-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 OfvUoCmTgEu76yQ34f7IcvL4PBQ+3zFXvX1WG+fm6cJ1bvPUJBYXmx0mfOyoMXil
 FDGYfBCVjZ6WyAFDDZpVXw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001189341-08-000003.txt : 20080304
<SEC-HEADER>0001189341-08-000003.hdr.sgml : 20080304
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080304210415
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001189341-08-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080301
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080304
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080304

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GOLDSTEIN STEVEN J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001192607

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11588
		FILM NUMBER:		08665911

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		365 GREENS FARMS RD
		CITY:			WESTPORT
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06880

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SAGA COMMUNICATIONS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000886136
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RADIO BROADCASTING STATIONS [4832]
		IRS NUMBER:				383042953
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		73 KERCHEVAL AVE
		CITY:			GROSSE POINTE FARMS
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48236
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3138867070

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		73 KERCHEVAL AVE
		CITY:			GROSSE POINTE FARMS
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48236
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-03-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000886136</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SAGA COMMUNICATIONS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SGA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001192607</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GOLDSTEIN STEVEN J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>365 GREENS FARMS RD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WESTPORT</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06880</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-03-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1834</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.82</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>77326</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Fred B. Green as attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-03-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----