Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

NOTES PAYABLE AND LONG-TERM DEBT (Narrative) (Details)

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NOTES PAYABLE AND LONG-TERM DEBT (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)
 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Jan. 30, 2015
Mar. 14, 2013
Sep. 30, 2013
Mar. 14, 2013
Sep. 30, 2015
Sep. 30, 2014
Sep. 30, 2015
Sep. 30, 2014
Dec. 31, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Ownership interest (as a percentage)         100.00%   100.00%    
Bank loan fees written off in conjunction with the early retirement of debt             $ 471,000 $ 516,000  
Loss on early retirement of long-term debt         $ (18,000) (41,000) (26,000)  
Debt, accrued interest         $ 54,000   54,000   $ 48,000
Term Loan B [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Credit facility, borrowing capacity   $ 300,000,000   $ 300,000,000 274,000,000   274,000,000    
Interest expense         $ 47,000 $ 47,000 140,000 $ 141,000  
Bank loan fees written off in conjunction with the early retirement of debt $ 27,000           $ 27,000    
Debt, issued at discount   $ 298,500,000   298,500,000          
Term loan maturity year   7 years 7 years            
Additional term loan amount increased       60,000,000          
Credit facility, quarterly consecutive principal payments     $ 750,000            
Loss on early retirement of long-term debt 15,000                
Floor percentage on Term Loan             1.00%    
Debt, interest rate over LIBOR             3.50%    
Debt, interest rate above base rate             2.50%    
Debt, increase in interest rate if default occurs         2.00%   2.00%    
Blended interest rate on amounts outstanding         5.03%   5.03%    
Debt, issuance of principal amount $ 300,000,000                
Credit facility, floating rate, interest above prime rate             2.50%    
Debt, interest rate above LIBOR         3.50%   3.50%    
Revolver [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Credit facility, borrowing capacity   $ 25,000,000   $ 25,000,000 $ 6,100,000   $ 6,100,000    
Term loan maturity year       5 years          
Debt, interest rate over LIBOR             3.00%    
Debt, interest rate above base rate             2.00%    
Commitment fees on any unused portion             0.50%    
Revolver under senior credit facility [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Revolving credit facility, covenant description            
With respect to financial covenants, the credit agreement includes a minimum interest coverage ratio, which started at 1.50 to 1.0 and steps up to 2.50 to 1.0 by 2016 and a maximum leverage ratio, which started 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         3.24%   3.24%   2.25%
Leverage ratio         5.61%   5.61%    
Revolver under senior credit facility [Member] | Minimum [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Leverage ratio         5.75%   5.75%    
Revolver under senior credit facility [Member] | Maximum [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Leverage ratio         6.25%   6.25%   6.75%
Revolver under senior credit facility [Member] | Covenant requirement [Member] | Minimum [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Interest coverage ratio         1.50%   1.50%    
Revolver under senior credit facility [Member] | Covenant requirement [Member] | Maximum [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Interest coverage ratio         2.50%   2.50%