Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Nov. 14, 2013 Class A common stock	Nov. 14, 2013 Class B common stock
Entity Registrant Name	SPANISH BROADCASTING SYSTEM INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000927720
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2013
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		4,166,991	2,340,353