Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Net Loss Per Share (Details)

v3.8.0.1
Net Loss Per Share (Details) - USD ($)
$ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands
1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Jul. 27, 2016
Aug. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2016
Sep. 30, 2016
Jun. 30, 2016
Mar. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Sep. 30, 2015
Jun. 30, 2015
Mar. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]                          
Net loss     $ (91,714) $ 19,354 $ (38,160) $ (2,412) $ (4,810) $ (6,872) $ 12,987 $ (3,431) $ (112,932) $ (2,126) $ (57,194)
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest                     0 0 194
Net loss attributable to Global Eagle Entertainment Inc. common stockholders                     (112,932) (2,126) (57,388)
Less: adjustment for change in fair value on warrants liability for diluted EPS after assumed exercise of warrants liability                     0 11,938 0
Net loss for dilutive EPS                     $ (112,932) $ (14,064) $ (57,388)
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic (in shares)     85,369,000 82,874,000 78,127,000 78,643,000 78,476,000 77,753,000 77,111,000 76,874,000 81,269,000 77,558,000 73,300,000
Dilutive effect of stock options and warrants (in shares)                     0 836,000 0
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)     85,369,000 85,081,000 78,127,000 78,643,000 78,476,000 77,753,000 78,518,000 78,725,000 81,269,000 78,394,000 73,300,000
Net loss per share - basic (in usd per share)     $ (1.07) $ 0.23 $ (0.49) $ (0.03) $ (0.06) $ (0.09) $ 0.17 $ (0.04) $ (1.39) $ (0.03) $ (0.78)
Net loss per share - diluted (in usd per share)     (1.07) $ 0.23 $ (0.49) $ (0.03) $ (0.06) $ (0.09) $ (0.02) $ (0.06) $ (1.39) $ (0.18) $ (0.78)
Common Stock | UMG Recordings - Share Price Threshold | Price Per Share Scenario One                          
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]                          
Shares issued in period (in shares)                     500,000.0    
Common Stock | UMG Recordings - Share Price Threshold | Price Per Share Scenario Two                          
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]                          
Shares issued in period (in shares)                     400,000.0    
Common Stock | UMG Recordings                          
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]                          
Shares issued in period (in shares)   1,800,000                      
Common Stock | UMG Recordings | Price Per Share Scenario One                          
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]                          
Shares issued in period (in shares)   500,000                      
Share Price (in usd per share)   $ 10 10               $ 10    
Common Stock | UMG Recordings | Price Per Share Scenario Two                          
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]                          
Shares issued in period (in shares)   400,000                      
Share Price (in usd per share)   $ 12 $ 12               $ 12    
Emerging Markets Communications LLC                          
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]                          
Deferred compensation to be paid $ 25,000                        
Employee stock options                          
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]                          
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of net income (loss) per share (in shares)                     6,203,000 3,200,000 2,025,000
Restricted stock units (including performance stock units)                          
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]                          
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of net income (loss) per share (in shares)                     306,000 44,000 3,000
Non-employees stock options                          
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]                          
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of net income (loss) per share (in shares)                     0 1,000 5,000
Equity warrants                          
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]                          
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of net income (loss) per share (in shares)                     1,165,000 430,000 1,101,000
Public SPAC Warrants                          
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]                          
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of net income (loss) per share (in shares)                     6,173,000 0 1,356,000
Convertible notes                          
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]                          
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of net income (loss) per share (in shares)                     4,447,000 3,850,000 0
EMC deferred consideration                          
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]                          
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of net income (loss) per share (in shares)                     1,428,000 0 0
Contingently issuable shares                          
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]                          
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of net income (loss) per share (in shares)                     354,000 0 0