Basis of Presentation	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019
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, 2019 and December 31, 2018 and for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 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, 2018, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 as filed by the Company on April 1, 2019 (the “Annual Report”). 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, 2019 through the financial statements issuance date. The results of operations for the three-months ended March 31, 2019 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the entire year ending December 31, 2019, or for any other future interim or annual periods. Certain prior year amounts, which consist primarily of severance pay and station relocation costs, have been reclassified from engineering, programming, selling, general and administrative, and corporate expenses to recapitalization costs to conform to the current period’s financial presentation. These changes had no effect to the Company’s results of operations or financial position. 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. However, we have concluded that there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, 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 the extent of the funds legally available. The Company is currently involved in litigation with some holders of the Series B preferred stock. See Note 8 elsewhere in these Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional detail regarding the Series B preferred stock litigation. As further discussed below, both of these recent developments could adversely affect our ability to continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 10, the Notes became due on April 15, 2017. Cash from operations and proceeds from the sale of assets and the FCC spectrum auction were not sufficient to repay the Notes when they became due. We have worked and continue to work with our advisors regarding a consensual recapitalization or restructuring of our balance sheet, including through the issuance of new debt or equity to raise the necessary funds to repay the Notes. The Series B preferred stock litigation and the foreign ownership issue have complicated our efforts at a successful refinancing of the Notes. The resolution of the recapitalization or restructuring of our balance sheet, the litigation with the purported holders of our Series B preferred stock and the foreign ownership issue are subject to several factors currently beyond our control. Our efforts to effect a consensual refinancing of the Notes, the Series B preferred stock litigation and the foreign ownership issue will likely continue to have a material adverse effect on us if they are not successfully resolved. The Company has incurred $1.9 million for the three-months ended March 31, 2019 of recapitalization costs, primarily due to professional fees and costs directly related to our recapitalization efforts. Also included in these amounts are the legal and financial advisory fees incurred by the holders of the Notes. 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 or restructuring. Regardless that the Company has generated positive cash flows from operations for the three-month period ended March 31, 2019, management has evaluated its cash requirements for the next twelve-month period after the date of the filing of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q and determined that it anticipates generating sufficient cash flows, together with cash on hand, to meet its obligations regarding ordinary course operating activities. 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. Although the Company expects to maintain cash on hand sufficient to meet its operating obligations, its inability to obtain financing in adequate amounts and on acceptable terms necessary to operate our business, repay our Notes and redeem or refinance our Series B preferred stock, obtain a favorable resolution to the Series B preferred stock litigation, 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. Changes in Accounting Policies – Leases 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 (with the exception of short-term 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 statement of operations. The new standard also requires expanded disclosures regarding leasing arrangements. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-10, Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases, intended to clarify the Codification or to correct unintended application of the guidance and ASU No. 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842) – Targeted improvements, which provides an alternative modified retrospective transition method. Under this method, the cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings is recognized on the date of adoption. We adopted this ASU on January 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective approach and have elected the transition option, which allows us to continue to apply the legacy guidance for comparative periods, including disclosure requirements, in the year of adoption. We have elected to use the package of practical expedients available to us, including the short-term lease exception. Adoption of the new standard resulted in the recording of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities of $13.9 million and $13.9 million, respectively, as of January 1, 2019. The operating lease right-of-use asset includes the impact upon adoption of ASC Topic 842 of the derecognition of lease incentives, deferred rent, below-market lease intangibles, and prepaid rent balances recognized in prepaid expenses and other current assets, other intangible assets, accounts payable and other accrued liabilities and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2018. The standard did not impact our consolidated statements of operations or consolidated statements of cash flows. Additionally, we did not record a cumulative effect adjustment to opening accumulated deficit. The comparative information has not been restated and continues to be reported under the accounting guidance in effect for that period. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements In March 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-02, Entertainment—Films—Other Assets—Film Costs (Subtopic 926-20) and Entertainment—Broadcasters—Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Subtopic 920-350): Improvements to Accounting for Costs of Films and License Agreements for Program Materials. ASU 2019-02 helps organizations align their accounting for production costs for films and episodic content produced for television and streaming services. The standard addresses when an organization should assess films and license agreements for program material for impairment at the film-group level, revises presentation requirements; requires new disclosures about content that is either produced or licensed; and, addresses cash flow classification for license agreements. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect the update will have on its financial statements. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15 Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40) – Customers Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That is a Service Contract, which provides additional guidance on the accounting for costs of implementation activities performed in a cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in any interim period. The amendments align the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software (and hosting arrangements that include an internal-use software license). This update should be applied either retrospectively or prospectively to all implementation costs incurred after the date of adoption. The Company is currently evaluating the effect the update will have on its financial statements. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13 Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) – Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement, which modifies the disclosure requirements to all entities required to make disclosures about recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements. The update is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. The amendments on changes in unrealized gains and losses, the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements, and the narrative description of measurement uncertainty should be applied prospectively for only the most recent interim or annual period presented in the initial fiscal year of adoption. All other amendments should be applied retrospectively to all periods presented upon their effective date. Early adoption is permitted. The guidance eliminates the requirement to disclose the valuation process for Level 3 fair value measurements. The methodology used to arrive at the fair value of the Series B preferred stock results in a Level 3 classification. The Company has not currently adopted this ASU, however, the new guidance will not have an impact on our financial position or results of operations. Upon adoption, the Company will revise its disclosures in accordance with the requirements of this ASU. In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07 Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718) - Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which expands the scope of share-based compensation guidance to include share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from nonemployees. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 and for interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted, but no earlier than the adoption date for ASC 606 on revenue recognition. The update is effective through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the year of adoption. The Company is currently evaluating the effect the update will have on its financial statements.

