Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Notes Payable and Long-Term Debt - Additional Information (Detail)

v2.4.0.8
Notes Payable and Long-Term Debt - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Mar. 14, 2013
Jun. 30, 2013
Jun. 30, 2012
Jun. 30, 2013
Jun. 30, 2012
Dec. 31, 2012
Jun. 30, 2013
Standby letters of credit
Jun. 30, 2013
Swingline Credit Facility
Jun. 28, 2013
Term Loan B
Mar. 14, 2013
Term Loan B
Jun. 30, 2013
Term Loan B
Mar. 31, 2013
Term Loan B
Jun. 30, 2013
Term Loan B
Mar. 14, 2013
Revolver
Jun. 30, 2013
Revolver
Mar. 14, 2013
Terminated revolver
Nov. 15, 2011
Terminated revolver
Jun. 30, 2013
Terminated revolver
Nov. 01, 2010
Terminated revolver
Dec. 01, 2009
Terminated revolver
Jun. 30, 2013
Terminated revolver
Minimum
Jun. 30, 2013
Terminated revolver
Maximum
Jun. 30, 2013
Terminated revolver
Covenant requirement
Minimum
Jun. 30, 2013
Terminated revolver
Covenant requirement
Maximum
Jun. 28, 2013
9 5/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
Jun. 03, 2013
9 5/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
Mar. 14, 2013
9 5/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
Dec. 31, 2009
9 5/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
Jun. 30, 2013
9 5/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
Jun. 30, 2012
9 5/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
Jun. 30, 2013
9 5/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
Jun. 30, 2012
9 5/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
Dec. 31, 2012
9 5/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
Dec. 12, 2012
9 5/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
Jun. 01, 2012
9 5/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
Dec. 12, 2011
9 5/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
Sep. 06, 2011
9 5/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
Jun. 01, 2011
9 5/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
Dec. 01, 2010
9 5/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
Jun. 01, 2010
9 5/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
Sep. 15, 2012
Subordinated debt
May 21, 2012
Subordinated debt
Jun. 30, 2013
Subordinated debt due related parties
Nov. 17, 2011
Subordinated debt due related parties
Stuart W. Epperson, Board of Directors Chairman
Nov. 17, 2011
Subordinated debt due related parties
Edward G. Atsinger III, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Sep. 12, 2012
Subordinated debt due related parties
Roland S. Hinz, a Salem board member
May 21, 2012
Subordinated debt due related parties
Roland S. Hinz, a Salem board member
Jun. 30, 2013
Seller-financed note
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                                                                                                
Credit facility, borrowing capacity             $ 5,000,000 $ 5,000,000   $ 300,000,000 $ 296,000,000   $ 296,000,000 $ 25,000,000                                                           $ 3,000,000 $ 6,000,000 $ 12,000,000 $ 6,000,000  
Term loan maturity year                   7 years       5 years                                                                    
Additional term loan amount increased                   60,000,000                                                                            
Credit facility, quarterly consecutive principal payments                       750,000                                                         1,250,000              
Repayment of term loan                 4,000,000                                                                              
Loss on early retirement of long-term debt 33,000 (55,000) (893,000) (27,776,000) (893,000)       14,000             900,000                 14,000   26,900,000       900,000                                  
Debt, accrued interest   75,000   75,000   1,110,000         100,000   100,000                                       900,000                              
Interest expense                     52,000   62,000                               0.0 48,000.0 37,000.0 0.1                                
Floor percentage on term loan                         1.00%                                                                      
Debt, interest rate over LIBOR                         3.50%       3.00%                                                              
Debt, interest rate above base rate                         2.50%       1.25%                                                              
Debt, increase in interest rate if default occurs                     2.00%   2.00%       2.00%                                                              
Revolving credit facility, covenant description                                   With respect to financial covenants, the credit agreement includes a minimum interest coverage ratio, which starts at 1.50 to 1.0 and steps up to 2.50 to 1.0 by 2016 and a maximum leverage ratio, which starts at 6.75 to 1.0 and steps down to 5.75 to 1.0 by 2017. The credit agreement also includes other negative covenants that are customary for credit facilities of this type, including covenants that, subject to exceptions described in the credit agreement, restrict the ability of Salem and its subsidiary guarantors                                                            
Interest coverage ratio                                   254.00%         150.00% 250.00%                                                
Leverage ratio                                   546.00% 500.00%   575.00% 675.00%                                                    
Debt, issuance of principal amount                                                 300,000,000     300,000,000                                        
