Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	May 09, 2012 Class A common stock	May 09, 2012 Class B common stock
Entity Registrant Name	SPANISH BROADCASTING SYSTEM INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000927720
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2012
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		4,166,991	2,340,353