Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

IMPAIRMENT OF GOODWILL AND OTHER INDEFINITE-LIVED INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Schedule of Percentage Within Range by which Estimated Fair Value Exceeded Carrying Value of Each of Market Clusters Including Goodwill (Detail)

v2.4.1.9
IMPAIRMENT OF GOODWILL AND OTHER INDEFINITE-LIVED INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Schedule of Percentage Within Range by which Estimated Fair Value Exceeded Carrying Value of Each of Market Clusters Including Goodwill (Detail) (Goodwill-Broadcast [Member], USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Entity
Dec. 31, 2013
Entity
Dec. 31, 2012
Entity
Less than 10% [Member]      
Carrying Amounts and Fair Values of Financial Instruments [Line Items]      
Number of market clusters 5salm_NumberOfBusinessReportingUnitsForMarketBasedServices
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_GoodwillMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= salm_ScenarioNineMember
4salm_NumberOfBusinessReportingUnitsForMarketBasedServices
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_GoodwillMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= salm_ScenarioNineMember
2salm_NumberOfBusinessReportingUnitsForMarketBasedServices
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_GoodwillMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= salm_ScenarioNineMember
Carrying value $ 81,507salm_ExcessOfEstimatedUndiscountedCashFlowsOverCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_GoodwillMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= salm_ScenarioNineMember
$ 28,952salm_ExcessOfEstimatedUndiscountedCashFlowsOverCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_GoodwillMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= salm_ScenarioNineMember
$ 18,836salm_ExcessOfEstimatedUndiscountedCashFlowsOverCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_GoodwillMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= salm_ScenarioNineMember
>10% to 20% [Member]      
Carrying Amounts and Fair Values of Financial Instruments [Line Items]      
Number of market clusters    1salm_NumberOfBusinessReportingUnitsForMarketBasedServices
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_GoodwillMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= salm_ScenarioTenMember
1salm_NumberOfBusinessReportingUnitsForMarketBasedServices
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_GoodwillMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= salm_ScenarioTenMember
Carrying value    17,978salm_ExcessOfEstimatedUndiscountedCashFlowsOverCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_GoodwillMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= salm_ScenarioTenMember
1,423salm_ExcessOfEstimatedUndiscountedCashFlowsOverCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_GoodwillMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= salm_ScenarioTenMember
> 20% to 50% [Member]      
Carrying Amounts and Fair Values of Financial Instruments [Line Items]      
Number of market clusters 2salm_NumberOfBusinessReportingUnitsForMarketBasedServices
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_GoodwillMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= salm_ScenarioElevenMember
3salm_NumberOfBusinessReportingUnitsForMarketBasedServices
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_GoodwillMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= salm_ScenarioElevenMember
1salm_NumberOfBusinessReportingUnitsForMarketBasedServices
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_GoodwillMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= salm_ScenarioElevenMember
Carrying value 27,636salm_ExcessOfEstimatedUndiscountedCashFlowsOverCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_GoodwillMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= salm_ScenarioElevenMember
45,375salm_ExcessOfEstimatedUndiscountedCashFlowsOverCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_GoodwillMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= salm_ScenarioElevenMember
10,506salm_ExcessOfEstimatedUndiscountedCashFlowsOverCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_GoodwillMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= salm_ScenarioElevenMember
> than 50% [Member]      
Carrying Amounts and Fair Values of Financial Instruments [Line Items]      
Number of market clusters 7salm_NumberOfBusinessReportingUnitsForMarketBasedServices
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_GoodwillMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= salm_ScenarioTwelveMember
3salm_NumberOfBusinessReportingUnitsForMarketBasedServices
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_GoodwillMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= salm_ScenarioTwelveMember
5salm_NumberOfBusinessReportingUnitsForMarketBasedServices
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_GoodwillMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= salm_ScenarioTwelveMember
Carrying value $ 254,645salm_ExcessOfEstimatedUndiscountedCashFlowsOverCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_GoodwillMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= salm_ScenarioTwelveMember
$ 45,152salm_ExcessOfEstimatedUndiscountedCashFlowsOverCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_GoodwillMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= salm_ScenarioTwelveMember
$ 132,645salm_ExcessOfEstimatedUndiscountedCashFlowsOverCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_GoodwillMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= salm_ScenarioTwelveMember