Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

AMORTIZABLE INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Summary of Significant Classes of Amortizable Intangible Assets) (Details)

v2.4.1.9
AMORTIZABLE INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Summary of Significant Classes of Amortizable Intangible Assets) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Mar. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]    
Cost $ 47,239us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill $ 46,525us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill
Accumulated Amortization (35,459)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization (34,130)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
Net 11,780us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet 12,395us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
Customer lists and contracts [Member]    
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]    
Cost 19,910us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerContractsMember
19,910us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerContractsMember
Accumulated Amortization (17,205)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerContractsMember
(16,558)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerContractsMember
Net 2,705us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerContractsMember
3,352us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerContractsMember
Domain and brand names [Member]    
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]    
Cost 15,657us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_DomainAndBrandNamesMember
15,465us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_DomainAndBrandNamesMember
Accumulated Amortization (10,098)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_DomainAndBrandNamesMember
(9,722)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_DomainAndBrandNamesMember
Net 5,559us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_DomainAndBrandNamesMember
5,743us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_DomainAndBrandNamesMember
Favorable and assigned leases [Member]    
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]    
Cost 2,379us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_FavorableLeasesAndOtherMember
2,379us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_FavorableLeasesAndOtherMember
Accumulated Amortization (1,819)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_FavorableLeasesAndOtherMember
(1,795)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_FavorableLeasesAndOtherMember
Net 560us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_FavorableLeasesAndOtherMember
584us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_FavorableLeasesAndOtherMember
Subscriber base and lists [Member]    
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]    
Cost 4,824us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_SubscriberBaseAndListsMember
4,302us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_SubscriberBaseAndListsMember
Accumulated Amortization (2,893)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_SubscriberBaseAndListsMember
(2,671)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_SubscriberBaseAndListsMember
Net 1,931us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_SubscriberBaseAndListsMember
1,631us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_SubscriberBaseAndListsMember
Author relationships [Member]    
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]    
Cost 2,245us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_AuthorRelationshipsMember
2,245us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_AuthorRelationshipsMember
Accumulated Amortization (1,415)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_AuthorRelationshipsMember
(1,379)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_AuthorRelationshipsMember
Net 830us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_AuthorRelationshipsMember
866us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_AuthorRelationshipsMember
Non-compete agreements [Member]    
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]    
Cost 888us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_NoncompeteAgreementsMember
888us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_NoncompeteAgreementsMember
Accumulated Amortization (693)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_NoncompeteAgreementsMember
(669)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_NoncompeteAgreementsMember
Net 195us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_NoncompeteAgreementsMember
219us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_NoncompeteAgreementsMember
Other amortizable intangible assets [Member]    
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]    
Cost 1,336us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember
1,336us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember
Accumulated Amortization (1,336)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember
(1,336)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember
Net