Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Oct. 30, 2018
Entity Registrant Name	SPANISH BROADCASTING SYSTEM INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000927720
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2018
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Trading Symbol	SBSAA
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Class A common stock
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		4,241,991
Class B common stock
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		2,340,353