Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT (Summary of the Categories of Property and Equipment) (Details)

v2.4.1.9
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT (Summary of the Categories of Property and Equipment) (Details) (USD $)
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]    
Property And Equipment Gross $ 254,722,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross $ 244,143,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
Less accumulated depreciation (155,495,000)us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment (145,215,000)us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment
Property and equipment 99,227,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet 98,928,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
Land [Member]    
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]    
Property And Equipment Gross 29,424,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LandMember
29,748,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LandMember
Buildings [Member]    
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]    
Property And Equipment Gross 24,898,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_BuildingMember
24,695,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_BuildingMember
Office Furnishings And Equipment [Member]    
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]    
Property And Equipment Gross 39,772,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= salm_OfficeFurnitureAndEquipmentMember
38,794,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= salm_OfficeFurnitureAndEquipmentMember
Antennae, Towers and Transmitting Equipment [Member]    
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]    
Property And Equipment Gross 78,628,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= salm_NetworkAndTransmissionsMember
76,454,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= salm_NetworkAndTransmissionsMember
Studio and Production Equipment [Member]    
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]    
Property And Equipment Gross 30,202,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= salm_StudioEntertainmentMember
29,819,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= salm_StudioEntertainmentMember
Computer Software and Website Development Costs [Member]    
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]    
Property And Equipment Gross 26,593,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= salm_ComputerSoftwareMember
21,653,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= salm_ComputerSoftwareMember
Record and Tape Libraries [Member]    
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]    
Property And Equipment Gross 59,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AcquiredFilmLibrariesMember
65,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AcquiredFilmLibrariesMember
Automobiles [Member]    
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]    
Property And Equipment Gross 1,205,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AutomobilesMember
1,139,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AutomobilesMember
Leasehold Improvements [Member]    
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]    
Property And Equipment Gross 19,634,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LeaseholdImprovementsMember
17,414,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LeaseholdImprovementsMember
Construction in Progress [Member]    
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]    
Property And Equipment Gross $ 4,307,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ConstructionInProgressMember
$ 4,362,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ConstructionInProgressMember