Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 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
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]    
Total stock-based compensation expense, pre-tax $ 331us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation $ 603us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
Tax provision for stock-based compensation expense (132)us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense (241)us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense
Total stock-based compensation expense, net of tax 199us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpenseNetOfTax 362us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpenseNetOfTax
Corporate [Member]    
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]    
Stock option expense 228us-gaap_StockOptionPlanExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateMember
405us-gaap_StockOptionPlanExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateMember
Restricted stock expenses 1us-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 52us-gaap_StockOptionPlanExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_BroadcastingMember
125us-gaap_StockOptionPlanExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_BroadcastingMember
Digital Media [Member]    
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]    
Stock option expense 36us-gaap_StockOptionPlanExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_InternetMember
58us-gaap_StockOptionPlanExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_InternetMember
Publishing [Member]    
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]    
Stock option expense $ 14us-gaap_StockOptionPlanExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_PublishingMember
$ 15us-gaap_StockOptionPlanExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_PublishingMember