Financial Statements of Parent and Subsidiary Guarantors (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2012	Apr. 01, 2011	Apr. 02, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 141,449	$ 169,617	$ 112,546
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property, equipment and satellites, net	(204,973)	(208,285)	(134,543)
Cash paid for patents, licenses and other assets	(24,049)	(15,986)	(13,796)
Payments related to acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired		(13,456)	(377,987)
Change in restricted cash, net			7,298
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(229,022)	(237,727)	(519,028)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from line of credit borrowings	130,000	40,000	263,000
Payments on line of credit	(190,000)	(40,000)	(203,000)
Proceeds from issuance of Senior Notes, net of discount	275,000		271,582
Payment of debt issuance costs	(5,706)	(2,775)	(12,781)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under equity plans	19,341	26,398	23,085
Proceeds from common stock issued under public offering, net of issuance costs			100,533
Purchase of common stock in treasury	(7,451)	(5,880)	(10,326)
Incremental tax benefits from stock-based compensation	0	867	0
Payments on capital lease	(1,064)
Payments of estimated satellite performance incentives obligation	(322)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	219,798	18,610	432,093
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(132)	359	529
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	132,093	(49,141)	26,140
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of fiscal year	40,490	89,631	63,491
Cash and cash equivalents at end of fiscal year	172,583	40,490	89,631
Issuing Parent Company [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	64,191	57,877	74,032
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property, equipment and satellites, net	(156,874)	(152,416)	(121,497)
Cash paid for patents, licenses and other assets	(23,993)	(15,942)	(13,709)
Payments related to acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired		(14,203)	(442,700)
Change in restricted cash, net			(31)
Long - term intercompany notes and investments	2,849	(726)	(5,114)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(178,018)	(183,287)	(583,051)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from line of credit borrowings	130,000	40,000	263,000
Payments on line of credit	(190,000)	(40,000)	(203,000)
Proceeds from issuance of Senior Notes, net of discount	275,000		271,582
Payment of debt issuance costs	(5,706)	(2,775)	(12,781)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under equity plans	19,341	26,398	23,085
Proceeds from common stock issued under public offering, net of issuance costs			100,533
Purchase of common stock in treasury	(7,451)	(5,880)	(10,326)
Incremental tax benefits from stock-based compensation		867
Payments on capital lease	(116)
Payments of estimated satellite performance incentives obligation	(322)
Intercompany long-term financing	31,160	64,889	85,354
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	251,906	83,499	517,447
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	138,079	(41,911)	8,428
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of fiscal year	24,347	66,258	57,830
Cash and cash equivalents at end of fiscal year	162,426	24,347	66,258
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	71,869	112,029	40,671
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property, equipment and satellites, net	(46,922)	(54,126)	(10,075)
Payments related to acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired			64,336
Change in restricted cash, net			7,329
Long - term intercompany notes and investments		100
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(46,922)	(54,026)	61,590
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments on capital lease	(948)
Intercompany long-term financing	(31,160)	(66,619)	(86,045)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(32,108)	(66,619)	(86,045)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(7,161)	(8,616)	16,216
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of fiscal year	7,600	16,216
Cash and cash equivalents at end of fiscal year	439	7,600	16,216
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	7,350	(19)	(1,238)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property, equipment and satellites, net	(3,138)	(2,013)	(3,890)
Cash paid for patents, licenses and other assets	(56)	(44)	(87)
Payments related to acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired		747	377
Long - term intercompany notes and investments		1,731	691
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(3,194)	421	(2,909)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Intercompany long-term financing	(2,849)	625	5,114
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(2,849)	625	5,114
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(132)	359	529
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	1,175	1,386	1,496
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of fiscal year	8,543	7,157	5,661
Cash and cash equivalents at end of fiscal year	9,718	8,543	7,157
Consolidation and Elimination Adjustments [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(1,961)	(270)	(919)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property, equipment and satellites, net	1,961	270	919
Long - term intercompany notes and investments	(2,849)	(1,105)	4,423
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(888)	(835)	5,342
Cash flows from financing activities:
Intercompany long-term financing	2,849	1,105	(4,423)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	$ 2,849	$ 1,105	$ (4,423)