring Plan [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Costs	1,900		3,000
Charges for 2016 Harmonic Restructuring Plan			2,893
Other Restructuring [Member] | Harmonic 2016 Restructuring Plan [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Costs			200
Charges for 2016 Harmonic Restructuring Plan			246
TVN [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Business Combination, Acquisition Related Costs	885		3,321
TVN [Member] | Operating Expense [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Business Combination, Acquisition Related Costs	885		3,321
Minimum [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Anticipated Synergies from Restructuring Exit Plan	20,000		20,000
Minimum [Member] | Scenario, Forecast [Member] | TVN [Member] | Harmonic 2016 Restructuring Plan [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Costs					$ 22,000
Maximum [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Anticipated Synergies from Restructuring Exit Plan	$ 22,000		$ 22,000
Maximum [Member] | Scenario, Forecast [Member] | TVN [Member] | Harmonic 2016 Restructuring Plan [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Costs					$ 24,000