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 $)
0 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 3 Months Ended
Mar. 14, 2013
Mar. 31, 2014
Mar. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2013
Mar. 31, 2014
Standby letters of credit
Mar. 31, 2014
Swingline Credit Facility
Mar. 14, 2013
Revolver under senior credit facility
Nov. 15, 2011
Revolver under senior credit facility
Mar. 31, 2014
Revolver under senior credit facility
Nov. 01, 2010
Revolver under senior credit facility
Dec. 01, 2009
Revolver under senior credit facility
Mar. 31, 2014
Revolver under senior credit facility
Minimum
Mar. 31, 2014
Revolver under senior credit facility
Maximum
Mar. 31, 2014
Revolver under senior credit facility
Covenant requirement
Minimum
Mar. 31, 2014
Revolver under senior credit facility
Covenant requirement
Maximum
Mar. 14, 2013
Term Loan B
Installment
Mar. 31, 2014
Term Loan B
Mar. 31, 2014
Term Loan B
Sep. 30, 2013
Term Loan B
Mar. 31, 2013
Term Loan B
Dec. 30, 2013
Term Loan B
Jun. 28, 2013
Term Loan B
Mar. 14, 2013
Revolver
Mar. 31, 2014
Revolver
Jun. 03, 2013
Terminated 9 5/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2016
Mar. 14, 2013
Terminated 9 5/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2016
Dec. 31, 2009
Terminated 9 5/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2016
Mar. 31, 2014
Terminated 9 5/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2016
Dec. 31, 2013
Terminated 9 5/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2016
Dec. 31, 2012
Terminated 9 5/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2016
Jun. 30, 2013
Terminated 9 5/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2016
Dec. 12, 2012
Terminated 9 5/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2016
Jun. 01, 2012
Terminated 9 5/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2016
Dec. 12, 2011
Terminated 9 5/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2016
Sep. 06, 2011
Terminated 9 5/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2016
Jun. 01, 2011
Terminated 9 5/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2016
Dec. 01, 2010
Terminated 9 5/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2016
Jun. 01, 2010
Terminated 9 5/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2016
Sep. 15, 2012
Terminated Subordinated debt
May 21, 2012
Terminated Subordinated debt
Mar. 31, 2014
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 $ 289,000,000 $ 289,000,000         $ 25,000,000 $ 2,300,000                                   $ 3,000,000 $ 6,000,000 $ 12,000,000 $ 6,000,000
Interest expense                                   46,000   9,000                 37,000.0 200,000                              
Debt, issued at discount                               298,500,000                     298,100,000                                    
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            
Number of principal installments                               4                                                          
Repayment of term loan                                 2,300,000                                                        
Loss on early retirement of long-term debt 33,000 8,000 27,721,000       900,000                   8,000                 26,900,000                                      
Debt, accrued interest   18,000   37,000                         0 0                       900,000                              
Current portion of the Term Loan B due in the next twelve months                                 0 0                                                      
Floor percentage on Term Loan                                   1.00%                                                      
Debt, interest rate over LIBOR               3.00%                   3.50%                                                      
Debt, interest rate above base rate               1.25%                   2.50%                                                      
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                 356.00%         150.00% 250.00%                                                            
Leverage ratio                 552.00% 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                                 8,000 8,000 16,000   3,000 14,000     3,000 837,000           17,000 80,000 62,000 26,000 93,000 70,000 105,000              
Bond Issue Costs                                                    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                                                 900,000                                        
Debt, interest rate   9.625% 9.625%                                                       9.625%                            
Debt outstanding                                                     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               Dec. 01, 2014                                                                          
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 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% 3.50%           3.00%