Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

INCOME TAXES (Schedule of Consolidated Deferred Tax Asset and Liability) (Details)

v2.4.1.9
INCOME TAXES (Schedule of Consolidated Deferred Tax Asset and Liability) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Deferred tax assets: [Abstract]    
Financial statement accruals not currently deductible $ 8,045salm_DeferredTaxAssetsAccrualsNotCurrentlyDeductible $ 6,786salm_DeferredTaxAssetsAccrualsNotCurrentlyDeductible
Net operating loss, AMT credit and other carryforwards 72,618salm_DeferredTaxAssetsNetOperatingLossCarryForward 71,246salm_DeferredTaxAssetsNetOperatingLossCarryForward
State taxes 108us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsStateTaxes 90us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsStateTaxes
Other 3,821us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOther 3,322us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOther
Total deferred tax assets 84,592us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsGross 81,444us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsGross
Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets (2,952)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance (2,868)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
Net deferred tax assets 81,640us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNet 78,576us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNet
Deferred tax liabilities: [Abstract]    
Excess of net book value of property and equipment and software for financial reporting purposes over tax basis 3,000salm_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesFixedAssetBasisDifference 3,840salm_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesFixedAssetBasisDifference
Excess of net book value of intangible assets for financial reporting purposes over tax basis 118,773salm_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesIntangibleAssetBasisDifference 109,133salm_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesIntangibleAssetBasisDifference
Interest rate swap 187us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesDerivatives 1,251us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesDerivatives
Unrecognized tax benefits 110salm_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxDeferredTaxAssets 933salm_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxDeferredTaxAssets
Other 526us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther   
Total deferred tax liabilities 122,596us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilities 115,157us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilities
Net deferred tax liabilities $ (40,956)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet $ (36,581)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet