Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Business Combination - Narrative (Details)

v2.4.0.8
Business Combination - Narrative (Details) (USD $)
 9 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Sep. 30, 2013
Aug. 02, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Jan. 31, 2013
Mar. 31, 2013
Row 44 Merger
Sep. 30, 2014
Row 44 Merger
Jan. 31, 2013
Row 44 Merger
Apr. 30, 2013
AIA Purchase Agreement
Sep. 30, 2014
AIA Purchase Agreement
Apr. 30, 2014
AIA Purchase Agreement
Mar. 31, 2014
AIA Purchase Agreement
Dec. 31, 2013
AIA Purchase Agreement
Jan. 31, 2013
AIA Purchase Agreement
Jul. 09, 2013
PMG
Mar. 31, 2014
PMG
Sep. 30, 2014
PMG
Jul. 10, 2013
PMG
Sep. 30, 2014
IFES Acquisition Corp Limited
Dec. 31, 2013
IFES Acquisition Corp Limited
Oct. 18, 2013
IFES Acquisition Corp Limited
Sep. 30, 2014
PMG
Sep. 30, 2014
Waiver
PMG
Jan. 31, 2013
Backstop Fee Agreement
PAR
Sep. 30, 2013
Backstop Fee Agreement
PAR
Dec. 31, 2013
Global Eagle Entertainment
PMG
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                                    
Business acquisition, percentage acquired         86.00%             94.00% 94.00% 86.00%             100.00%          
Transaction cost               $ 16,400,000     $ 600,000             $ 300,000     $ 500,000          
Expenses from transactions with related party                                               11,900,000 11,900,000  
Common stock, shares issued 79,301,427     55,902,114     23,405,785                                      
Treasury stock - shares reissued             3,053,634                                      
Total consideration transferred                           144,257,000       15,696,000 36,246,000   36,246,000          
Goodwill 53,032,000   400,000 52,345,000                   35,385,000 4,843,000     4,843,000 12,425,000 [1]   12,117,000 [1]          
Total consideration to acquire remaining outstanding shares                 21,700,000                                  
Payment to acquire remaining outstanding shares                   18,200,000                                
Amount exceeded book value                     11,200,000                              
Remaining obligation                 3,500,000                                  
Noncontrolling interest, ownership percentage by noncontrolling owners                   6.00%                                
Business acquisition, cash payment 500,000 0       101,286,000                 10,600,000                      
Number of shares issued                             431,734   431,734                 151,420
Consideration transferred, fair value                             4,400,000                      
Business acquisition, liabilities assumed                             3,300,000                      
Accrued obligations                             400,000                      
Business acquisition, potential cash payment                             5,000,000                      
Due to affiliate                                           1,250,000 2,500,000      
Amount of consideration payable after 10 days from closing                                             50.00%      
Remaining portion of consideration                                             1,250,000      
Business acquisition, earn out obligation accrual                               500,000                    
Additional expense                               1,300,000                    
Accounts receivable, net of allowances                           31,984,000       8,500,000     8,000,000          
Business acquisition, inventory and prepaid assets                                   1,100,000                
Business acquisition, certain letters of credit                                   1,100,000                
Business acquisitions, prepaids                                         200,000          
Business acquisitions, other current assets                                         1,900,000          
Business acquisition, accounts payable and accrued expenses                                   12,600,000     11,000,000          
Business acquisition, assumed indebtedness                             3,300,000     3,300,000     1,300,000          
Business acquisitions, deferred tax liabilities, net                   22,200,000                 6,000,000   6,200,000          
Business acquisition, accrued taxes payable                                         1,200,000          
Business acquisition, deferred tax asset                                         500,000          
Business acquisition, deferred tax liabilities                                         6,700,000          
Amount of change to provisional amounts recorded for acquisition                                     300,000              
Decrease in deferred tax asset                                       400,000            
Increase in deferred tax liability                                       100,000            
One-time non-recurring fee $ 34,500,000                                                  
[1] Included in the table above are $0.5 million of deferred tax assets, $6.7 million of deferred tax liabilities and $1.2 million of accrued taxes payable as of the IFES acquisition date, which were prepared using best estimates available. Due to the preliminary nature of IFES financial results prior to the October 18, 2013 acquisition date, the Company was unable to provide an accurate assessment of certain deferred tax assets, deferred tax liabilities and estimated income