Salem Media Group, Inc. Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

SEGMENT DATA (Schedule of financial information with a comparison of results under the prior composition to the new composition of operating segments) (Details)

SEGMENT DATA (Schedule of financial information with a comparison of results under the prior composition to the new composition of operating segments) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Net revenue	$ 266,536us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 236,934us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 229,179us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
Operating expenses	218,031us-gaap_OperatingExpenses	185,959us-gaap_OperatingExpenses	177,097us-gaap_OperatingExpenses
Net operating income (loss) before depreciation, amortization, impairment, change in estimated fair value of contingent earn-out consideration (gain) loss on the sale or disposal of assets	48,505	50,975	52,082
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Net revenue	266,536	236,934	229,179
Operating expenses	218,031	185,959	177,097
Net operating income (loss) before depreciation, amortization, impairment, change in estimated fair value of contingent earn-out consideration (gain) loss on the sale or disposal of assets	48,505	50,975	52,082
Operating Segments [Member] \| Broadcast [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Net revenue	192,923	188,544	187,640
Operating expenses	138,564	129,857	126,514
Net operating income (loss) before depreciation, amortization, impairment, change in estimated fair value of contingent earn-out consideration (gain) loss on the sale or disposal of assets	54,359	58,687	61,126
Operating Segments [Member] \| Digital Media [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Net revenue	46,862	35,156	28,166
Operating expenses	36,232	25,741	22,848
Net operating income (loss) before depreciation, amortization, impairment, change in estimated fair value of contingent earn-out consideration (gain) loss on the sale or disposal of assets	10,630	9,415	5,318
Operating Segments [Member] \| Publishing [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Net revenue	26,751	13,234	13,373
Operating expenses	26,143	14,280	13,339
Net operating income (loss) before depreciation, amortization, impairment, change in estimated fair value of contingent earn-out consideration (gain) loss on the sale or disposal of assets	608	(1,046)	34
Operating Segments [Member] \| Unallocated Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Net revenue
Operating expenses	17,092	16,081	14,396
Net operating income (loss) before depreciation, amortization, impairment, change in estimated fair value of contingent earn-out consideration (gain) loss on the sale or disposal of assets	(17,092)	(16,081)	(14,396)
As Reported Original \| Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Net revenue	266,536	236,934	229,179
Operating expenses	218,031	185,959	177,097
Net operating income (loss) before depreciation, amortization, impairment, change in estimated fair value of contingent earn-out consideration (gain) loss on the sale or disposal of assets	48,505	50,975	52,082
As Reported Original \| Operating Segments [Member] \| Broadcast [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Net revenue	187,815	183,697	183,180
Operating expenses	130,875	122,862	120,772
As Reported Original \| Operating Segments [Member] \| Digital Media [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Net revenue	55,519	40,906	33,474
Operating expenses	41,067	28,378	25,145
As Reported Original \| Operating Segments [Member] \| Publishing [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Net revenue	23,202	12,331	12,525
Operating expenses	23,052	13,289	12,288
As Reported Original \| Operating Segments [Member] \| Unallocated Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating expenses	$ 23,037	$ 21,430	$ 18,892