Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Narrative) (Details)

v2.4.1.9
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
 1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Jun. 30, 2012
Dec. 31, 2014
Segment
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Sep. 30, 2013
item
Mar. 14, 2013
Sep. 30, 2013
Jun. 30, 2013
Jun. 30, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Jan. 31, 2007
Jul. 31, 2007
Mar. 27, 2013
Schedule Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]                            
Barter expenses included in broadcast operating expense     $ 6,000,000us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense $ 4,800,000us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense $ 5,300,000us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense                  
Interest capitalized     200,000us-gaap_InterestCostsCapitalized 100,000us-gaap_InterestCostsCapitalized                    
Impairment charge 1,200,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges 5,600,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges                        
Impairment Charges Land Held For Sale 1,200,000salm_ImpairmentChargesLandHeldForSale 5,600,000salm_ImpairmentChargesLandHeldForSale 0salm_ImpairmentChargesLandHeldForSale 0salm_ImpairmentChargesLandHeldForSale                    
Internally developed software and website development capitalized costs     3,900,000us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAdditions 1,500,000us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAdditions 2,300,000us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAdditions                  
Amortization expense for internally developed software and website development capitalized costs     2,400,000us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAmortization 2,300,000us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAmortization 2,100,000us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAmortization                  
Internally developed software and website development capitalized costs, useful life     3 years                      
Percentage of indefinite-lived intangible assets out of total assets     71.00%salm_PercentageOfIntangibleAssets                      
Broadcast licenses renewal period     8 years                      
Pre-tax (Gain) loss on disposal of assets     300,000us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationGainLossFromDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationBeforeIncomeTax (62,000)us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationGainLossFromDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationBeforeIncomeTax (158,000)us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationGainLossFromDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationBeforeIncomeTax                  
Pre-tax (Gain) loss on disposal of assets     100,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromInsuranceSettlementInvestingActivities 100,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromInsuranceSettlementInvestingActivities 600,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromInsuranceSettlementInvestingActivities                  
Deferred rent revenue     4,400,000us-gaap_DeferredRevenueLeasesCurrent 4,500,000us-gaap_DeferredRevenueLeasesCurrent                    
Bank loan fees written off in conjunction with the early retirement of debt     643,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts 853,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts 1,291,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts                  
Deferred financing costs     3,166,000us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsNoncurrentNet 4,130,000us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsNoncurrentNet                    
Self insurance liability     900,000us-gaap_SelfInsuranceReserve 500,000us-gaap_SelfInsuranceReserve                    
Change in fair value of the interest rate swap agreement asset     475,000us-gaap_DerivativeAssets                      
Debt, principal payment     0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentPeriodicPaymentPrincipal                      
Liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits     500,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits                 3,000,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits    
Unrecognized tax benefit, interest accrued net of federal income tax benefits     3.000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsInterestOnIncomeTaxesAccrued                 100,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsInterestOnIncomeTaxesAccrued    
Increase (decrease) in unrecognized tax benefits     400,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsPeriodIncreaseDecrease                      
Additional reduction of reserve     400,000us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInLossAndLossAdjustmentExpenseReserve                      
Valuation allowance to offset deferred tax asset     2,952,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance 2,868,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance                    
Options to purchase Class A common stock 1,927,099us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber   1,816,204us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber 2,162,067us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber 1,927,099us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber           1,640,392us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber      
Number Of Anti Dilutive Shares     589,437us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount    480,825us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount                  
Number of reportable segments     2us-gaap_NumberOfReportableSegments                      
Number of operating segments     3us-gaap_NumberOfOperatingSegments                      
Term Loan B [Member]                            
Schedule Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]                            
Debt term     7 years                      
Bank loan fees written off in conjunction with the early retirement of debt     300,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= salm_TermBLoanMember 		300,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= salm_TermBLoanMember 		                   
Debt, principal payment           750,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentPeriodicPaymentPrincipal
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= salm_TermBLoanMember 		  750,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentPeriodicPaymentPrincipal
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= salm_TermBLoanMember 		           
Term loan maturity year           7 years 7 years              
Number of Principal Installments           4salm_NumberOfPrincipalInstallments
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= salm_TermBLoanMember 		               
Revolver [Member]                            
Schedule Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]                            
Debt term     5 years                      
Reduction of Retained Earnings                            
Schedule Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]                            
Liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits                         2,100,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember 		 
Contingencies                            
Schedule Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]                            
Liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits                         900,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
/ salm_CommitmentsAndContingenciesAxis
= salm_ContingenciesMember 		 
Miami [Member]                            
Schedule Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]                            
Pre-tax (Gain) loss on disposal of assets     200,000us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationGainLossFromDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationBeforeIncomeTax
