Basis of Presentation	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	1. Basis of Presentation The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the Company, we, us, our or SBS). All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 and for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 8-03 of Regulation S-X. They do not include all information and notes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements as of, and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments, which are all of a normal and recurring nature, necessary for a fair presentation of the results of the interim periods. Additionally, we evaluated subsequent events after the balance sheet date of March 31, 2017 through the financial statements issuance date. The results of operations for the three-months ended March 31, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the entire year ending December 31, 2017, or for any other future interim or annual periods. Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming we will continue as a going-concern, and do not include any adjustments that might result if we were unable to do so, and contemplate the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. As of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we had a working capital deficit due primarily to the classification of our 10¾ %Series B Cumulative Exchangeable Redeemable Preferred Stock (the “Series B preferred stock”) as a current liability and the classification of our 12.5% Senior Secured Notes due 2017 (the “Notes”) as a current liability. Under Delaware law, our state of incorporation, the Series B preferred stock is deemed equity. Because the holders of the Series B preferred stock are not creditors, they do not have rights of, or remedies available to, creditors. Delaware law does not recognize a right of preferred stockholders to force redemptions or repurchases where the corporation does not have funds legally available. Currently, we do not have sufficient funds legally available to be able to redeem or repurchase the Series B preferred stock and its accumulated unpaid dividends. If we are successful in repaying or refinancing our Notes, and are able to generate legally available funds under Delaware law, we may be required to pay all or a portion of the accumulated preferred dividends and redeem all or a portion of the Series B preferred stock, to extent of the funds legally available. As discussed in Note 8, the Notes matured on April 15, 2017. Cash from operations or the sale of assets were not sufficient to repay the Notes when they became due. We are working with a team of financial and legal advisors in evaluating all options available to us in executing a comprehensive recapitalization plan. These options, include, but are not limited to, selling certain non-core assets (whose net proceeds would be used to repay a portion of outstanding Notes), new financings (including debt, equity-linked securities and equity offerings), an exchange offer with the holders of our Notes (the “Noteholders”), with or without exit consents to amend the terms of the indenture under which the Notes were issued (the “Indenture”), use of cash on hand and a combination of these options. We have been pursuing the sale of certain non-core assets, including certain of our television stations and real estate assets. We expect to use the net proceeds of these asset sales to repay a portion of the Notes and, thereby deleverage our balance sheet. In connection with our recapitalization plan, we continue conversations with representatives of the Noteholders and the holders of the Series B preferred stock regarding these matters. However, we cannot assure you that we will be successful in our recapitalization efforts. We did not repay the Notes at their maturity, as a result of which there was an event of default under the Indenture on April 17, 2017 (April 17, 2017 being the payment date following the Saturday, April 15, 2017 maturity date). In addition, as of the date of the filing of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2017, we are in default under the Future Guarantors covenant of the Indenture (though we have delivered documentation to the Trustee to have the subsidiary become an additional guarantor of the Notes). On April 17, 2017, we made the interest payment due on the Notes. The Notes will continue to earn interest at the current rate of 12.5% per year after the maturity date but we are not required to pay any default interest under the Indenture. As further described in Note 12, the Company on May 8, 2017 entered into a forbearance agreement with an ad hoc group of more than 75.1% of the Notes. Pursuant to the Forbearance Agreement (as described below), the Supporting Holders (as described below) agreed to forbear from exercising any of their rights and remedies under the Indenture under which the Notes were issued, with respect to certain defaults from the effective date of the Forbearance Agreement until the earliest to occur of (a) the occurrence of any Event of Termination (as defined in the Forbearance Agreement) and (b) May 31, 2017 at 12:01 a.m. New York City time. In the event the Forbearance Agreement expires or is not extended, one or more Noteholders may seek to exercise various remedies against us, including foreclosing on our assets that constitute collateral under the Indenture. As of May 17, 2017, the Company has made all of the payments required to be made under the Forbearance Agreement. The interest payment that is accruing for the period from May 16, 2017 through June 15, 2017 is due on June 15, 2017. In the event we are unsuccessful in these efforts and one or more Noteholders seek to exercise remedies against us or our assets, we may be required to seek protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, among other things, in order to maximize the value of our company for all of our constituents. While we believe that a Chapter 11 filing may create an avenue to successfully execute on our strategy, such a filing may also have several negative consequences to our business, including the costs and negative publicity that surrounds such a filing, reduced advertising revenue due to the uncertainty surrounding the filing, the potential need to sell assets (including the equity of our subsidiaries that own our FCC licenses) under distressed circumstances and the risk that we are unable to execute on a successful plan of reorganization. The promissory note relating to the acquisition of the Miami studio building was paid on January 3, 2017. Management is responsible for evaluating whether there is substantial doubt about the organization’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures, in accordance with the going concern accounting standard adopted in 2016. Our inability to obtain financing in adequate amounts and on acceptable terms necessary to operate our business, repay our Notes, redeem or refinance our Series B preferred stock or finance future acquisitions negatively impacts our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows and raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements do not include adjustments, if any, that might arise from the outcome of this uncertainty. