Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 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 $)
0 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Mar. 14, 2013
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2013
Standby letters of credit
Dec. 31, 2013
Swingline Credit Facility
Dec. 30, 2013
Term Loan B
Jun. 28, 2013
Term Loan B
Mar. 14, 2013
Term Loan B
Sep. 30, 2013
Term Loan B
Sep. 30, 2013
Term Loan B
Dec. 31, 2013
Term Loan B
Mar. 14, 2013
Revolver
Mar. 14, 2013
Revolver under senior credit facility
Nov. 15, 2011
Revolver under senior credit facility
Dec. 31, 2013
Revolver under senior credit facility
Nov. 01, 2010
Revolver under senior credit facility
Dec. 01, 2009
Revolver under senior credit facility
Dec. 31, 2013
Revolver under senior credit facility
Minimum
Dec. 31, 2013
Revolver under senior credit facility
Maximum
Dec. 31, 2013
Revolver under senior credit facility
Covenant requirement
Minimum
Dec. 31, 2013
Revolver under senior credit facility
Covenant requirement
Maximum
Jun. 03, 2013
Terminated 95/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
Mar. 14, 2013
Terminated 95/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
Dec. 12, 2012
Terminated 95/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
Jun. 01, 2012
Terminated 95/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
Sep. 06, 2011
Terminated 95/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
Dec. 12, 2011
Terminated 95/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
Jun. 01, 2011
Terminated 95/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
Dec. 31, 2009
Terminated 95/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
Dec. 31, 2013
Terminated 95/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
Dec. 31, 2012
Terminated 95/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
Jun. 30, 2013
Terminated 95/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
Dec. 01, 2010
Terminated 95/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
Jun. 01, 2010
Terminated 95/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes
Sep. 15, 2012
Terminated Subordinated debt
May 21, 2012
Terminated Subordinated debt
Nov. 17, 2011
Terminated Subordinated Debt due to Related Parties
Dec. 31, 2013
Terminated Subordinated Debt due to Related Parties
Nov. 17, 2011
Terminated Subordinated Debt due to Related Parties
Stuart W. Epperson, Board of Directors Chairman
Nov. 17, 2011
Terminated Subordinated Debt due to Related Parties
Edward G. Atsinger III, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Sep. 12, 2012
Terminated Subordinated Debt due to Related Parties
Roland S. Hinz, a Salem board member
May 21, 2012
Terminated Subordinated Debt due to Related Parties
Roland S. Hinz, a Salem board member
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                                                                                        
Credit facility, borrowing capacity           $ 5,000,000 $ 5,000,000     $ 300,000,000     $ 291,300,000 $ 25,000,000                                                     $ 3,000,000 $ 6,000,000 $ 12,000,000 $ 6,000,000
Interest expense                         200,000                                     37,000 200,000                      
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     0               750,000                                                   1,250,000              
Repayment of term loan 4,000,000             800,000 4,000,000                                                                      
Loss on early retirement of long-term debt 16,000 33,000 (27,795,000) (1,088,000) (2,169,000)     3,000 14,000     16,000     900,000                   26,900,000 200,000 900,000 (337,000) 800,000 (1,100,000)   900,000                        
Debt, accrued interest     37,000 1,110,000                 36,000                                       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%                                                        
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                                 316.00%         150.00% 250.00%                                          
Leverage ratio                                 549.00% 500.00%   575.00% 675.00%                                              
Debt, issuance of principal amount               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 5,000,000 12,500,000 17,500,000         12,500,000 17,500,000                
Notes, aggregate purchase price                                                 240,300,000                                      
Percent of debt purchase price                                                 110.65% 103.00% 103.00% 102.875% 103.00% 103.00%                            
Amount paid for redemption                                                 22,700,000                                      
Unamortized discount                                               3,000 837,000 17,000 80,000 26,000 62,000 93,000         70,000 105,000                
Bond Issue Costs                                                  2,867,000 57,000 287,000 135,000 337,000 472,000         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%                    
Debt outstanding   0                         0                   0                             0        
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%                                                 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 Revolver referred to above plus 2% per annum. 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 required 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                                                                                  
Debt, interest rate above LIBOR                         3.50%