Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

SEGMENT DATA (Schedule of financial information with a comparison of results under the prior composition to the new composition of operating segments) (Details)

v2.4.1.9
SEGMENT DATA (Schedule of financial information with a comparison of results under the prior composition to the new composition of operating segments) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]    
Net revenue $ 61,856us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet $ 62,344us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
Operating expenses 51,405us-gaap_OperatingExpenses 52,266us-gaap_OperatingExpenses
Net operating income (loss) before depreciation, amortization, change in the estimated fair value of contingent earn-out consideration and (gain) loss on disposal of assets 10,451salm_OperatingIncomeLossBeforeDepreciationAndAmortization 10,078salm_OperatingIncomeLossBeforeDepreciationAndAmortization
Operating Segments [Member]    
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]    
Net revenue   62,344us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
Operating expenses   52,266us-gaap_OperatingExpenses
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
Net operating income (loss) before depreciation, amortization, change in the estimated fair value of contingent earn-out consideration and (gain) loss on disposal of assets   10,078salm_OperatingIncomeLossBeforeDepreciationAndAmortization
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
Operating Segments [Member] | Broadcast [Member]    
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]    
Net revenue 46,539us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_RadioOperationsMember 		46,769us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_RadioOperationsMember
Operating expenses 33,917us-gaap_OperatingExpenses
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_RadioOperationsMember 		33,346us-gaap_OperatingExpenses
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_RadioOperationsMember
Net operating income (loss) before depreciation, amortization, change in the estimated fair value of contingent earn-out consideration and (gain) loss on disposal of assets 12,622salm_OperatingIncomeLossBeforeDepreciationAndAmortization
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_RadioOperationsMember 		13,423salm_OperatingIncomeLossBeforeDepreciationAndAmortization
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_RadioOperationsMember
Operating Segments [Member] | Digital Media [Member]    
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]    
Net revenue 10,791us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_InternetMember 		11,312us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_InternetMember
Operating expenses 9,000us-gaap_OperatingExpenses
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_InternetMember 		8,850us-gaap_OperatingExpenses
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_InternetMember
Net operating income (loss) before depreciation, amortization, change in the estimated fair value of contingent earn-out consideration and (gain) loss on disposal of assets 1,791salm_OperatingIncomeLossBeforeDepreciationAndAmortization
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_InternetMember 		2,462salm_OperatingIncomeLossBeforeDepreciationAndAmortization
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_InternetMember
Operating Segments [Member] | Publishing [Member]    
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]    
Net revenue 4,526us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_PublishingMember 		4,263us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_PublishingMember
Operating expenses 4,497us-gaap_OperatingExpenses
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_PublishingMember 		5,006us-gaap_OperatingExpenses
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_PublishingMember
Net operating income (loss) before depreciation, amortization, change in the estimated fair value of contingent earn-out consideration and (gain) loss on disposal of assets 29salm_OperatingIncomeLossBeforeDepreciationAndAmortization
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_PublishingMember 		(743)salm_OperatingIncomeLossBeforeDepreciationAndAmortization
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_PublishingMember
Operating Segments [Member] | Unallocated Corporate [Member]    
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]    
Net revenue      
Operating expenses 3,991us-gaap_OperatingExpenses
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateMember 		5,064us-gaap_OperatingExpenses
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateMember
Net operating income (loss) before depreciation, amortization, change in the estimated fair value of contingent earn-out consideration and (gain) loss on disposal of assets (3,991)salm_OperatingIncomeLossBeforeDepreciationAndAmortization
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateMember 		(5,064)salm_OperatingIncomeLossBeforeDepreciationAndAmortization
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateMember
As Reported Original | Operating Segments [Member]    
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]    
Net revenue   62,344us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_ScenarioPreviouslyReportedMember 		[1]
Operating expenses   52,266us-gaap_OperatingExpenses
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_ScenarioPreviouslyReportedMember 		[1]
Net operating income (loss) before depreciation, amortization, change in the estimated fair value of contingent earn-out consideration and (gain) loss on disposal of assets   10,078salm_OperatingIncomeLossBeforeDepreciationAndAmortization
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_ScenarioPreviouslyReportedMember 		[1]
As Reported Original | Operating Segments [Member] | Broadcast [Member]    
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]    
Net revenue   45,576us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_RadioOperationsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_ScenarioPreviouslyReportedMember 		[1]
Operating expenses   31,189us-gaap_OperatingExpenses
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_RadioOperationsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_ScenarioPreviouslyReportedMember 		[1]
As Reported Original | Operating Segments [Member] | Digital Media [Member]    
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]    
Net revenue   12,921us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_InternetMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_ScenarioPreviouslyReportedMember 		[1]
Operating expenses   9,828us-gaap_OperatingExpenses
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_InternetMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_ScenarioPreviouslyReportedMember 		[1]
As Reported Original | Operating Segments [Member] | Publishing [Member]    
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]    
Net revenue   3,847us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_PublishingMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_ScenarioPreviouslyReportedMember 		[1]
Operating expenses   4,419us-gaap_OperatingExpenses
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_PublishingMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_ScenarioPreviouslyReportedMember 		[1]
As Reported Original | Operating Segments [Member] | Unallocated Corporate [Member]    
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]    
Operating expenses   6,830us-gaap_OperatingExpenses
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_ScenarioPreviouslyReportedMember 		[1]
Reclassification [Member] | Digital Media [Member]    
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]    
Net revenue   (11,000)us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_InternetMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_ScenarioAdjustmentMember
Operating expenses   $ (11,000)us-gaap_OperatingExpenses
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_InternetMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_ScenarioAdjustmentMember
[1] Includes the reclassification of $11,000 of revenue share commissions to digital media operating expenses from digital media revenue to conform to current presentation.