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles — Goodwill and Other, which eliminates the requirement to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill to measure a goodwill impairment charge. ASU 2017-04 is required to be applied prospectively and will be effective for annual or interim impairment test in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. We have evaluated the impact and determined that applying this new standard will not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations and disclosures. In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805). This new standard clarifies the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. This update is effective prospectively for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Upon adoption, we will evaluate the accounting implications for any acquisitions we may enter into. In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-16, – Income Taxes (Topic 740). This new standard improves the accounting for the income tax consequences of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory. The update is effective retrospectively for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and in interim periods in that reporting period, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect the update will have on its consolidated financial statements. In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statements of Cash Flows (Topic 230). This new standard’s objective is to clarify how companies present and classify certain cash receipts and cash payments in the statement of cash flows. In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Statements of Cash Flows (Topic 230) which requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. This update is effective on a retrospective basis for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017 with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact, if any, that this new standard will have on our consolidated financial statements. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718). This new standard’s objective is to simplify certain aspects of the accounting for share-based payment award transactions, including (i) income tax consequences, (ii) classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and (iii) classification on the statement of cash flows. This update is effective on a prospective, retrospective, and modified retrospective basis for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016 with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted this accounting standard update, effective January 1, 2017, and determined that there was no material impact on the consolidated financial statements. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). This new standard requires organizations that lease assets to recognize on the balance sheet the lease assets and lease liabilities for the rights and obligations created by those leases and disclose key information about the leasing agreements. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. The new guidance is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted as of the beginning of an interim or annual reporting period and must be adopted using a modified retrospective approach for leases that exist or are entered into after the beginning of the earliest comparative period in the financial statements. We are currently evaluating the impact that this new standard will have on our financial position and related disclosures and expect the impact on our assets and liabilities will be material due to the addition of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities; however the impact cannot currently be quantified. In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, Accounting for Financial Instruments – Recognition and Measurement. The new guidance changes how entities measure equity investments and present changes in the fair value of financial liabilities. The new guidance requires entities to measure equity investments that do not result in consolidation and are not accounted under the equity method at fair value and recognize any changes in fair value in net income unless the investments qualify for the new practicality exception. A practicality exception will apply to those equity investments that do not have a readily determinable fair value and do not qualify for the practical expedient to estimate fair value and as such these investments may be measured at cost. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. We are currently evaluating the impact, if any; however, we do not expect this update to have a material impact on our financial position and results of operations. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). This new standard provides guidance for the recognition, measurement and disclosure of revenue resulting from contracts with customers and will supersede virtually all of the current revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP. In July 2015, the FASB postponed the effective date of this standard. The standard is now effective for the first interim period within annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. In May 2016, the FASB issued accounting standards updates to address implementation issues and to clarify the guidance for identifying performance obligations, licenses, and determining if a company is the principal or agent in a revenue arrangement. In December 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-20, Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, which is intended to make minor corrections and to improve and clarify the implementation guidance of Topic 606. The Company currently expects to adopt the new revenue standard in its first quarter of 2018 and continues to evaluate the method of adoption and the impact of the provisions on our financial position and results of operations, if any. The company has since implemented an evaluation tool to assist it in clearly determining the risks, materiality and complexities associated with its multiple revenue streams. Based on the Company’s on-going review, we continue to not expect this update to have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations; however, our initial assessment is subject to change.

