Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

IMPAIRMENT OF GOODWILL AND OTHER INDEFINITE-LIVED INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Narrative) (Details)

v2.4.1.9
IMPAIRMENT OF GOODWILL AND OTHER INDEFINITE-LIVED INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
 1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Jun. 30, 2012
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Jun. 30, 2013
Jun. 30, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]                
Percentage of indefinite-lived intangible assets out of total assets     71.00%salm_PercentageOfIntangibleAssets          
Broadcast licenses renewal period     8 years          
Impairment charges $ 1,200,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges $ 5,600,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges            
Cash flow projection period     5 years          
Digital Media [Member]                
Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]                
Impairment charges     0us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_InternetMember 		0us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_InternetMember 		0us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_InternetMember 		     
Publishing [Member]                
Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]                
Impairment charges     45,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_PublishingMember 		0us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_PublishingMember 		  400,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_PublishingMember 		   
Discount rate       9.50%us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_PublishingMember 		  9.00%us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_PublishingMember 		   
Networks [Member]                
Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]                
Excess of estimated fair value over carrying value, percentage 113.00%salm_PercentageOfFairValueOverCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= salm_NetworkMember 		  64.00%salm_PercentageOfFairValueOverCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= salm_NetworkMember 		63.00%salm_PercentageOfFairValueOverCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= salm_NetworkMember 		113.00%salm_PercentageOfFairValueOverCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= salm_NetworkMember 		     
Broadcast licenses [Member]                
Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]                
Percentage of indefinite-lived intangible assets     94.00%salm_PercentageOfIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssets
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_BroadcastLicensesMember 		         
Discounted cash flow projection period         10 years      
Excess of estimated fair value over carrying value, percentage 25.00%salm_PercentageOfFairValueOverCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_BroadcastLicensesMember 		      25.00%salm_PercentageOfFairValueOverCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_BroadcastLicensesMember 		     
Percentage of excess fair value over carrying value 25.00%us-gaap_ReportingUnitPercentageOfFairValueInExcessOfCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_BroadcastLicensesMember 		      25.00%us-gaap_ReportingUnitPercentageOfFairValueInExcessOfCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_BroadcastLicensesMember 		     
Impairment charges     0us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_BroadcastLicensesMember 		0us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_BroadcastLicensesMember 		0us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_BroadcastLicensesMember 		     
Discount rate     8.00%us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_BroadcastLicensesMember 		9.00%us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_BroadcastLicensesMember 		9.00%us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_BroadcastLicensesMember 		     
Reduction in long-term revenue growth rate to perform sensitivity analysis     10000.00%salm_FairValueInputsChangesInAssumptionLongTermRevenueGrowthRate
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_BroadcastLicensesMember 		         
Increase in weighted average cost of capital rate to perform sensitivity analysis     10000.00%salm_FairValueInputsChangesInAssumptionWeightedAverageCostOfCapital
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_BroadcastLicensesMember 		         
Mastheads [Member]                
Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]                
Percentage of indefinite-lived intangible assets     6.00%salm_PercentageOfIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssets
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_GoodwillAndMagazineMastheadsMember 		         
Impairment charges     34,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_GoodwillAndMagazineMastheadsMember 		    300,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_GoodwillAndMagazineMastheadsMember 		100,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_GoodwillAndMagazineMastheadsMember 		 
Excess fair value estimate             1.70%salm_PercentageOfExcessFairValueOverCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_GoodwillAndMagazineMastheadsMember 		 
Royalty growth rate     3.00%salm_RoyaltyRatePercentage
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_GoodwillAndMagazineMastheadsMember 		2.00%salm_RoyaltyRatePercentage
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_GoodwillAndMagazineMastheadsMember 		3.00%salm_RoyaltyRatePercentage
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_GoodwillAndMagazineMastheadsMember 		3.00%salm_RoyaltyRatePercentage
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_GoodwillAndMagazineMastheadsMember 		3.00%salm_RoyaltyRatePercentage
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_GoodwillAndMagazineMastheadsMember 		 
Discount rate     8.00%us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_GoodwillAndMagazineMastheadsMember 		9.50%us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_GoodwillAndMagazineMastheadsMember 		8.50%us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_GoodwillAndMagazineMastheadsMember 		9.00%us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_GoodwillAndMagazineMastheadsMember 		8.50%us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_GoodwillAndMagazineMastheadsMember 		 
Additional impairment charges     300,000salm_AdditionalImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_GoodwillAndMagazineMastheadsMember 		         
Reduction in long-term revenue growth rate to perform sensitivity analysis     10000.00%salm_FairValueInputsChangesInAssumptionLongTermRevenueGrowthRate
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_GoodwillAndMagazineMastheadsMember 		         
Increase in weighted average cost of capital rate to perform sensitivity analysis     10000.00%salm_FairValueInputsChangesInAssumptionWeightedAverageCostOfCapital
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_GoodwillAndMagazineMastheadsMember 		         
Mastheads [Member] | Minimum [Member]                
Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]                
Royalty growth rate       2.00%salm_RoyaltyRatePercentage
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_GoodwillAndMagazineMastheadsMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember 		       
Discount rate       9.00%us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_GoodwillAndMagazineMastheadsMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember 		       
Mastheads [Member] | Maximum [Member]                
Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]                
Royalty growth rate       3.00%salm_RoyaltyRatePercentage
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_GoodwillAndMagazineMastheadsMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember 		       
Discount rate       9.50%us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_GoodwillAndMagazineMastheadsMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember 		       
Goodwill-Broadcast [Member]                
Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]                
Reduction in long-term revenue growth rate to perform sensitivity analysis     10000.00%salm_FairValueInputsChangesInAssumptionLongTermRevenueGrowthRate
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_GoodwillMember 		         
Increase in weighted average cost of capital rate to perform sensitivity analysis     10000.00%salm_FairValueInputsChangesInAssumptionWeightedAverageCostOfCapital
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_GoodwillMember 		         
Goodwill-Broadcast [Member] | Networks [Member]                
Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]                
Impairment charges     0us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_GoodwillMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= salm_NetworkMember 		  $ 0us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_GoodwillMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= salm_NetworkMember 		    $ 0us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_GoodwillMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= salm_NetworkMember