Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Jun. 24, 2020
Entity Registrant Name	SPANISH BROADCASTING SYSTEM INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000927720
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2020
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
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
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity File Number	000-27823
Entity Tax Identification Number	13-3827791
Entity Address, Address Line One	7007 NW 77th Ave.
Entity Address, City or Town	Miami
Entity Address, State or Province	FL
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	33166
City Area Code	(305)
Local Phone Number	441-6901
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Transition Report	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