Composition of Certain Balance Sheet Captions - Composition of Certain Balance Sheet Captions (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 28, 2013	Mar. 29, 2013
Accounts receivable, net:
Accounts receivable, Billed	$ 131,309	$ 134,206
Accounts receivable, Unbilled	131,039	134,198
Allowance for doubtful accounts	(1,647)	(1,434)
Accounts receivable, net	260,701	266,970
Inventories:
Raw materials	46,941	40,308
Work in process	20,836	21,298
Finished goods	57,915	44,675
Inventories	125,692	106,281
Prepaid expenses and other current assets:
Prepaid expenses	35,573	34,257
Other	3,656	6,562
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	39,229	40,819
Other acquired intangible assets, net:
Other acquired intangible assets, gross	165,451	162,932
Less accumulated amortization	(119,328)	(115,762)
Other acquired intangible assets, net	46,123	47,170
Other assets:
Capitalized software costs, net	64,627	60,596
Patents, orbital slots and other licenses, net	16,000	11,100
Deferred income taxes	103,578	97,238
Other	35,535	36,314
Other assets	219,740	205,248
Accrued liabilities:
Collections in excess of revenues and deferred revenues	74,917	65,822
Accrued employee compensation	6,643	23,925
Accrued vacation	20,318	19,252
Warranty reserve, current portion	9,176	8,840
Other	34,316	44,070
Accrued liabilities	145,370	161,909
Other liabilities:
Deferred revenue, long-term portion	14,802	15,360
Deferred rent, long-term portion	9,428	8,964
Warranty reserve, long-term portion	5,553	5,267
Deferred income taxes, long-term portion	1,414	1,547
Unrecognized tax position liabilities	493	493
Satellite performance incentives obligation, long-term portion	20,858	21,009
Other liabilities	52,548	52,640
Technology [Member]
Other acquired intangible assets, net:
Other acquired intangible assets, gross	56,209	53,714
Contracts and customer relationships [Member]
Other acquired intangible assets, net:
Other acquired intangible assets, gross	88,670	88,651
Satellite co-location rights [Member]
Other acquired intangible assets, net:
Other acquired intangible assets, gross	8,600	8,600
Trade name [Member]
Other acquired intangible assets, net:
Other acquired intangible assets, gross	5,680	5,680
Other [Member]
Other acquired intangible assets, net:
Other acquired intangible assets, gross	6,292	6,287
Property Plant and Equipment - Satellites [Member]
Property and equipment, net:
Property and equipment	694,816	658,184
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	(135,572)	(123,094)
Property and equipment, net	559,244	535,090
Property Plant and Equipment - Excluding Satellites [Member]
Property and equipment, net:
Property and equipment	703,618	661,481
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	(304,405)	(282,790)
Property and equipment, net	399,213	378,691
Satellite - WildBlue-1 [Member] | Property Plant and Equipment - Satellites [Member]
Property and equipment, net:
Property and equipment	195,890	195,890
Capital lease of satellite capacity - Anik F2 [Member] | Property Plant and Equipment - Satellites [Member]
Property and equipment, net:
Property and equipment	99,090	99,090
Satellite - ViaSat-1 [Member] | Property Plant and Equipment - Satellites [Member]
Property and equipment, net:
Property and equipment	363,204	363,204
Satellite - ViaSat-2 (under construction) [Member] | Property Plant and Equipment - Satellites [Member]
Property and equipment, net:
Property and equipment	36,632
Machinery and equipment [Member] | Property Plant and Equipment - Excluding Satellites [Member]
Property and equipment, net:
Property and equipment	237,192	226,884
Computer equipment and software [Member] | Property Plant and Equipment - Excluding Satellites [Member]
Property and equipment, net:
Property and equipment	159,054	154,202
Customer Premise Equipment [Member] | Property Plant and Equipment - Excluding Satellites [Member]
Property and equipment, net:
Property and equipment	190,022	170,934
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	(58,400)	(51,500)
Furniture and fixtures [Member] | Property Plant and Equipment - Excluding Satellites [Member]
Property and equipment, net:
Property and equipment	17,722	15,716
Leasehold Improvements [Member] | Property Plant and Equipment - Excluding Satellites [Member]
Property and equipment, net:
Property and equipment	59,325	57,691
Building [Member] | Property Plant and Equipment - Excluding Satellites [Member]
Property and equipment, net:
Property and equipment	8,923	8,923
Land [Member] | Property Plant and Equipment - Excluding Satellites [Member]
Property and equipment, net:
Land held for sale	2,846	2,846
Property and equipment	1,260	1,260
Construction in progress [Member] | Property Plant and Equipment - Excluding Satellites [Member]
Property and equipment, net:
Property and equipment	$ 27,274	$ 23,025