Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Related Party Transactions - Additional Information (Detail)

v3.20.4
Related Party Transactions - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Dec. 31, 2019
Description of related party transaction The policy applies to any transaction or series of transactions in which Salem is a participant, the amount involved exceeds $120,000 and a Related Party (as defined in Item 404(a) of SEC Regulation S-K) has a direct or indirect material interest, excluding, among other things, compensation arrangements with respect to employment and Board membership. Related Parties includes our directors, executive officers, nominees to become a director, any person beneficially owning more than 5% of any class of our stock, immediate family members of any of the foregoing, and any entity in which any of the foregoing persons is employed or is a general partner or principal or in which the person has a 10% or greater beneficial ownership interest.  
Net proceeds from life insurance policies to Salem $ 2,363,000  
Related party annual payments for insurance premiums 200,000 $ 500,000
Net assets 3,700,000 3,500,000
Edward G Atsinger III Chief Executive Officer And Director [Member]    
Rental payments for aircraft 298,000 135,000
Related party prepaid deposit 100,000  
Chairman And Chief Executive Officer [Member] | Land and Building [Member]    
Operating leases, rent expense 1,500,000 1,600,000
Truth for Life [Member]    
Related party transaction, other revenues from transactions with related party 2,400,000 2,500,000
Accounts receivable, related parties 0 200,000
Know the Truth [Member]    
Related party transaction, other revenues from transactions with related party 600,000 800,000
Accounts receivable, related parties $ 39,000 1,200,000
Other Than Compensation Arrangements [Member]    
Description of related party transaction we have been a party in which the amount involved exceeds $120,000 annually and in which any of our then directors, executive officers or holders of more than 5% of any class of our stock at the time of such transaction, or any members of their immediate family, or is a general partner or principal or in which the person has a 10% or greater beneficial ownership interest, had or will have a direct or indirect material interest.  
Chief Executive Officer [Member] | Trust [Member]    
Operating leases, rent expense $ 200,000 $ 200,000
Split Dollar Life Insurance [Member]    
Net proceeds from life insurance policies to Salem 2,400,000  
Split Dollar Life Insurance [Member] | Chairman [Member]    
Related party transaction, amounts of transaction 300,000  
Split Dollar Life Insurance [Member] | Chief Executive Officer [Member]    
Related party transaction, amounts of transaction $ 300,000