Debt, issued at discount                                                       298,100,000                                        
Debt, effective yield                                                       9.75%                                        
Debt, interest payment terms                                                       Interest was due and payable on June 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing June 15, 2010 until maturity.                                        
Debt maturity period                                                       2016-12                                        
Debt, annual interest payment                                                       28,900,000                                        
Principal repurchased or redeemed                                                   903,000 212,597,000             4,000,000 17,500,000 12,500,000 5,000,000 17,500,000 12,500,000 17,500,000                
Notes, aggregate purchase price                                                     240,300,000                                          
Percent of debt purchase price                                                     110.65%                                          
Amount paid for redemption                                                     22,700,000                                          
Unamortized Discount                                                   3,000 837,000             17,000 80,000 62,000 26,000 93,000 70,000 105,000                
Bond issue cost                                                     2,867,000             57,000 287,000 337,000 135,000 472,000 334,000 417,000                
Carrying value of notes                                                                 212,600,000                              
Redeemed notes amount                                                   903,000                                            
Debt, interest rate   9.625% 9.625% 9.625% 9.625%                                               9.625%   9.625%                                  
Increase borrowing capacity                                     40,000,000 30,000,000                                                        
Debt, amendment fees                                 500,000                                                              
Revolving credit facility, second amendment description                                 On November 15, 2011, we completed the Second Amendment of the Terminated Revolver to among other things, (1) extend the maturity date from December 1, 2012 to December 1, 2014, (2) change the interest rate applicable to LIBOR or the Wells Fargo base rate plus a spread to be determined based on our leverage ratio, (3) allow us to borrow and repay unsecured indebtedness provided certain conditions are met and (4) include step-downs related to our leverage ratio covenant.                                                              
Revolving credit facility extend maturity date                                 2014-12-01                                                              
Credit facility, principal amount                                                                                   10,000,000            
Debt, maturity date                                                                                 Jun. 15, 2014 Jun. 15, 2014           Apr. 30, 2014
Credit facility, interest at a floating rate                                                                                   4.25%            
Credit facility, floating rate, interest above prime rate                         2.50%   2.00%                                                     1.00%            
Debt, interest rate terms                                                                                   The interest rate for the FCB Loan ("Interest Rate") was variable and was equal to the greater of (a) 4.250% or (b) the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate as published in The Wall Street Journal and reported by FCB plus 1%. Outstanding amounts under each subordinated line of credit will bear interest at a rate equal to the lesser of (1) 5% per annum and (2) the maximum rate permitted for subordinated debt under the Revolver referred to above plus 2% per annum. Interest is payable at the time of any repayment of principal. In addition, outstanding amounts under each subordinated line of credit must be repaid within three (3) months from the time that such amounts are borrowed, with the exception of the subordinated line of credit with Mr. Hinz, which must be repaid within six (6) months from the time that such amounts are borrowed.          
Credit facility, term                                                                                 23 months              
Credit facility, interest charge                                                                                 50              
Credit facility, increased interest rate                                                                                 5.00%              
FCB loan termination date   Mar. 14, 2013   Mar. 14, 2013                                                                                        
Debt, interest rate above LIBOR                     3.50%   3.50%   3.00%                                                                  
Credit facility, outstanding amount                             $ 400,000                                                                 $ 2,000,000
Debt, interest rate                                                             9.625%   9.625%                             5.00%