Basis of Presentation

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]

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, 2019 and December 31, 2018 and for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 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, 2018, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 as filed by the Company on April 1, 2019 (the “Annual Report”). 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, 2019 through the financial statements issuance date. The results of operations for the three-months ended March 31, 2019 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the entire year ending December 31, 2019, or for any other future interim or annual periods.

Certain prior year amounts, which consist primarily of severance pay and station relocation costs, have been reclassified from engineering, programming, selling, general and administrative, and corporate expenses to recapitalization costs to conform to the current period’s financial presentation. These changes had no effect to the Company’s results of operations or financial position.

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. However, we have concluded that there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, 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 the extent of the funds legally available. The Company is currently involved in litigation with some holders of the Series B preferred stock. See Note 8 elsewhere in these Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional detail regarding the Series B preferred stock litigation. As further discussed below, both of these recent developments could adversely affect our ability to continue as a going concern.

As discussed in Note 10, the Notes became due on April 15, 2017. Cash from operations and proceeds from the sale of assets and the FCC spectrum auction were not sufficient to repay the Notes when they became due. We have worked and continue to work with our advisors regarding a consensual recapitalization or restructuring of our balance sheet, including through the issuance of new debt or equity to raise the necessary funds to repay the Notes. The Series B preferred stock litigation and the foreign ownership issue have complicated our efforts at a successful refinancing of the Notes. The resolution of the recapitalization or restructuring of our balance sheet, the litigation with the purported holders of our Series B preferred stock and the foreign ownership issue are subject to several factors currently beyond our control. Our efforts to effect a consensual refinancing of the Notes, the Series B preferred stock litigation and the foreign ownership issue will likely continue to have a material adverse effect on us if they are not successfully resolved.

The Company has incurred $1.9 million for the three-months ended March 31, 2019 of recapitalization costs, primarily due to professional fees and costs directly related to our recapitalization efforts. Also included in these amounts are the legal and financial advisory fees incurred by the holders of the Notes.

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 or restructuring.

Regardless that the Company has generated positive cash flows from operations for the three-month period ended March 31, 2019, management has evaluated its cash requirements for the next twelve-month period after the date of the filing of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q and determined that it anticipates generating sufficient cash flows, together with cash on hand, to meet its obligations regarding ordinary course operating activities.

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. Although the Company expects to maintain cash on hand sufficient to meet its operating obligations, its inability to obtain financing in adequate amounts and on acceptable terms necessary to operate our business, repay our Notes and redeem or refinance our Series B preferred stock, obtain a favorable resolution to the Series B preferred stock litigation, 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.

Changes in Accounting Policies – Leases

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 (with the exception of short-term 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 statement of operations. The new standard also requires expanded disclosures regarding leasing arrangements. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-10, Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases, intended to clarify the Codification or to correct unintended application of the guidance and ASU No. 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842) – Targeted improvements, which provides an alternative modified retrospective transition method. Under this method, the cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings is recognized on the date of adoption. We adopted this ASU on January 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective approach and have elected the transition option, which allows us to continue to apply the legacy guidance for comparative periods, including disclosure requirements, in the year of adoption. We have elected to use the package of practical expedients available to us, including the short-term lease exception. Adoption of the new standard resulted in the recording of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities of $13.9 million and $13.9 million, respectively, as of January 1, 2019. The operating lease right-of-use asset includes the impact upon adoption of ASC Topic 842 of the derecognition of lease incentives, deferred rent, below-market lease intangibles, and prepaid rent balances recognized in prepaid expenses and other current assets, other intangible assets, accounts payable and other accrued liabilities and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2018. The standard did not impact our consolidated statements of operations or consolidated statements of cash flows. Additionally, we did not record a cumulative effect adjustment to opening accumulated deficit. The comparative information has not been restated and continues to be reported under the accounting guidance in effect for that period.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In March 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-02, Entertainment—Films—Other Assets—Film Costs (Subtopic 926-20) and Entertainment—Broadcasters—Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Subtopic 920-350): Improvements to Accounting for Costs of Films and License Agreements for Program Materials. ASU 2019-02 helps organizations align their accounting for production costs for films and episodic content produced for television and streaming services. The standard addresses when an organization should assess films and license agreements for program material for impairment at the film-group level, revises presentation requirements; requires new disclosures about content that is either produced or licensed; and, addresses cash flow classification for license agreements. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect the update will have on its financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15 Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40) – Customers Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That is a Service Contract, which provides additional guidance on the accounting for costs of implementation activities performed in a cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in any interim period. The amendments align the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software (and hosting arrangements that include an internal-use software license). This update should be applied either retrospectively or prospectively to all implementation costs incurred after the date of adoption. The Company is currently evaluating the effect the update will have on its financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13 Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) – Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement, which modifies the disclosure requirements to all entities required to make disclosures about recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements. The update is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. The amendments on changes in unrealized gains and losses, the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements, and the narrative description of measurement uncertainty should be applied prospectively for only the most recent interim or annual period presented in the initial fiscal year of adoption. All other amendments should be applied retrospectively to all periods presented upon their effective date. Early adoption is permitted. The guidance eliminates the requirement to disclose the valuation process for Level 3 fair value measurements. The methodology used to arrive at the fair value of the Series B preferred stock results in a Level 3 classification. The Company has not currently adopted this ASU, however, the new guidance will not have an impact on our financial position or results of operations. Upon adoption, the Company will revise its disclosures in accordance with the requirements of this ASU.

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07 Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718) - Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which expands the scope of share-based compensation guidance to include share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from nonemployees. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 and for interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted, but no earlier than the adoption date for ASC 606 on revenue recognition. The update is effective through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the year of adoption. The Company is currently evaluating the effect the update will have on its financial statements.