1. Basis of Presentation

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the Company, we, us, our or SBS). All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 and for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 8-03 of Regulation S-X. They do not include all information and notes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements as of, and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments, which are all of a normal and recurring nature, necessary for a fair presentation of the results of the interim periods. Additionally, we evaluated subsequent events after the balance sheet date of March 31, 2017 through the financial statements issuance date. The results of operations for the three-months ended March 31, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the entire year ending December 31, 2017, or for any other future interim or annual periods.

Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming we will continue as a going-concern, and do not include any adjustments that might result if we were unable to do so, and contemplate the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. As of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we had a working capital deficit due primarily to the classification of our 10¾ %Series B Cumulative Exchangeable Redeemable Preferred Stock (the “Series B preferred stock”) as a current liability and the classification of our 12.5% Senior Secured Notes due 2017 (the “Notes”) as a current liability. Under Delaware law, our state of incorporation, the Series B preferred stock is deemed equity. Because the holders of the Series B preferred stock are not creditors, they do not have rights of, or remedies available to, creditors. Delaware law does not recognize a right of preferred stockholders to force redemptions or repurchases where the corporation does not have funds legally available. Currently, we do not have sufficient funds legally available to be able to redeem or repurchase the Series B preferred stock and its accumulated unpaid dividends. If we are successful in repaying or refinancing our Notes, and are able to generate legally available funds under Delaware law, we may be required to pay all or a portion of the accumulated preferred dividends and redeem all or a portion of the Series B preferred stock, to extent of the funds legally available.

As discussed in Note 8, the Notes matured on April 15, 2017. Cash from operations or the sale of assets were not sufficient to repay the Notes when they became due. We are working with a team of financial and legal advisors in evaluating all options available to us in executing a comprehensive recapitalization plan. These options, include, but are not limited to, selling certain non-core assets (whose net proceeds would be used to repay a portion of outstanding Notes), new financings (including debt, equity-linked securities and equity offerings), an exchange offer with the holders of our Notes (the “Noteholders”), with or without exit consents to amend the terms of the indenture under which the Notes were issued (the “Indenture”), use of cash on hand and a combination of these options. We have been pursuing the sale of certain non-core assets, including certain of our television stations and real estate assets. We expect to use the net proceeds of these asset sales to repay a portion of the Notes and, thereby deleverage our balance sheet. In connection with our recapitalization plan, we continue conversations with representatives of the Noteholders and the holders of the Series B preferred stock regarding these matters. However, we cannot assure you that we will be successful in our recapitalization efforts. We did not repay the Notes at their maturity, as a result of which there was an event of default under the Indenture on April 17, 2017 (April 17, 2017 being the payment date following the Saturday, April 15, 2017 maturity date). In addition, as of the date of the filing of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2017, we are in default under the Future Guarantors covenant of the Indenture (though we have delivered documentation to the Trustee to have the subsidiary become an additional guarantor of the Notes). On April 17, 2017, we made the interest payment due on the Notes. The Notes will continue to earn interest at the current rate of 12.5% per year after the maturity date but we are not required to pay any default interest under the Indenture. As further described in Note 12, the Company on May 8, 2017 entered into a forbearance agreement with an ad hoc group of more than 75.1% of the Notes. Pursuant to the Forbearance Agreement (as described below), the Supporting Holders (as described below) agreed to forbear from exercising any of their rights and remedies under the Indenture under which the Notes were issued, with respect to certain defaults from the effective date of the Forbearance Agreement until the earliest to occur of (a) the occurrence of any Event of Termination (as defined in the Forbearance Agreement) and (b) May 31, 2017 at 12:01 a.m. New York City time. In the event the Forbearance Agreement expires or is not extended, one or more Noteholders may seek to exercise various remedies against us, including foreclosing on our assets that constitute collateral under the Indenture. As of May 17, 2017, the Company has made all of the payments required to be made under the Forbearance Agreement. The interest payment that is accruing for the period from May 16, 2017 through June 15, 2017 is due on June 15, 2017.

