Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Notes Payable and Long-Term Debt - Additional Information (Detail)

v2.4.0.6
Notes Payable and Long-Term Debt - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Sep. 30, 2012
Sep. 30, 2011
Dec. 31, 2011
Nov. 15, 2011
Revolver under senior credit facility
Sep. 30, 2012
Revolver under senior credit facility
Dec. 31, 2011
Revolver under senior credit facility
Nov. 01, 2010
Revolver under senior credit facility
Dec. 01, 2009
Revolver under senior credit facility
Sep. 30, 2012
Revolver under senior credit facility
Standby letters of credit
Sep. 30, 2012
Revolver under senior credit facility
Swingline loans
Sep. 30, 2012
Revolver under senior credit facility
Covenant requirement
Maximum
Sep. 30, 2012
Revolver under senior credit facility
Covenant requirement
Minimum
Nov. 15, 2011
Revolver under senior credit facility
Before second amendment
Jun. 01, 2012
9 5/8% senior secured second lien notes
Dec. 12, 2011
9 5/8% senior secured second lien notes
Sep. 06, 2011
9 5/8% senior secured second lien notes
Jun. 01, 2011
9 5/8% senior secured second lien notes
Dec. 01, 2009
9 5/8% senior secured second lien notes
Sep. 30, 2012
9 5/8% senior secured second lien notes
Sep. 30, 2011
9 5/8% senior secured second lien notes
Sep. 30, 2012
9 5/8% senior secured second lien notes
Sep. 30, 2011
9 5/8% senior secured second lien notes
Dec. 31, 2011
9 5/8% senior secured second lien notes
Dec. 01, 2010
9 5/8% senior secured second lien notes
Jun. 01, 2010
9 5/8% senior secured second lien notes
May 21, 2012
Subordinated debt
Sep. 30, 2012
Subordinated debt
Sep. 30, 2012
Subordinated debt
Minimum
Sep. 30, 2012
Subordinated debt
Through December 31, 2012
Maximum
Sep. 30, 2012
Subordinated debt
January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013
Maximum
Sep. 30, 2012
Subordinated debt
January 1, 2014 through maturity
Maximum
Sep. 30, 2011
Subordinated debt due to related parties
Sep. 30, 2012
Subordinated debt due to related parties
May 21, 2012
Subordinated debt due to related parties
Dec. 31, 2011
Subordinated debt due to related parties
Nov. 17, 2011
Subordinated debt due to related parties
Stuart W.Epperson, Board of Directors Chairman
Nov. 17, 2011
Subordinated debt due to related parties
EdwardG. Atsinger III, Chief Executive Officer and Director
May 21, 2012
Subordinated debt due to related parties
Roland S. Hinz, a Salem board member
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                                                                              
Credit facility, borrowing capacity               $ 40,000,000 $ 30,000,000 $ 5,000,000 $ 5,000,000                                               $ 12,000,000   $ 3,000,000 $ 6,000,000 $ 6,000,000
Leverage ratio           4.97   5.0       6.25                               4.97   6.25 6.00 5.50              
Revolving credit facility, second amendment description         On November 15, 2011, we completed the Second Amendment of our Revolver to among other things, (1) extend the maturity date from December 1, 2012 to December 1, 2014, (2) change the interest rate applicable to LIBOR or the Wells Fargo base rate plus a spread to be determined based on our leverage ratio, (3) allow us to borrow and repay unsecured indebtedness provided certain conditions are met and (4) include step-downs related to our leverage ratio covenant                                                                    
Debt, maturity date         Dec. 01, 2014                 Dec. 01, 2012                         Jun. 15, 2014                        
Debt, amendment fees         500,000                                                                    
Debt, interest rate over LIBOR         3.00%                                                                    
Debt, interest rate above base rate         1.25%                                                                    
Debt, increase in interest rate if default occurs         2.00%                                                                    
Debt, interest rate           3.29%                               9.625%   9.625%                              
Revolving credit facility, covenant description           With respect to financial covenants, the credit agreement includes a maximum leverage ratio of 6.25 to 1.0 and a minimum interest coverage ratio of 1.5 to 1. The credit agreement also includes other negative covenants that are customary for credit facilities of this type, including covenants that, subject to exceptions described in the Credit Agreement, restrict the ability of Salem and the guarantors (i) to incur additional indebtedness; (ii) to make investments; (iii) to make distributions, loans or transfers of assets; (iv) to enter into, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any liens; (v) to sell assets; (vi) to enter into transactions with affiliates; (vii) to merge or consolidate with, or dispose of all or substantially all assets to, a third party; (viii) to prepay indebtedness; and (ix) to pay dividends. As of September 30, 2012, our leverage ratio was 5.10 to 1 and our interest coverage ratio was 2.09 to 1. We were in compliance with our debt covenants under the Revolver at September 30, 2012, and we remain in compliance.                                                                  
Interest coverage ratio           2.18             1.5                             2.18 1.5                    
Debt, issuance of principal amount                                     300,000,000                                        
Debt, issued at discount                                     298,100,000                                        
Debt, effective yield                                     9.75%                                        
Debt, interest payment terms                                     Interest is due and payable on June 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing June 15, 2010 until maturity.                                        
Debt maturity date                                     2016-12                                        
Debt, annual interest payment                                     28,900,000                                        
Debt, accrued interest                                       6,200,000   6,200,000   1,000,000       26,900                      
Interest expense                                       48,000 100,000 48,000 100,000                                
Principal repurchased or redeemed                             17,500,000 12,500,000 5,000,000 17,500,000             12,500,000 17,500,000                          
Debt, purchase price                             18,000,000 12,900,000 5,100,000 18,000,000                                          
Percent of debt purchase price                             103.00% 103.00% 102.875% 103.00%                                          
Pre-tax loss on early retirement of debt (305,000) (893,000) (1,395,000)                       (900,000) (800,000) (300,000) (100,000)                                          
Unamortized Discount                             80,000 62,000 26,000 93,000             70,000 105,000                          
Bond issue cost                             287,000 337,000 135,000 472,000             334,000 417,000                          
Long-term debt   270,570,000   274,803,000   29,369,000 31,000,000                         216,561,000   216,561,000   233,846,000       8,750,000           15,000,000   9,000,000      
Credit facility, principal amount                                                     10,000,000                        
Credit facility, interest at a floating rate                                                     4.25%                        
Credit facility, floating rate, interest above prime rate           1.25%                                         1.00%                        
Debt, interest rate terms                                                     The interest rate for the FCB Loan ("Interest Rate") is variable and shall be equal to the greater of (a) 4.250% or (b) the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate as published in The Wall Street Journal and reported by FCB plus 1%.           Outstanding amounts under each Affiliate Line of Credit will bear interest at a rate equal to the lesser of (1) 5% per annum and (2) the maximum rate permitted for subordinated debt under the Revolver referred to above plus 2% per annum. Interest rate equal to the lesser of (1) 5% per annum and (2) the maximum rate permitted for subordinated debt under the Revolver plus 2% per annum.          
Credit facility, term                                                     23 months                        
Credit facility, interest charge                                                     50                        
Credit facility, quarterly consecutive principal payments                                                     1,250,000                        
Credit facility, increased interest rate                                                     5.00%                        
Credit facility, outstanding amount           29,400,000                                                     15,000,000 15,000,000   9,000,000      
Debt, interest rate above LIBOR           3.00%                                                                  
Debt, outstanding borrowing                                       $ 217,500,000   $ 217,500,000                                  
Debt, interest payment frequency                                           Semi-annual                                  
Credit facility, commitment fee on unused balance           0.60%