<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001189344-08-000004
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20080625
<FILING-DATE>20080626
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20080626
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>GOLDSTEIN STEVEN J
<CIK>0001192607
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-11588
<FILM-NUMBER>08920452
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>365 GREENS FARMS RD
<CITY>WESTPORT
<STATE>CT
<ZIP>06880
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>SAGA COMMUNICATIONS INC
<CIK>0000886136
<ASSIGNED-SIC>4832
<IRS-NUMBER>383042953
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>73 KERCHEVAL AVE
<CITY>GROSSE POINTE FARMS
<STATE>MI
<ZIP>48236
<PHONE>3138867070
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>73 KERCHEVAL AVE
<CITY>GROSSE POINTE FARMS
<STATE>MI
<ZIP>48236
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-06-25</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>2008-06-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>83826</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Grant of restricted stock which lapses in 20% increments on March 1, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 unless reporting person is not an employee on the applicable date.  Any restricted stock which has not lapsed is forfeited.  Notwithstanding the above, if reporting person is an employee on the occurrence or deemed occurrence of a change in control, all restricted stock shall lapse.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Fred B. Green as attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-06-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
