<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-01-02</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001091801</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MARTHA STEWART LIVING OMNIMEDIA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MSO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001159187</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>UBBEN JEFFREY W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE MARITIME PLAZA, SUITE 1400</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94111</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2360.41</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.85</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4226010.85</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2360.41</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4226010.85</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>see footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Received as Jeffrey W. Ubben's compensation for services as chairman of the board
and paid in stock pursuant to the Issuer's Non-Employee Director Stock and
Option Compensation Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Jeffrey W. Ubben transferred the reported stock to ValueAct Capital Partners, L.P., ValueAct Capital Partners II, L.P. and ValueAct Capital International, Ltd. in transactions not involving any consideration.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The reported stock is owned directly by ValueAct Capital Partners, L.P., ValueAct Capital Partners II, L.P. and ValueAct Capital International, Ltd. and indirectly by VA Partners, LLC as general partner of ValueAct Capital Partners, L.P. and ValueAct Capital Partners II, L.P. as the investment adviser of ValueAct Capital International, Ltd.  Jeffrey W. Ubben is chairman of the board of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. and Managing Member of VA Partners, LLC, the General Partner of ValueAct Capital Partners, L.P. and ValueAct Capital Partners II, L.P. and the investment adviser of ValueAct Capital International, Ltd.  Peter H. Kamin and George F. Hamel are Managing Members of VA Partners, LLC, the General Partner of ValueAct Capital Partners, L.P. and ValueAct Capital Partners II, L.P. and investment adviser of ValueAct Capital International, Ltd. The reporting persons disclaim beneficial ownership of the reported stock except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Joint Filer Information

Name: ValueAct Capital Partners, L.P.
Address: One Maritime Plaza, Suite 1400, San Francisco, CA 94111
Designated Filer: Jeffrey W. Ubben
Issuer and Ticker Symbol: Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. (MSO)
Date of Event Requiring Statement: January 2, 2004

Name: ValueAct Capital Partners II, L.P.
Address: One Maritime Plaza, Suite 1400, San Francisco, CA 94111
Designated Filer: Jeffrey W. Ubben
Issuer and Ticker Symbol: Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. (MSO)
Date of Event Requiring Statement: January 2, 2004


Name: ValueAct Capital International, Ltd.
Address: One Maritime Plaza, Suite 1400, San Francisco, CA 94111
Designated Filer: Jeffrey W. Ubben
Issuer and Ticker Symbol: Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. (MSO)
Date of Event Requiring Statement: January 2, 2004

Name: VA Partners, L.L.C.
Address: One Maritime Plaza, Suite 1400, San Francisco, CA 94111
Designated Filer: Jeffrey W. Ubben
Issuer and Ticker Symbol: Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. (MSO)
Date of Event Requiring Statement: January 2, 2004

Name: George F. Hamel, Jr.
Address: One Maritime Plaza, Suite 1400, San Francisco, CA 94111
Designated Filer: Jeffrey W. Ubben
Issuer and Ticker Symbol: Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. (MSO)
Date of Event Requiring Statement: January 2, 2004

Name: Peter H. Kamin
Address: One Maritime Plaza, Suite 1400, San Francisco, CA 94111
Designated Filer: Jeffrey W. Ubben
Issuer and Ticker Symbol: Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. (MSO)
Date of Event Requiring Statement: January 2, 2004</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: /s/ Jeffrey W. Ubben</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>VALUEACT CAPITAL PARTNERS, L.P., BY VA PARTNERS, L.L.C., ITS GENERAL PARTNER By: /s/ George F. Hamel, Jr. Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>VALUEACT CAPITAL PARTNERS II, L.P., BY VA PARTNERS, L.L.C., ITS GENERAL PARTNER By: /s/ George F. Hamel, Jr. Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>VALUEACT CAPITAL INTERNATIONAL, LTD., BY VA PARTNERS, L.L.C., ITS INVESTMENT MANAGER By: /s/ George F. Hamel, Jr. Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>VA PARTNERS, L.L.C. By: /s/ George F. Hamel, Jr. Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: /s/ George F. Hamel, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: /s/ Peter H. Kamin</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

