Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN (Schedule of Stock-Based Compensation Expense Recognized) (Details)

v2.4.1.9
STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN (Schedule of Stock-Based Compensation Expense Recognized) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]      
Total stock-based compensation expense, pre-tax $ 1,576us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation $ 1,849us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation $ 1,368us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
Tax benefit (expense) from stock-based compensation expense (630)us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense (740)us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense (579)us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense
Total stock-based compensation expense, net of tax 946us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpenseNetOfTax 1,109us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpenseNetOfTax 789us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpenseNetOfTax
Corporate [Member]      
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]      
Stock option expense 1,025us-gaap_StockOptionPlanExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateMember
766us-gaap_StockOptionPlanExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateMember
933us-gaap_StockOptionPlanExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateMember
Restricted stock expenses    481us-gaap_RestrictedStockExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateMember
  
Broadcast [Member]      
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]      
Stock option expense 325us-gaap_StockOptionPlanExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_BroadcastingMember
302us-gaap_StockOptionPlanExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_BroadcastingMember
305us-gaap_StockOptionPlanExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_BroadcastingMember
Internet [Member]      
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]      
Stock option expense 165us-gaap_StockOptionPlanExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_InternetMember
253us-gaap_StockOptionPlanExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_InternetMember
111us-gaap_StockOptionPlanExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_InternetMember
Publishing [Member]      
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]      
Stock option expense $ 61us-gaap_StockOptionPlanExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_PublishingMember
$ 47us-gaap_StockOptionPlanExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_PublishingMember
$ 19us-gaap_StockOptionPlanExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_PublishingMember