Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Nov. 12, 2015
Entity Registrant Name	SPANISH BROADCASTING SYSTEM INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000927720
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2015
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Class A common stock
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		4,166,991
Class B common stock
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		2,340,353