linear television

Meaning

1. 1noununcountabletechnical

   Television that is broadcast at fixed times on a schedule, so viewers must watch programs when they air rather than choosing when to start them.

   Grammar: Uncountable: linear television is declining, not a linear television.

   Patterns

   • watch linear television
   • linear television versus streaming

   Fewer young people watch linear television than stream shows online.

   Advertisers still pay large sums for slots on linear television.

   The network is moving from linear television toward its own app.

Common combinations

decline of linear television

Analysts predict the decline of linear television.

watch linear television

My grandparents still watch linear television every evening.

linear television audience

The linear television audience is older on average.

linear television ads

Linear television ads are sold by time slot.

Synonyms and how they differ

broadcast television

Broadcast television emphasizes transmission over the airwaves, whereas linear television emphasizes the fixed schedule.

scheduled TV

Scheduled TV is a plainer phrase, while linear television is the industry term.

live TV

Live TV refers to programs shown as they happen, but linear television also includes recorded shows at set times.

Opposites

Word family

linear adjective

following a straight line or fixed order

television noun

the system and medium of broadcast pictures and sound

nonlinear adjective

not following a fixed sequence

Commonly confused: linear television or live television?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “linear television”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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