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= salm_MiamiMember 		                     
Los Angeles Market                            
Schedule Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]                            
Percentage of Total Revenue generated from advertising     14.30%salm_PercentageOfTotalRevenue
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= salm_LosAngelesMember 		15.10%salm_PercentageOfTotalRevenue
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= salm_LosAngelesMember 		16.10%salm_PercentageOfTotalRevenue
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= salm_LosAngelesMember 		                 
Dallas [Member]                            
Schedule Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]                            
Percentage of Total Revenue generated from advertising     23.90%salm_PercentageOfTotalRevenue
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= salm_DallasTexasMember 		25.40%salm_PercentageOfTotalRevenue
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= salm_DallasTexasMember 		23.50%salm_PercentageOfTotalRevenue
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= salm_DallasTexasMember 		                 
Office and studio facility in San Francisco market [Member]                            
Schedule Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]                            
Pre-tax (Gain) loss on disposal of assets     100,000us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationGainLossFromDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationBeforeIncomeTax
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= salm_SanFranciscoMember 		                     
Broadcast [Member]                            
Schedule Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]                            
Advertising revenue     6,000,000us-gaap_AdvertisingRevenue
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_BroadcastingMember 		5,600,000us-gaap_AdvertisingRevenue
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_BroadcastingMember 		5,300,000us-gaap_AdvertisingRevenue
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_BroadcastingMember 		                 
Percentage of Total Revenue generated from advertising     40.20%salm_PercentageOfTotalRevenue
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_BroadcastingMember 		40.80%salm_PercentageOfTotalRevenue
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_BroadcastingMember 		41.30%salm_PercentageOfTotalRevenue
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= salm_BroadcastingMember 		                 
KPXI-FM, Tyler-Longview, Texas                            
Schedule Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]                            
Pre-tax (Gain) loss on disposal of assets         200,000us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationGainLossFromDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationBeforeIncomeTax
/ salm_DisposalByGroupNameAxis
= salm_BusinessLineFourMember 		                 
Cleveland market [Member]                            
Schedule Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]                            
Pre-tax (Gain) loss on disposal of assets       400,000us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationGainLossFromDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationBeforeIncomeTax
/ salm_DisposalByGroupNameAxis
= salm_BusinessLineFiveMember 		                   
Write-off of a receivable from a prior station sale [Member]                            
Schedule Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]                            
Pre-tax (Gain) loss on disposal of assets     200,000us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationGainLossFromDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationBeforeIncomeTax
/ salm_DisposalByGroupNameAxis
= salm_WriteOffOfReceivableFromPriorStationSaleMember 		                     
Minimum [Member]                            
Schedule Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]                            
Lease term     1 year                      
Maximum [Member]                            
Schedule Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]                            
Lease term     25 years                      
Production Costs                            
Schedule Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]                            
Cost of media advertising and associated production costs     10,200,000us-gaap_MarketingAndAdvertisingExpense
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= salm_ProductionCostsMember 		10,000,000us-gaap_MarketingAndAdvertisingExpense
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= salm_ProductionCostsMember 		10,500,000us-gaap_MarketingAndAdvertisingExpense
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= salm_ProductionCostsMember 		                 
Broadcast licenses [Member]                            
Schedule Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]                            
Impairment charge     0us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_BroadcastLicensesMember 		0us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_BroadcastLicensesMember 		0us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_BroadcastLicensesMember 		                 
Percentage of indefinite-lived intangible assets     94.00%salm_PercentageOfIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssets
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_BroadcastLicensesMember 		                     
Mastheads [Member]                            
Schedule Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]                            
Impairment charge     34,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_GoodwillAndMagazineMastheadsMember 		          300,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_GoodwillAndMagazineMastheadsMember 		100,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_GoodwillAndMagazineMastheadsMember 		       
Percentage of indefinite-lived intangible assets     6.00%salm_PercentageOfIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssets
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= salm_GoodwillAndMagazineMastheadsMember 		                     
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]                            
Schedule Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]                            
Change in fair value of the interest rate swap agreement asset     475,000us-gaap_DerivativeAssets
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member 		                     
Fair value of interest rate swaps                            
Schedule Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]                            
Interest rate swap agreement, notional principal amount                           150,000,000invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Payments swap LIBOR floor rate     0.625%us-gaap_DerivativeFloorInterestRate
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember 		                     
Interest rate swap, expiration date     Mar. 28, 2019                      
Interest rate swap, fixed rate     1.645%us-gaap_DerivativeFixedInterestRate
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember 		                     
Fair value of interest rate swaps | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]                            
Schedule Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]                            
Change in fair value of the interest rate swap agreement asset     $ 500,000us-gaap_DerivativeAssets
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member 		                     
Salem Media Representatives [Member]                            
Schedule Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]                            
Number of U.S. cities in which entity is having offices     11salm_NumberOfUSCitiesInWhichEntityHavingOffices
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= salm_SalemMediaRepresentativesMember