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Notes Payable and Long-Term Debt - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
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1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sep. 30, 2013
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Mar. 14, 2013
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Sep. 30, 2013
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Sep. 30, 2013
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Sep. 30, 2012
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Dec. 31, 2012
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Sep. 30, 2013
Standby letters of credit
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Sep. 30, 2013
Swingline Credit Facility
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Jun. 28, 2013
Term Loan B
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Mar. 14, 2013
Term Loan B
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Sep. 30, 2013
Term Loan B
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Sep. 30, 2013
Term Loan B
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Mar. 14, 2013
Revolver
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Sep. 30, 2013
Revolver
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Mar. 14, 2013
Terminated Revolver
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Nov. 15, 2011
Terminated Revolver
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Sep. 30, 2013
Terminated Revolver
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Nov. 01, 2010
Terminated Revolver
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Dec. 01, 2009
Terminated Revolver
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Sep. 30, 2013
Terminated Revolver
Minimum
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Sep. 30, 2013
Terminated Revolver
Maximum
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Sep. 30, 2013
Terminated Revolver
Covenant requirement
Minimum
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Sep. 30, 2013
Terminated Revolver
Covenant requirement
Maximum
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Sep. 15, 2012
Terminated Subordinated debt
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May 21, 2012
Terminated Subordinated debt
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Jun. 03, 2013
Terminated 95/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
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Mar. 14, 2013
Terminated 95/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
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Dec. 31, 2009
Terminated 95/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
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Sep. 30, 2013
Terminated 95/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
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Sep. 30, 2012
Terminated 95/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
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Sep. 30, 2013
Terminated 95/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
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Sep. 30, 2012
Terminated 95/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
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Jun. 30, 2013
Terminated 95/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
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Dec. 31, 2012
Terminated 95/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
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Dec. 12, 2012
Terminated 95/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
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Jun. 01, 2012
Terminated 95/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
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Dec. 12, 2011
Terminated 95/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
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Sep. 06, 2011
Terminated 95/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
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Jun. 01, 2011
Terminated 95/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
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Dec. 01, 2010
Terminated 95/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
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Jun. 01, 2010
Terminated 95/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
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Sep. 30, 2013
Terminated Subordinated Debt due to Related Parties
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Nov. 17, 2011
Terminated Subordinated Debt due to Related Parties
Stuart W. Epperson, Board of Directors Chairman
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Nov. 17, 2011
Terminated Subordinated Debt due to Related Parties
Edward G. Atsinger III, Chief Executive Officer and Director
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Sep. 12, 2012
Terminated Subordinated Debt due to Related Parties
Roland S. Hinz, a Salem board member
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May 21, 2012
Terminated Subordinated Debt due to Related Parties
Roland S. Hinz, a Salem board member
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| Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Credit facility, borrowing capacity | $ 5,000,000 | $ 5,000,000 | $ 300,000,000 | $ 292,000,000 | $ 292,000,000 | $ 25,000,000 | $ 3,000,000 | $ 6,000,000 | $ 12,000,000 | $ 6,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | 48,000 | 110,000 | 0.0 | 48,000.0 | 37,000.0 | 0.1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt, issued at discount | 298,500,000 | 298,100,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt instrument, discount percentage | 4.50% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 | 4,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Loss on early retirement of long-term debt | 16,000 | 33,000 | (16,000) | (27,792,000) | (893,000) | 14,000 | 16,000 | 900,000 | 26,900,000 | 900,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt, accrued interest | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,110,000 | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 900,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 | 281.00% | 150.00% | 250.00% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Leverage ratio | 545.00% | 500.00% | 575.00% | 675.00% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt, issuance of principal amount | 300,000,000 | 300,000,000 | 300,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 bore interest at a rate equal to the lesser of (1) 5% per annum and (2) the maximum rate permitted for subordinated debt under the Terminated Revolver referred to above plus 2% per annum. Interest was payable at the time of any repayment of principal. In addition, outstanding amounts under each subordinated line of credit were to 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 was to be repaid within six (6) months from the time that such amounts were 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 | Mar. 14, 2013 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt, interest rate above LIBOR | 3.50% | 3.50% | 3.00% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Credit facility, outstanding amount | $ 2,500,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||