In the event we are unsuccessful in these efforts and one or more Noteholders seek to exercise remedies against us or our assets, we may be required to seek protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, among other things, in order to maximize the value of our company for all of our constituents. While we believe that a Chapter 11 filing may create an avenue to successfully execute on our strategy, such a filing may also have several negative consequences to our business, including the costs and negative publicity that surrounds such a filing, reduced advertising revenue due to the uncertainty surrounding the filing, the potential need to sell assets (including the equity of our subsidiaries that own our FCC licenses) under distressed circumstances and the risk that we are unable to execute on a successful plan of reorganization.

The promissory note relating to the acquisition of the Miami studio building was paid on January 3, 2017.

Management is responsible for evaluating whether there is substantial doubt about the organization’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures, in accordance with the going concern accounting standard adopted in 2016. Our inability to obtain financing in adequate amounts and on acceptable terms necessary to operate our business, repay our Notes, redeem or refinance our Series B preferred stock or finance future acquisitions negatively impacts our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows and raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements do not include adjustments, if any, that might arise from the outcome of this uncertainty.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles — Goodwill and Other, which eliminates the requirement to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill to measure a goodwill impairment charge. ASU 2017-04 is required to be applied prospectively and will be effective for annual or interim impairment test in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. We have evaluated the impact and determined that applying this new standard will not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations and disclosures.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805). This new standard clarifies the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. This update is effective prospectively for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Upon adoption, we will evaluate the accounting implications for any acquisitions we may enter into.

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-16, – Income Taxes (Topic 740). This new standard improves the accounting for the income tax consequences of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory. The update is effective retrospectively for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and in interim periods in that reporting period, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect the update will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statements of Cash Flows (Topic 230). This new standard’s objective is to clarify how companies present and classify certain cash receipts and cash payments in the statement of cash flows. In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Statements of Cash Flows (Topic 230) which requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. This update is effective on a retrospective basis for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017 with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact, if any, that this new standard will have on our consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718). This new standard’s objective is to simplify certain aspects of the accounting for share-based payment award transactions, including (i) income tax consequences, (ii) classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and (iii) classification on the statement of cash flows. This update is effective on a prospective, retrospective, and modified retrospective basis for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016 with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted this accounting standard update, effective January 1, 2017, and determined that there was no material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). This new standard requires organizations that lease assets to recognize on the balance sheet the lease assets and lease liabilities for the rights and obligations created by those leases and disclose key information about the leasing agreements. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. The new guidance is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted as of the beginning of an interim or annual reporting period and must be adopted using a modified retrospective approach for leases that exist or are entered into after the beginning of the earliest comparative period in the financial statements. We are currently evaluating the impact that this new standard will have on our financial position and related disclosures and expect the impact on our assets and liabilities will be material due to the addition of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities; however the impact cannot currently be quantified.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, Accounting for Financial Instruments – Recognition and Measurement. The new guidance changes how entities measure equity investments and present changes in the fair value of financial liabilities. The new guidance requires entities to measure equity investments that do not result in consolidation and are not accounted under the equity method at fair value and recognize any changes in fair value in net income unless the investments qualify for the new practicality exception. A practicality exception will apply to those equity investments that do not have a readily determinable fair value and do not qualify for the practical expedient to estimate fair value and as such these investments may be measured at cost. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. We are currently evaluating the impact, if any; however, we do not expect this update to have a material impact on our financial position and results of operations.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). This new standard provides guidance for the recognition, measurement and disclosure of revenue resulting from contracts with customers and will supersede virtually all of the current revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP. In July 2015, the FASB postponed the effective date of this standard. The standard is now effective for the first interim period within annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. In May 2016, the FASB issued accounting standards updates to address implementation issues and to clarify the guidance for identifying performance obligations, licenses, and determining if a company is the principal or agent in a revenue arrangement. In December 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-20, Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, which is intended to make minor corrections and to improve and clarify the implementation guidance of Topic 606. The Company currently expects to adopt the new revenue standard in its first quarter of 2018 and continues to evaluate the method of adoption and the impact of the provisions on our financial position and results of operations, if any. The company has since implemented an evaluation tool to assist it in clearly determining the risks, materiality and complexities associated with its multiple revenue streams. Based on the Company’s on-going review, we continue to not expect this update to have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations; however, our initial assessment is subject to change.