Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Intangible Assets and Goodwill (Rollforward) (Details)

v2.4.1.9
Intangible Assets and Goodwill (Rollforward) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Jul. 23, 2013
Jul. 22, 2013
Goodwill [Roll Forward]          
Goodwill beginning balance $ 219,041us-gaap_Goodwill $ 77,294us-gaap_Goodwill      
Goodwill ending balance 229,560us-gaap_Goodwill 219,041us-gaap_Goodwill 77,294us-gaap_Goodwill    
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]          
Beginning Balance 71,435us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet 16,560us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet      
Asset additions 11,593us-gaap_FinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired1 61,919us-gaap_FinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired1      
Amortization expense 9,715us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets 7,044us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets 5,227us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets    
Ending Balance 66,015us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet 71,435us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet 16,560us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet    
ACS          
Goodwill [Roll Forward]          
Goodwill beginning balance       148,948us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= gncma_AlaskaCommunicationsSystemsMember
148,900us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= gncma_AlaskaCommunicationsSystemsMember
Goodwill acquired during period 8,866us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= gncma_AlaskaCommunicationsSystemsMember
140,080us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= gncma_AlaskaCommunicationsSystemsMember
     
Goodwill ending balance       148,948us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= gncma_AlaskaCommunicationsSystemsMember
148,900us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= gncma_AlaskaCommunicationsSystemsMember
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]          
Purchase price adjustment (7,298)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsPurchaseAccountingAdjustments
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= gncma_AlaskaCommunicationsSystemsMember
       
Denali Media Holdings          
Goodwill [Roll Forward]          
Goodwill acquired during period $ 1,653us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= gncma_DenaliMediaHoldingsMember
$ 1,667us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= gncma_DenaliMediaHoldingsMember