Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Apr. 05, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Entity Registrant Name	SPANISH BROADCASTING SYSTEM INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000927720
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2016
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Trading Symbol	SBSAA
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Class A common stock
Entity Public Float			$ 14,700,000
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		4,166,991
Class B common stock
Entity Public Float			$ 1,246
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		2,340,353